Last month we were choosing between Nirmo RS, Fiesta ST and Veloster Turbo.
We (me) wanted a fun-to-drive car (around 200hp, manual), not a killer on gas, still comfortable (nice seats, good sound, sunroof) and occasional seating for 4 (we have a 2 and a 5 yr old).
Overall, Nismo RS was the worst of the bunch... Those "amazing" seats didn't feel that great, especially getting in and out. You end up sitting relatively high and have to "climb" in or out over the bottom bolsters, which are quite hard. I will agree that if you are inside and somehow manage to drive with eyes closed (I should have tried that, Al Pacino style...), then it is great! Steering wheel does feel nice, shifts are precise and the engine does what's expected (well, what I was expecting; but so do the other two). But then you open your eyes (so much for Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade) and you see how cheap interior is, how easily plastic surfaces get scratched up (my watch scratched the door panel trying to adjust the seat) and then how little room there is in the trunk (granted, more than Fiesta ST).
So that was a NO for us.
Fiesta ST was much nicer inside (and outside), but lack of room in the back seat (my 2 year old had to wrap her legs around the seat in front of her) and neither my wife nor I being able to find a comfortable seating position (she is 5'5 and 120lbs, I'm 6'2 and 180 lbs) gave Fiesta ST a boot as well.
And then came Hyundai Veloster Turbo... An underdog in our books initially (c'mon, 3 doors? is there a trunk? family sports(ish) car? can't be!) but after a 2 month wait to try (and buy the same day) a manual model - we fell in love! It did everything that we were looking for; most comfortable seats, most room in the back (or as much as NISMO RS), large enough trunk (actually did a Costco run to try it out), lots of cool tech stuff, great daily fun driver with good fuel economy... let's just say it brings a smile to our faces every time you push the gas pedal.
