WHAT'S in a name? It's an often asked question, frequently rhetorical and suggesting, more often than not, that the answer is very little.

That's not the case with the Hyundai Veloster though.

The dramatic moniker is a million miles away from the drab alpha-numeric labels attached to most of the South Korean car maker's other motors and, along with it's quirky 2+1 door layout, ensures that this is their stand-out model.

The standard car created quite a stir when it was launched a couple of years ago with it's sporty stylings suggesting it may fill the void left by the popular but now-defunct Hyundai Coupe.

Power and performance, while not pedestrian, were not going to trouble the leading contenders in the growing coupe-cum-hatchback marketplace though.

The subsequent arrival of this turbocharged version could, however, have the likes of the Vauxhall Astra GTC and Volkswagen Scirocco looking over their shoulders a little nervously.

The addition of the sophisticated twin-scroll blower to the 1.6 litre direct injection engine provides significantly more oomph - 184bhp compared to 138 in the normally-aspirated car. Torque is also boosted from 123lb/ft to 195lb/ft which is delivered from as low as 1,500 revs up to 4,500.

That translates to a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 133mph - which moves the Veloster much closer to hot-hatch territory.

It also offers plenty of versatility on the road with the Turbo SE proving very mild-mannered and relaxing to drive when pootling around town but offering a healthy helping of fun and involvement when you put your foot down on twisty lanes.

There's plenty of zip when on the move with good throttle response and a good injection of pace, especially if you're happy working the compact six-speed manual transmission.

The car feels well balanced and the tweaked suspension offers good grip and some nimble handling while the light but responsive steering is accurate and makes manoeuvring easy.

Slightly wider and longer than the standard Veloster the Turbo SE also has a number of design changes aimed at dialling up its sportiness and, in all honesty, it's not a bad looking motor.

The nose has been remodelled with a much more prominent and muscular grille while at the back the twin tailpipes are round rather than hexagonal and sit in the centre of an imposing diffuser. The spoiler is larger and has an integrated LED brake light.

Along the flanks new 18-inch alloys and side skirts create a dynamic, road-hugging stance while a less than subtle red ‘Turbo' nameplate adorns the bootlid.

Despite its increased performance, the Turbo SE offers reasonable carbon emissions of 157g/km with average fuel economy of 40mpg which, coupled with Hyundai's usual competitive pricing and fully-transferable five-year unlimited mileage warranty and care package, makes it a good financial proposition.

The cabin is roomy and comfortable up front with supportive sports seats. The control panel is within easy reach and simple to navigate but many functions can also be operated from the steering wheel mounted controls.

The plush leather upholstery on this range-topper adds a touch of luxury but is in contrast to the somewhat hard, scratchy plastics which can be found elsewhere inside.

The unusual door arrangement - one large one on the driver's side and two on the other - is more than just a gimmick and marks out the area where the Veloster scores heavily over other coupe's and small hatches - practicality.

The extra door makes rear access easier and the almost flat transmission tunnel at means no contortions for the person having to scootch over after getting in.

Unlike the weird half door affair on the Mini Clubman it is also on the near side and opens in the conventional direction.

In truth though, while leg room's not bad, travelling long distances in the back will probably be a bit uncomfortable for anyone over my 5ft 10ins because of the raking roofline.

The boot, at 440 litres rising to 984 with the seat-backs folded down, offers some very useful space when compared to many of the Veloster's likely rivals.

This is also strictly a four-man vehicle, though, with two distinct rear seats, rather than a bench arrangement, separated by a convenient oddments tray and dual cup holders.

As ever Hyundai also throw in plenty of kit for your cash with virtually the only optional extras being specialist paint jobs and a sun-roof.

Pretty much everything else comes as standard including an electrically adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support; heated front seats; seven-inch touchscreen satnav and media system with Bluetooth, USB and aux-in connection; reverse parking camera; climate control; push-button start; six airbags; ABS brakes and stability control systems.