Dings and Scratches.

The Veloster has been with me since October 2011 and I have learned to live with only 3 doors but really appreciate the large hatchback opening and the near 40 mpg on highway trips. The car is horrible in the snow or rain and with 4 passengers plus luggage you might have to leave something at the curb in order to fit everyone.

I have been to Upper Michigan, North Carolina, and Quebec with the car and have driven about 25,000 miles since owning it. The styling is still a strong characteristic of the car and people comment on how "cool" the car looks. The paint has held up to living in Brooklyn and not having a garage but it has suffered a few dings in the door panels that are very noticeable due to the glossy black paint. The inside surfaces are easy to clean but are prone to scratch easily due to the piano black finish. The A/V display has numerous scratches as well and a protective covering should have been advised by the dealership.

The drivetrain has been problem free except for a starter that failed me at 5,000 miles and was replaced free of charge but left me without a car for a week. I have had 3 recall visits to the Hyundai dealership due to brake inspection, a glass sunroof inspection and a navigation repair. I have been keeping up with 5,000 mile oil changes and services, which Hyundai bills as premium service of $95.00 instead of a $40 for the 3,000 mile changes.

The car is starting to rattle and shake over uneven road services and the noise at highway speeds is just a bit below acceptable. I agree that Hyundai and Kia products are lacking in the NVH development. But they do offer tons of electronic options only available in more pricey upscale products.

I did use the Hyundai Blue Link navigation service for the first year, but I cancelled it due to complexity of use at times and the unforgiving nature of the voice recognition system that left me screaming more often than not. Hyundai should follow the lead of Mazda and team up with one of the GPS companies such as Tom Tom or Garmin.

I have been able to find a bike carrier finally for the Veloster, but, I am always nervous it will shatter the glass. And the "easy to clean" seats are anything but easy to clean. They absorb every stain and cling every dog hair or piece of lint into the woven material. The only thing that is not clinging to it is the material itself which is starting to wear through in some areas in the rear seat and the driver seat.

The Veloster has warmed a way into my life with the compact size to park in the city, the quickly available cargo room with no rear passengers and the exceptional gas mileage. I am already looking to upsize in my life to either a Mazda CX-5 or BMW X-3.