By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National August 28, 2008Vehicle Overview
Available as base GS and sporty SE two-door hatchbacks or a GLS four-door sedan, the Accent competes with economy cars like the Chevrolet Aveo, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. The compact car comes standard with six airbags and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Both models include a 10-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, which is one of the industry's longest.
New for 2009
The Accent gets improved EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings, and a sunroof and cruise control have been added to option packages.
Exterior
The base GS hatchback has black side mirrors and door handles; those parts are body-colored on the SE hatchback and GLS sedan. The Accent measures 168.5 inches long, 66.7 inches wide and 57.9 inches tall. Compared to its competitors, the Accent is the shortest in length. It's very close in width to the Versa and Yaris, but not quite as wide as the Aveo. Its height is close to that of the Yaris, but it's slightly shorter than the Versa and Aveo.
- 14-, 15- and 16-inch wheels
- Rear window defroster is standard
- Standard rear window wiper on SE
- Optional ground-effects kit and alloy fuel door on hatchback
Interior
Up to five occupants can fit inside the Accent. Cargo space totals 12.4 cubic feet in the sedan and 15.9 cubic feet in the hatchback. Air conditioning is standard in the GLS and SE, and it's available in the Popular Equipment Package on the GS. Every door panel contains a bottle holder and storage pockets. An available option package adds power windows, power door locks with keyless entry and heated power mirrors, which are all standard in the SE hatchback.
- Standard XM Satellite Radio with three months of free service
- CD player with auxiliary MP3 input jack standard on GLS and SE, included in Popular Equipment Package on GS
- Standard tilt steering wheel and eight-way driver's seat with adjustable armrest
- 60/40-split folding rear seat
- Power sunroof available in Premium Equipment Package
- Cruise control available with Premium and Popular Equipment packages
Under the Hood
Enhancements to the Accent's engine, transmission, tire pressures and power-steering pump result in estimated improvements to the car's fuel economy. EPA estimates are 27/33 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission and 26/35 mpg with the automatic.
- 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 106 pounds-feet of torque
- Continuously variable valve timing
- Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission
- SE models with manual transmission have B&M Racing sport shifter
- Sport-tuned suspension on SE hatchback
Safety
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are standard on the SE hatchback and optional on the GLS sedan. They're unavailable on the GS hatchback. Standard features for all models include:
- Front seat-mounted side-impact airbags
- Roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both rows of seats
- Front seat belt pretensioners
- Adjustable head restraints for all seating positions
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| David Thomas | Cars.com National | October 20, 2009 |
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | August 28, 2008 |
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