Hyundai Accent

Style and glamor may have eluded the Hyundai Accent, but since its 1995 introduction, this economy car has quietly established itself as one of the better-built, better-performing choices at the bottom end of the new car market.

Although grouped with the subcompact cars in their price range, the Accent sedan and hatchback have always fallen under the EPA's classification for a compact car, which translates to a surprisingly roomy interior. Other Accent advantages include a nicely furnished cabin, a long standard equipment list and adequate acceleration and handling. Generous warranty coverage is another plus: Since 1999, Hyundai has backed the Accent with a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile drivetrain warranty.

If there's any reason you wouldn't want to buy the generally competent Hyundai Accent, it's the increasingly diverse selection at the lower end of the economy car segment. Competing import manufacturers have introduced new models with added style, personality and options availability. Another drawback is the Accent's typically low resale value (though this does make it quite affordable on the used market). For buyers who don't need all the glitz and plan to keep their car for more than five years, though, the Hyundai Accent is a sensible choice among budget sedans and three-door hatchbacks.

The third-generation Hyundai Accent sedan debuted for 2006, followed by the three-door hatchback version in 2007. Exterior styling is sleeker and more upscale than on Accents past (particularly on the hatchback), and inside, there's a clean, two-tone decor with straightforward controls. Materials are tasteful in appearance and solid in quality, with just a few cheap plastics on the console and dash. Interior room increased slightly over the previous Accent, and as a result, average-size adults will be able to get comfortable in the front or rear.
Driving the Accent offers no revelations in performance, but the brakes are strong, and ride quality and handling are fully acceptable for an economy car. The 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine provides ample power for driving around town, but acceleration can be sluggish at highway speeds on automatic-transmission models. We recommend getting the manual gearbox if you can. Another option during the 2007 calendar year will be a gasoline/electric hybrid model; it will have a 1.4-liter gas engine and an electric motor to deliver above-average fuel economy.

Although you won't find an iPod hookup on the equipment list, the Hyundai Accent delivers on all the essentials. The base GS hatchback starts you out with front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, a full set of three-point seatbelts, split-folding rear seats and AM/FM radio. Stepping up to the GLS sedan provides additional conveniences, including air-conditioning, a CD player and optional ABS. The top-line Accent SE hatchback has ABS as standard along with 16-inch alloy wheels and sport-tuned suspension and steering.

If you're shopping for a used Accent, you'll run across plenty of second-generation cars, which were sold in sedan and hatchback form from 2000-'05. Initially, this Accent was offered only with an 89-hp, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (horsepower varied slightly over the years). A 104-hp, 1.6-liter engine joined the lineup in 2001 and replaced the 1.5-liter altogether in 2003. Acceleration was adequate even with the 1.5-liter engine, however, and both the automatic and manual transmissions perform acceptably.

Handling and braking capabilities were modest on second-gen Accents, mainly because of the car's undersized 13-inch wheels and tires. Hyundai did offer the '04 and '05 GT hatchback with 14-inch wheels and a firmer suspension, but if you're buying any used Accent, it's a good idea to set aside some money for better tires. Unfortunately, antilock brakes were optional only on 2005 Accents. Front seat-mounted side airbags were standard on '03 GL sedans and hatchbacks, and on all '04 and '05 models.

Sold from 1995-'99, the first-generation Hyundai Accent was also available as both a compact sedan and a three-door hatchback; it replaced Hyundai's shoddily built Excel subcompact (1986-'94). All Accents of this era came with a 92-hp, 1.5-liter engine, except for the '96 and '97 GT hatch, which had a DOHC, 16-valve version of this engine good for 105 hp. ABS was optional on automatic transmission-equipped Accents sold from 1995-'98, but this safety feature was discontinued entirely for '99 and didn't turn up again until 2005.