Road test: 2012 Hyundai Veloster
 

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Back in high school, I was not regarded as one of the 'cool' kids. Driving a station wagon didn't help my cause, but heck, at least I had wheels (thank you, Mom!).

I can think of a car manufacturer that, through its 'high school' years, was definitely not that cool: Hyundai Motor Company. As great - or not - as the Pony was, its lack of curb appeal and questionable reliability did not instill great confidence in the North American masses. Thus, its popularity at the time in comparison to the Honda Civic was, so to speak, bottom of the barrel.

Thank goodness for evolution.

Both Hyundai and I have grown up. We graduated from our respective 'high school' stages in our lives and, in time, moved forward onto bigger and better things. While I can't necessarily speak for myself, as I have no clue how to judge my own popularity or coolness nor do I place a high regard on it, Hyundai's popularity is soaring.

The Elantra is neck-and-neck with the segment-dominating Honda Civic to take the top spot in compact car sales in Canada.

And year-to-date sales indicate that the Accent is the top-selling vehicle in the subcompact segment.

Throw into the mix vehicles like the Genesis (which won the 'North American Car of the Year' in 2009 along with multiple other accolades), Genesis Coupe, the Sonata, Tucson and Santa Fe, and you have some of the best-selling, most reliable and functional vehicles on the automotive market in North America. Enter the 2012 Hyundai Veloster to elevate Hyundai's social status even higher. On first glance, I noticed that the unique three-door hatchback oozes cool from its sheet metal.

This vehicle has the most aggressive example of the Korean car manufacturer's 'fluidic sculpture' design philosophy.

Read more: http://www.driving.ca/montreal/resea...345/story.html