Compare the2018 Volkswagen BeetleVS 2017 Hyundai Veloster

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Beetle has standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Veloster doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To help make backing safer, the Beetle Coast/SE’s cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Veloster doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Compared to metal, the Beetle’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Hyundai Veloster has a metal gas tank.

Both the Beetle and the Veloster have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Beetle is safer than the Hyundai Veloster:

	Beetle	Veloster
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	256	267
Neck Injury Risk	22%	30%
Neck Stress	227 lbs.	331 lbs.
Neck Compression	107 lbs.	257 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Beetle is safer than the Hyundai Veloster:

	Beetle	Veloster
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	59	222
Abdominal Force	239 G’s	263 G’s
Hip Force	427 lbs.	609 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	363	553
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	80 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	235	248

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

In a 31 MPH side-impact test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashes a 3300 pound sled into the side of new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Beetle without its optional head airbags is safer than the Veloster:

	Beetle	Veloster
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver
Head Protection Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis/Leg Injury Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Rear Passenger
Head Injury Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis/Leg Injury Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Movement	33 mm	34 mm

Warranty

The Beetle comes with a full 6-year/72000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Veloster’s 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 12000 miles sooner.

The Beetle’s corrosion warranty is 3 years longer than the Veloster’s (10 vs. 7 years).

Reliability

The Volkswagen Beetle’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Veloster’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Beetle’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 42 more horsepower (174 vs. 132) and 64 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 120) than the Veloster’s standard 1.6 DOHC 4 cyl.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Beetle is faster than the Hyundai Veloster 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	Beetle	Veloster
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	9.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	21 sec	26.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.5 sec	9.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	83 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Beetle gets better fuel mileage than the Veloster:

	Beetle	Veloster
	n/a	25 city/33 hwy	Turbo/Manual
2.0T/Auto	26 city/33 hwy	26 city/32 hwy	Turbo/Auto
2.0T Dune/Auto	26 city/34 hwy	n/a

The Beetle has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Veloster (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Volkswagen Beetle comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Veloster.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Beetle’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Veloster:

	Beetle	Veloster
Front Rotors	11.3 inches	11 inches

The Beetle stops shorter than the Veloster:

	Beetle	Veloster
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Beetle’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Veloster (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R18).

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Volkswagen Beetle has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Hyundai Veloster has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Beetle is 1.1 inches wider in the front than the average track on the Veloster.

The Beetle Dune Coupe handles at .84 G’s, while the Veloster pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Beetle Dune Coupe is quieter than the Veloster:

	Beetle	Veloster
Full-Throttle	71 dB	81 dB
70 MPH Cruising	70 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The Beetle Coupe has .4 inches more front headroom and 1.8 inches more rear headroom than the Veloster.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Beetle easier. The Beetle’s trunk lift-over height is 27.9 inches, while the Veloster’s liftover is 33.1 inches.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Beetle. The Veloster doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Beetle to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Hyundai doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Veloster.

Ergonomics

The Beetle’s standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Veloster’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them. The Beetle Convertible’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches. With the Veloster’s optional power windows, only the driver’s window opens automatically.

The Beetle’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Veloster’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Beetle SE/Dune/Convertible to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Veloster doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Beetle (except S/Coast) offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Veloster doesn’t offer cornering lights.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Beetle has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Veloster doesn’t offer rear vents.

Model Availability

The Volkswagen Beetle comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Hyundai Veloster isn’t available as a convertible.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Beetle is less expensive to operate than the Veloster because typical repairs cost less on the Beetle than the Veloster, including $1 less for a fuel pump.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Beetle outsold the Hyundai Veloster by 20% during 2017.

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