Has The Hyundai Veloster STOLEN The SOUL From The Long-Time Favorite, Honda Civic?

Though everyone seems to think we HATE Honda, that couldn't be farther from the truth. If we weren't hard on them we would see another General Motors-like explosion right in front of our eyes.

You know what that lede means. Yup, another article that's critical on Honda.

Remember how Honda introduced the NEW Civic only to refresh it shortly thereafter? Hardly anyone could tell the difference between the incoming and outgoing product. While the new refresh is certainly a step in the right direction, it's still lacking some of that panache that made the Civic unique. And I should know. I owned a 2000 Honda Civic EX coupe for a period of time.

In the 1990s when the car was in its heyday it seemed to exude a bit more confidence and was even a little offbeat with some unique colors and some jazzy options. I remember my silver beauty, it had one of those Si-like spoilers. Silly, yes. Did it give the car some character? Yes.

Now you can't even option the car in a HOT color. Check out Honda's configurator. It's white, black, silver, grey, a bleh blue and a deep red. Really, that's it. And the design is pretty standard. It's been spiffed up for the 2013 model year, thankfully but it's not exactly blowing doors off.

When you compare this to the Hyundai Veloster though, it's a different ballgame. There's FUN colors, a ton of optionality and while its design isn't going to be loved by everyone, it still makes you feel something.

The reality is Honda has kept all the cool stuff for the Si models, which are obviously more expensive. If you're in the market for a standard car you're pretty much selecting the most dull and unimaginative product out there.

That said, what say you, Spies?

IhavearedS2000 - 5/11/2013 7:07:19 PM

+5 Boost

Not to take anything away from Hyundais fun and brave design choices, at the end of the day, I'd rather drive a Honda. More reliable, more fun to drive...even the disappointing Civic (and quick '13 redesign). Read any review on the Veloster, even the turbo, and it reveals it's more flash than substance...

cidflekken - 5/12/2013 2:32:55 AM

+4 Boost

Hyundai builds good, solid machines but none of their models top their respective classes.

That being said, Honda has always been a more conservative car company, overall. They have always existed in the same market as cars that were perceived to be more dynamic or expressive, even their more "sporty" offerings.

The CRX competed with Nissan NX and Mazda MX3.
The Prelude and Integra went against the Eclipse, Probe, MX6, and 240SX
The Civic Si competed against the GTI, Colt/Mirage Turbo, Escort GT
The CL coupe coped with the 3 coupe
The NSX went up against many exotics
The S2000 occupied the same segment as the SLK, Z4, and Boxster, if not a tier below

Agent63 - 5/13/2013 1:13:14 AM

-2 Boost

The Veloster looks better than the Civic. All Hyundais of today look better than Honda or Toyotas.

maltbarley - 5/13/2013 11:58:01 AM

0 Boost

You guys should do a comparison with the 2013 Del Sol.

Memo? Oh shoot, I didn't get that one.

dodgedart - 5/13/2013 10:35:30 PM

0 Boost

Honda gave up the CRX soul when the Civic SI's started getting slower and heavier. Honda is now enhancing cliches. Back tracking now means you throw out a decent rear suspension and borrow a design from a dodge omni that rolled during a motor trend test in 1986.
How can Hyundai NOT be taking the soul? Honda is giving it away.

HughJass - 5/14/2013 12:32:00 AM

+3 Boost

Drive over to Niagara Falls and you see Hyundai dealerships advertising 0% for 7 years, free gas cards and now even have 96 month financing. Who needs 8 years to pay off a car? Hyundai's customers should be taking transit since its obvious they can't afford cars that weren't subsidized the government.

You tell me who's giving it away.

It's only going to hurt Hyundai more now that the Japs are making their money just as worthless as the Korean's.