Veloster vs Juke: Unlikely pair set own pace

Nissan Juke and Hyundai Veloster. Photo / David Linklater

High-ups at their respective brands could well be on their first draft of an angry letter as you read this, but I reckon the Hyundai Veloster and Nissan Juke have a lot in common.

They're both small cars with 1.6-litre engines, weighing about the same (Juke is 15kg heavier), with broadly similar performance and almost identical fuel economy: 6.3 litres per 100km for the Hyundai and 6.4 litres for the Nissan.

More to the point, the key to appreciating both is the same: these cars are not what they appear to be. The Veloster is not a sports car. The Juke is not a dune buggy/off-roader. Rather, both are simple family hatchbacks served up with a significant styling twist.

If there's an on-paper advantage for one, it's in price. The Veloster costs $39,990 in entry-level form (although the better-equipped Elite pictured here is $44,990), while the top Juke Ti is just $33,990.

But the Veloster has an immediate powertrain advantage, with direct-injection (GDi) technology, more power (103kW/167Nm versus 86kW/158Nm) and Hyundai's first dual-clutch automated-manual transmission (DCT).

There's a crispness to the way that the engine/gearbox go about their business, even if the DCT feels a little lazy at times - like it's configured for maximum smoothness rather than quick gear changes.

The Juke's engine is much more vocal than the Veloster's and things are not helped by the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which is efficient in urban running, but hyperactive when you want to drive quickly. The Juke Ti boasts a push-button drive-mode menu that offers normal, sport and economy settings. Sport doesn't make the transmission any more responsive, but it does give you extra engine braking.

If ultimate cornering speed is your aim, then Juke is your machine. The steering is numb but it still handles remarkably well for a high-riding machine, turning into corners with authority and staying remarkably resistant to body roll. The opportunity cost is a very firm ride - perhaps too firm if your driving is restricted to city streets.

The Veloster isn't as gung-ho, but serves up a superior balance of stable handling with a compliant ride. No great joy from the steering on this car either, but the high-tech transmission does offer a degree of control that allows you to exploit the chassis a little more.

Both cars offer surprisingly good occupant space. The Juke's SUV-like high seating position is a selling point, although the Veloster has a slightly longer wheelbase and superior rear-seat legroom. Both sacrifice some rear-seat visibility for fashionably small side glass areas.

Both also have hidden rear doorhandles to give a coupe look. The main difference is that the Hyundai has only one rear-side door.

Surprisingly, Veloster does offer substantially more luggage space: 320 litres compared with the Juke's 251 litres, although the Nissan's load bay is a taller, more versatile shape.

The Nissan has superior dashboard design and better fit and finish - it's pleasingly simple.

The Veloster embraces Hyundai corporate style, with big curves and a bit too much bling. Nice touch-screen in the centre console, though.

So which is best?

Really, both of these cars are all about styling - and because they're so different, it's very much a matter of personal taste.

But on the basis that the novelty visuals of both will date very quickly, I'd say the Veloster gets the gong because it's a better-balanced, more satisfying car to drive and surprisingly practical to live with.

Of course, I could have gone the easy route and compared the Veloster with, say, a Kia Cerato coupe. Or the Juke with the conceptually similar Mitsubishi ASX.

But that would have been a bit dull. Aren't these cars supposed to be a bit unpredictable?