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Hyundai Veloster vs Holden Commodore

What's the difference?

VS
Hyundai Veloster
Hyundai Veloster

$22,500 - $38,999

2020 price

Holden Commodore
Holden Commodore

$11,999 - $39,990

2018 price

Summary

2020 Hyundai Veloster
2018 Holden Commodore
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.6L

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

Diesel
Fuel Efficiency
7.3L/100km (combined)

5.6L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

5
Dislikes
  • Some cheap plastic
  • Transmission a bit dithery
  • Could be a bit sharper

  • Relatively unassuming looks
  • V6 not as refined as the 2.0 turbo
  • VXR doesn't match the romance of old V8 SS
2020 Hyundai Veloster Summary

Giant carmakers seem like pretty sober sorts of places. Everything goes through endless committees, every decision has to be signed off, sent in, sent back, subjected to endless scrutiny to make sure it will make money.

Sometimes, a brand will do something odd like BMW's i3 which is like sending up a flare to get people talking.

Hyundai, for many years, seemed to be trying to emulate Toyota. After a brief flourish in the '90s when it did for curves on cars what Kim Kardashian did for curves on grubby internet sites, the company lost its bottle and tried to go full mainstream. Never go full mainstream, that's for the old folks.

Then, out of the blue, came the Veloster. It's probably one of the most wilfully weird cars in decades (apart from various Citroens, but that's a special case).

One long door on the driver's side, two shorter doors on the passenger side. When BMW did something similar with the Mini Clubman, right-hand drive markets didn't get their own version of the kerb-side door, but Hyundai isn't like that.

Making the Veloster properly in right-hand drive is a wonderful gesture from a company that worked out being itself was a better idea than being Toyota.

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2018 Holden Commodore Summary

For many Australians, calling the new ZB a Commodore is tantamount to being forced to call your Mum’s new boyfriend ‘Dad.’ 

It's not built here, available in rear-wheel drive, there's no sign of a V8 or a sedan body, so why should we accept it as a worthy heir to the badge worn by Holden’s proudest model since 1978? 

One big reason is that it was always going to be the next Commodore, even before Holden decided to stop building cars in Australia. Yes, it was even set to be built here. 

Once the VE/VF Commodore’s Zeta platform was axed during General Motors’ post-GFC rationalisation, the next best thing was to align with the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia designed primarily for Europe. 

Holden was actually involved with the new Insignia’s development from the beginning, which has led to some key details for the Commodore version and Australia, and a whole lot of input from our world-renowned Aussie engineering team. 

So it’s a whole lot more Commodore than you may realise. Whether it lives up to its reputation is another matter. 

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Hyundai Veloster 2018 Holden Commodore

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