What It Is: A highly stylized, sporty three-door coupe, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is meant to woo young professionals and students alike.

What We Like: The bold, aggressive styling won’t leave you without an opinion, which is a good thing for Hyundai. Lots of features that often are seen on pricier cars, a sporty premium feeling interior, and great fuel economy.

What We Dislike: While competitive in its segment, true enthusiasts may want a little more kick under the hood. Average base stereo and sound quality.

Snap Judgment: The Veloster may be the most styled Hyundai ever, and with an attractive modern interior and excellent fuel economy, you’d be hard pressed to find better at this price point.

Exciting sporty Korean coupes are about as common as hot, balmy days in the Pacific Northwest, or cars with three passenger doors. But for a couple days at the tail of summer, I was the beneficiary of all three.

Hyundai is synonymous with good, attractive cars. The formula has propelled it to become the fifth largest automaker globally, which is all well and good, but missing from the range was a type-A personality car. A car that wasn’t neutral. A car that wasn’t just attractive and pleasant, but would make you do a double take. A car that would create division, and not apologize after. That car, is this car.

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is meant to trend younger, but we think the Veloster could end up attracting a much wider audience, as the popular Ford Fiesta does. The Veloster can count the Scion tC and Honda CR-Z as competitors, and may even woo budget-minded Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Beetle owners less concerned with brand heritage.

2012 Hyundai Velosters with a traditional manual transmission start at $17,300, and dual-clutch models begin at $18,550. Two packages are available. A $2000 Style Package upgrades the standard 17-inch alloy wheels to 18-inches, adds a better sound system, chrome to the grille and wraps the steering wheel and shifter in leather, leatherette bolster seats and door inserts among other things.

The Tech Package costs an additional $2000 on top of the Style Package. It includes painted inserts on the 18-inch alloy wheels, backup warning sensors, navigation with a rearview camera, automatic headlights and push-button start. Three service-tiered Blue Link Telematics packages are available for subscription, providing everything from roadside assistance to Pandora-radio and hands-free voice features.