Hyundai puts ‘Accent’ on quality
If you’ve shopped Hyundai’s entry-level Accent GLS and found it wanting, another visit may be warranted.
For the ‘06 model year, the Accent is larger, stronger, safer and more capable in every way. It’s also more attractive, with interior and exterior design upgrades that bring it up to class standards.
And while it’s true that Hyundai no longer offers a sub-$10,000 sedan, a newly available, stripped-down 2007 three-door hatchback rings the bell at $10,995.
The new Accent four-door sedan has a base price of $13,305, with destination, and boasts 104.6 cubic feet of interior space, which is up from 100.9 last year, and is best in class, says Hyundai.
A full set of airbags includes curtain-style bags and standard four-wheel disc brakes are backed by anti-lock technology and electronic brake-force distribution.
The Accent AM/FM/CD audio system pumps 174 watts through six speakers and both vanity mirrors are illuminated (don’t smirk, guys; that’s a big deal to female drivers).
Our tester included a $1,500 Premium-Sport package that added air conditioning; power windows, mirrors and door locks; heated mirrors; and keyless remote entry. It also added a 15-inch tire-and-wheel package, up from the standard 14-inchers.
Carpeted floor mats, a $65 option, brought the grand total to $14,870.
Air conditioning can be had as a $752 stand-alone option, while such niceties as a sunroof are not available.
It wouldn’t be much of an update if the Accent didn’t include a new interior, and Hyundai accommodates with a two-tone color scheme. Materials and fit-and-finish are substantially improved, and the seats are better, too, although the outside edges of the foam-rubber bottom cushions collapse under the weight of an exiting driver, raising concerns about their long-term durability.
The driver’s seat is adjustable eight ways and the steering wheel tilts to help the driver find a comfortable driving position. A telescoping function would have been a nice touch, as I found myself further away from the wheel than I’d like.
The driver and front-seat passenger enjoy suitable leg, hip and headroom, although with two aboard the cabin feels a bit tight. Convenient storage cubbies litter the cabin, including a pair in the center console, and pockets in all four doors include water-bottle cutouts.
Rear-seat accommodations are sketchy, although legroom has grown by 1.5 inches, so it’s not a complete loss back there. Hyundai also has carved out foot-room under the front seats, significantly improving the scenario.
Rear doors open wide, making easy work of installing children in their safety seats.
Ride quality is dramatically improved, thanks in large part to a wheelbase that’s grown by 2.3 inches to 98.4 inches and to a stiffer body structure and improved suspension tuning.
The cabin is surprisingly quiet until the engine reaches its upper ranges; even so, it’s a far more sophisticated experience than one would have expected just a year or two ago.
Overall, the Accent is 2 inches longer and is taller and wider and rides on a wider track for improved stability. The MacPherson-strut front suspension and coupled torsion-bar rear suspension incorporate coil springs and gas shocks and a front stabilizer bar helps reduce body sway.
A new rack-and-pinion steering system uses engine-speed sensors to vary assist levels and is reasonably accurate, though not particularly communicative.
The Accent is available only in a single trim level and with a single engine offering. A 1.6-liter, 16-valve four with variable intake valve timing makes 110 horsepower and 106 foot-pounds of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional.
No one expects blistering performance in this price range, which is a good thing as, at 11.8 seconds, 0-60 is more a stroll than a sprint. Performance beyond that point is dicey, too, making passing more of an adventure than it ought to be.
Of course, the pay-off is terrific fuel economy.
Aesthetically, the new Accent hits the mark. Larger-than-expected headlights and taillights complement a sweeping roofline, while a strong shoulder-line visually connects the front and rear ends and tastefully applied chrome accents add sparkle.
A chic, Euro-style radio antenna is located at the rear of the roof panel, and the truncated decklid conceals a trunk that has grown from 11.6 to 12.4 cubic feet, while 60/40 split rear seatbacks fold to increase the cargo area.
With the Chinese threatening to steal the lower end of the market from the Koreans and new offerings from such makers as Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen squeezing them from above, Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary are challenged to improve their game at every turn. The new Accent proves they’re up to the task.