2019 Hyundai Accent

To combat a wave of vehicle theft, Hyundai and Kia have developed a software fix and will even be sponsoring mobile clinics to install the software in five U.S. cities.

The software upgrade attempts to make older Hyundai vehicles more resilient to theft by modifying their vehicle control modules to not only activate the factory alarm when locking the doors, but also a special “ignition kill” feature that prevents thieves from starting the vehicle.

Accent, Elantra and Elantra Hybrid sedans are affected by the recall, which requires a cap on the pretensioner to resolve the issue.

Hyundai and Kia are issuing separate recalls for damaged trunk latches that together affect more than 601,000 vehicles from the 2016-20 model years.

The 2020 Hyundai Accent gets a new continuously variable automatic transmission and revised 1.6-liter engine that boost highway gas mileage ratings past 40 mpg, as well as pricing that starts a little higher at each trim level.

Two redesigned Hyundai models have earned new safety distinctions, but 
 to get the safety features needed for those awards, you'll need to shop 
 carefully.

Affordable subcompact cars are seldom a class consumers want to shop, but if budget or size constraints land you there, the redesigned Hyundai Accent is a prudent, if unexciting, choice.