Veloster OR MINI Cooper Coupe? Which One Excites You More And Which Would You Rather Own?

For the 2012 model year, there are two exciting all-new products that stand out from the rest.

The Hyundai Veloster is a utilitarian's dream. A three door coupe that boasts an asymmetrical design, this is a Hyundai that has a bold look and is competing in an already hot class. At last weeks 2011 SEMA Auto Show, the Veloster was doing all in its power to make a splash.

MINI's Cooper Coupe is yet another crack for the brand to further its lineup and differentiate away from its core offering, the Cooper. While the Cooper Coupe is essentially a tarted up, less practical Cooper there's no question that it is a sleek looking ride that should give the Mazda MX-5 a run for its money. In this niche class, you better believe it's not about how much storage space you have, it's really about how much fun you can have behind the wheel at a low price of entry.

Now let me make it clear, we're not comparing these two as they're from completely different walks of life; however, we are curious WHICH vehicle gets your pulse quickening.

In other words, WHICH 2012 model year vehicle EXCITES you more AND WHICH would you rather put in YOUR driveway: the Hyundai Veloster or MINI Cooper Coupe?

JeremeyN - 11/8/2011 2:37:32 AM

+1 Boost

My Vote is for the Veloster but I would rather wait for the Turbo version if I were to get one.

uaw_lax - 11/8/2011 3:35:48 AM

+1 Boost

ditto

nguyenvuminh - 11/8/2011 4:12:06 AM

+6 Boost

Performance is not the be-all-end-all for me so that's why I'm not a BMW-devotee but I can't imagine Hyundai has enough history/experience/racing pedigree to deliver something that perform/handle better than a BMW. Now if you were to ask about look/exterior design, maybe this Hyundai is a better selection but in terms of performance criteria being insinuated in the article ... Hyundai ???

Joe_Limon - 11/8/2011 10:11:05 AM

-4 Boost

I see you're from the camp that rates handling based on loose factors such as history and pedigree... even the most expensive wine labels have their bad years, are you the kind of person who buys those bad years because the good years have given them the "history" to make the purchase worth while?

Regardless, I like the mini based on aesthetics.

Agent009 - 11/8/2011 8:18:42 AM

-3 Boost

I sat in a new Veloster last night. It definitely has an appeal to the non traditionalist. All it needs it power the turbo will give it. The aftermarket can fill in the rest.

nguyenvuminh - 11/8/2011 1:08:09 PM

+6 Boost

Joe Limon - No, I'm not from any camp that base on loose factors. I do see numerous tests and articles from countless magazines over the last 2 decades that have stated BMW cars perform very well in their respective segments. I think many others would agree on that count.
009 - If you think "all it needs it power the turbo will give it. The aftermarket can fill in the rest", then why do AMG cars have not quite matched BMW's M cars. And why don't American muscle cars outhandle its European and Japanese counterparts? And I'm saying this as a non-BMW fan.

I mean for heavens sakes, give experience, racing competition, and reinvested research money some credits.

Joe_Limon - 11/8/2011 1:55:51 PM

-3 Boost

This is a mini, although owned by bmw, it is not a bmw, it is a fwd platform that (correct me if I'm wrong) isn't being used by BMW.

Saying the Mini must handle good due to bmw would be like me saying the Fiat 500 must handle even better since it has Ferrari pedigree.

mini22 - 11/8/2011 2:29:21 PM

+3 Boost

If you are talking about the base cars without turbo's I would have to go for the Mini if extra space was not super important. The Veloster is a clever design that has been developed to offer better handling then the platform on the base Accent.From what I've read Hyundai has put some development time into it.However the Mini is a platform that was not developed from an economy car.So if I put a premium on a sporty FWD platform with decent performance I would have to go with the Mini. The Veloster turbo might offer a further development of the platform so I would not rule that out.

CarCrazedinCali - 11/8/2011 2:42:28 PM

+4 Boost

Seems an odd comparison considering their are thousands of dollars apart in price. I prefer the heavier feel of a German engineered product over light weight feel of Asian made cars.

acronis - 11/10/2011 8:12:16 AM

-4 Boost

I enjoy the back and forth between the Hyundai haters and the realist like myself. The realist believe that the market determines which car is better, the "haters" believe they can "will" the market to prefer their favored brand.

Lets see, Honda sold 289 CR-Z in October and Hyundai sold 3,724 Veloster. Guess That explains why the realist always win.

Hyundai is the Asian brand to beat!