Redesigned last year, the entry-level Hyundai Accent has styling similar to Hyundai’s larger Elantra and Sonata sedans. With its direct-injection four-cylinder, the car is EPA-rated at 28/37 mpg city/highway. Available in sedan and four-door hatchback variants, the Accent competes with the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Chevrolet Sonic. The Kia Rio, also redesigned last year, is related.
The Accent sedan comes in a single GLS trim. The hatchback comes in GS and uplevel SE trims. New for 2013 The 2013 Accent gains more standard features. All trim levels now include remote keyless entry, heated side mirrors and air conditioning. The GLS sedan is newly equipped with satellite radio and an iPod/USB port.
The uplevel SE trim now includes turn-signal indicators on the side mirrors, and it can have an optional power sunroof. Exterior Embodying Hyundai’s “fluidic sculpture” design ethos, the Accent looks strikingly similar to the Elantra, with teardrop-shaped headlights and fog lights. Relative to the previous generation, the Accent sedan is 3.5 inches longer. The four-door Accent hatchback is 10 inches shorter than the sedan, though both cars ride the same 101.2-inch wheelbase. Exterior features include:
Body-colored door handles
Standard 14-inch steel wheels
Optional 16-inch alloy wheels
Optional fog lights
Optional rear spoiler (hatchback)
Interior Gone is the prior Accent’s shelf-like dashboard, replaced by a more gradual ascent to the windshield. The dashboard’s plunging center portion holds climate and audio controls. Total passenger volume in the sedan is about 90 cubic feet, down slightly from the prior-generation Accent sedan. The hatchback offers 21.2 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats and 47.5 cubic feet of maximum volume with the seats folded. The latter figure trumps most competitors. Interior features include:
Remote keyless entry
Air conditioning
CD stereo with iPod connectivity and auxiliary jack
Available steering-wheel cruise and audio controls
Available piano-black accents, chrome door handles
Available Bluetooth connectivity
Under the Hood The Accent’s tiny four-cylinder with direct-injection technology is uncommon for this class. It works through six-speed transmissions. Mechanical features include:
1.6-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower and 123 pounds-feet of torque
Standard six-speed manual
Optional six-speed automatic
Dashboard Active Eco button modulates accelerator response and automatic-transmission shifting to improve fuel economy
