Is the Veloster the Best Value in Sub-Compacts?

The 2014 Hyundai Veloster has been proclaimed the best value in America by Vincentric, an automotive research firm specializing in automotive cost of ownership. The question is – by what standards?

If it was just a subjective test, the selection could be questionable because it beat cars like the Ford Fiesta, Nissan Juke and Kia Forte to take the top spot in the subcompact segment. Ok, maybe the Juke isn't a contender but the Forte and Fiesta are two strong competitors.

“The Veloster provides great value in the highly competitive subcompact segment,” said David Wurster, president, Vincentric. “It's priced right and has real advantages in terms of depreciation, insurance costs, fuel economy and, due to an excellent warranty, repair costs, its total cost to own is much lower than one would expect from a subcompact at its price point.”

The Vincentric Best Value Awards measure cost-of-ownership using eight different factors: depreciation, fees and taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs. Using a statistical model, the company identified the Vincentric Best Value in America winners by measuring which vehicles had lower than expected ownership costs given their market segment and price.

OK, by those standards the award makes sense. It's good to see that the Veloster competes so well when it comes to depreciation and other costs.

“The Veloster was engineered to offer our customers great value without sacrificing functionality or driver engagement, two criteria that are fundamental to the subcompact car segment,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “This accolade acknowledges the Veloster as a well-rounded vehicle, providing versatility and fun-to-drive characteristics in an efficient, low-cost package.”

By the way, the Veloster is a fun car to drive, especially the turbo model. That's the best choice when it comes to performance in this unique, three-door vehicle. If you don't believe how good the Veloster is, read Patrick Rall's review.