The Hyundai Veloster earned its place in Hyundai’s lineup of amazing vehicles. Not only is this hatchback less expensive than other vehicles in its class, but it also comes with a unique third-door making it the only three-door hatchback on the market. Its unique personality instantly made it a crowd favorite, and its popularity continues to climb.

Of course, there is another quirk with the Hyundai Veloster that causes people to stop and think: “what does ‘Veloster’ mean?”

Veloster Defined

Don’t waste your time trying to look up the word “Veloster” in a dictionary. This word was specifically designed to capture Hyundai’s newest and most popular hatchback. The word “Veloster” is a combination of the words “velocity” and “roadster.”

What’s interesting is that this Hyundai hatchback is not technically a roadster. Roadsters are typically defined as open-top two-seaters. Hyundai gets away with this name because it does a great job articulating the hatchback’s swiftness and uniqueness.

Go Speed Racer

Obviously, the Hyundai Veloster wasn’t built to compete with the sportiest roadster on the market. Instead, it offers a less-expensive way to zip around town with speed and agility. The best part is that drivers get some say in what kind of performance they can expect.

The standard engine on the Veloster is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. With a solid 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, it’s hard to call this a base-level engine. Of course, those looking for the most whip in their lash look at the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that pushes out an impressive 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque.

When it’s time to fly, tests show that you can blast off from zero to 60 mph in a mere 5.9 seconds, which is one of the fastest times for a vehicle in this class.

Go Big With The Veloster N

Hyundai’s N and N-Line vehicles combine the everyday drivability of a Hyundai with the sporty feel of a professional racecar. The Hyundai Veloster N comes with a host of features not too dissimilar from the regular Veloster. Of course, the N version jumps up this hatchback’s power.

The Veloster N comes loaded with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 275 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. If you go with the optional eight-speed dual-clutch automatic over the standard manual transmission, you’ll enjoy an over-boost function that temporarily boosts your torque from 260 to 278.

When the N version of the Veloster hits the racetrack, it flies from zero to 60mph in just 5.1 seconds.

Velocity Meets Roadster

While you may not entirely know why Hyundai decided to create a new word to name its unique hatchback, it’s hard to argue that’s name doesn’t suit it perfectly. Whether you’re joyriding around town to get out of the house or fighting the daily grind on your work commute, the Hyundai Veloster will give you the feeling of freedom that only exists when velocity and roadsters combine.

Set up a test drive at a local dealership and determine if the name fits the car, but don’t be surprised if this hatchback makes it to the top of your wish list.