Compare the2023 Subaru BRZVS 2022 Hyundai Veloster

The Subaru BRZ has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Veloster doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The BRZ has standard Whiplash Protection Seats, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Protection Seats system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Veloster doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The BRZ Auto has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Veloster doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the BRZ and the Veloster have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the BRZ lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Veloster doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the BRZ 6-speed Auto gets better fuel mileage than the Veloster N 8-speed SMG (21 city/30 hwy vs. 20 city/27 hwy).

The BRZ stops much shorter than the Veloster:

The BRZ’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.5% to 44.5%) than the Veloster’s (63.8% to 36.2%). This gives the BRZ more stable handling and braking.

The BRZ Limited handles at .99 G’s, while the Veloster N pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the BRZ’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Veloster N’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Subaru BRZ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Hyundai Veloster.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the BRZ Limited is quieter than the Veloster N (41 vs. 44 dB).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the BRZ easier. The BRZ’s trunk lift-over height is 27.1 inches, while the Veloster’s liftover is 32.1 inches.

The engine in the BRZ is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Veloster. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The BRZ’s 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 passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the BRZ’s exterior PIN entry system. The Veloster doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The BRZ’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Veloster’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the BRZ Limited has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Veloster doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The BRZ’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Veloster doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The BRZ Limited has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Veloster.

The BRZ has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Veloster doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The BRZ’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Veloster doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the BRZ Auto has a standard Adaptive 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 Veloster doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its December 2021 issue and they ranked the Subaru BRZ Limited first. They ranked the Hyundai Veloster N fourth.

The BRZ was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2022. The Veloster has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.