2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2019 Hyundai Veloster N

Hot hatches. It’s a term used to describe a hatchback with a heavy focus on performance. And in an era where consumers are flocking to the crossover, SUV, and truck market, the hot hatch is becoming somewhat of a rarity. Luckily for us, the manufacturers serious about making seriously cool hatchbacks are the ones that do it well.

Enter today’s competitors: the 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI S and the 2019 Hyundai Veloster N. The Veteran and the New Blood. Which will take the top spot?

2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI S	vs	2019 Hyundai Veloster N
$27,595	MSRP	$26,900
2.0L turbo 4-cyl	Engine	2.0L turbo 4-cyl
228 hp / 258 ft-lbs	Horsepower / Torque	250 hp / 260 ft-lbs
FWD	Drivetrain	FWD
6-speed manual / 7-speed automated-manual	Transmission	6-speed manual
24 / 32 / 27	MPG	22 / 28 / 25

Superior Ride Comfort

While both the Golf GTI and the Veloster N are incredibly fun to drive, the difference in comfort is easily distinguishable. Where the Veloster seats lack support and the sport suspension is overly stiff, the Golf GTI excels at both. The seats are comfy, but supportive, even over long trips. And the GTI suspension is also tuned for track use but has switchable drive settings for different environs. With the available dampers installed, there are few vehicles with better ride quality than the GTI among the whole auto market.

Surprising Utility

If you’re looking to buy a hot hatch for use off of the track, then the Golf GTI should be the one you choose, for one simple reason: cargo space. While both vehicles have similar cargo space behind the rear row (22.8 ft³ for the Golf, 19.9 ft³ for the Veloster), when the rear rows go down, there is a decisive victor. The Golf has a class-leading 52.7 ft³ on top of its fold-flat seats. The Veloster only has 44.5 ft³ of space. The Veloster also has a narrow hatch rear hatch opening, making maneuvering things in the cargo bay a pain.

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