2014 Hyundai Veloster Celebrates First 5 Star NHTSA Score

In the space of just three days, the 2014 Hyundai Veloster recently made a strong case for being much more than just one of the most distinctively designed cars on the market.

The hatchbacked Hyundai made news late in March when it received a Best Overall Value of the Year (BOVY) Award from Vincentric, an independent company known for providing ownership-cost information to the auto industry. After finding out that the 2014 Hyundai Veloster won this year's BOVY as the top-rated Subcompact in the country, Scott Margason, director of Product Planning for Hyundai Motor America, commented that: “The Veloster was engineered to offer our customers great value without sacrificing functionality or driver engagement, two criteria that are fundamental to the subcompact car segment. This accolade acknowledges the Veloster as a well-rounded vehicle, providing versatility and fun-to-drive characteristics in an efficient, low-cost package.”

And it's clear that those engineers kept plenty busy when developing the 2014 Hyundai Veloster, since it not only showcases award-winning value, it does so while offering a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in occupant-protection testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That the highest overall vehicle score offered and comes in the model's very first run through the government testing program; more specifically, the 2014 Hyundai Veloster was given 4 stars in NHTSA's front and rollover tests, as well as a 5-star grade in the Administration's side-crash evaluation.

Added Margason: “The Veloster nameplate was designed to bring a new, unconventional look to the subcompact car segment without compromising occupant safety. Through the employment of high-tech safety systems like Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist and the use of high-strength, yet lightweight materials during construction, we are able to deliver a package that is unique, but safer than ever.”

The 2014 Hyundai Veloster—which, as an FYI, has not been evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its Top Safety Pick program— is on sale now with an MSRP of $17,800.