Compare the2020 Hyundai VelosterVS 2019 Ford Fiesta ST

The Veloster (except N) has a standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, which uses forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Fiesta ST doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Hyundai Veloster has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Veloster (except N)’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

To help make backing safer, the Veloster Premium/R-Spec/Turbo’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 Fiesta ST doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Veloster (except N)’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Veloster and the Fiesta ST 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, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Hyundai Veloster is safer than the Fiesta ST:

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Veloster the rating of “Top Pick” for 2020, a rating granted to only 30 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Fiesta ST is not a “Top Pick.”

The Veloster comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Fiesta ST’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years and 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Veloster 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Fiesta ST. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Fiesta ST ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Veloster’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Fiesta ST’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Veloster for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Fiesta ST.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Veloster has a standard 550-amp battery. The Fiesta ST’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Veloster’s reliability 60 points higher than the Fiesta ST.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Veloster second among compact sporty cars in their 2019 Initial Quality Study. The Fiesta ST isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked fourth.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in reliability, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 10 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Veloster Turbo/R-Spec’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (201 vs. 197) than the Fiesta ST’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder. The Veloster N’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (250 vs. 197) and 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 202) than the Fiesta ST’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder. The Veloster N’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 78 more horsepower (275 vs. 197) and 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 202) than the Fiesta ST’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Veloster Turbo/R-Spec 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Ford Fiesta ST (manual transmissions tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Veloster Turbo/R-Spec R-Spec Manual 1.6 turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the Fiesta ST (26 city/33 hwy vs. 25 city/32 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Veloster uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Fiesta ST requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Veloster offers an optional automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer an automatic transmission.

The Veloster offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer an SMG.

The Hyundai Veloster N manual has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

For better stopping power the Veloster N’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Fiesta ST:

The Veloster N’s optional front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Fiesta ST are solid, not vented.

The Veloster stops much shorter than the Fiesta ST:

For better traction, the Veloster has larger standard tires than the Fiesta ST (215/45R17 vs. 205/40R17). The Veloster N’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Fiesta ST (235/35R19 vs. 205/40R17).

The Veloster N’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Fiesta ST’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Veloster N offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Fiesta ST’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Hyundai Veloster’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford Fiesta ST only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Veloster 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 Ford Fiesta ST has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Veloster has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Veloster flat and controlled during cornering. The Fiesta ST’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Veloster offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Fiesta ST’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Veloster’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the Fiesta ST (104.3 inches vs. 98 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Veloster is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 4.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Fiesta ST.

For better maneuverability, the Veloster’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Fiesta ST’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.5 feet).

The Veloster has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Fiesta ST (89.9 vs. 85.1).

The Veloster has 3.5 inches more front hip room, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 5.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Fiesta ST.

The Veloster has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Fiesta ST with its rear seat up (19.9 vs. 10.1 cubic feet). The Veloster has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Fiesta ST with its rear seat folded (44.5 vs. 25.4 cubic feet).

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Veloster 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. Ford doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Fiesta ST.

The Veloster Premium/R-Spec/Turbo/Turbo Ultimate/N Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Veloster Turbo Ultimate has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Veloster has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Fiesta ST only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Veloster has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer automatic headlights.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Veloster R-Spec/Turbo/Turbo Ultimate detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Veloster has standard extendable sun visors. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Veloster’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Fiesta ST.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Veloster Turbo Ultimate has a standard Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Veloster, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Fiesta ST isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Veloster second among compact sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Fiesta ST isn’t in the top three.

The Veloster N was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2019. The Fiesta ST hasn’t been picked since 2014.