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After last week’s test drive of the frightfully expensive Rolls-Royce Corniche, I thought we could use something to bring us back down to earth.

So here it is: the Hyundai Accent. A basic set of wheels that costs less than the annual license and registration of the Rolls.

Restyled for 2000, the little Accent has become a surprisingly decent little car, with a comfortable ride, good handling and enough power from its four-banger to make it fun to zip through traffic.

With a base sticker price under $10,000, the four-door sedan tested here offers a well-priced alternative for small families.

Hyundai (pronounced like Sunday) has had a bumpy ride in the United States, arriving with much fanfare in 1986 with its low-priced Excel model, the first Korean car to enter the market here with any impact. Unfortunately, the early Excels also showed a propensity for falling apart at an early age.

Hyundai cars have come a long way, selling well and challenging popular Japanese competitors.

It hasn’t hurt that Hyundai offers the best warranty in the business: five-year, 60,000-mile coverage bumper-to-bumper; five-year roadside assistance; and 10-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.

The Accent is the value model, replacing the Excel, with the three-door hatchback starting at $9,000. The new Accent is longer and wider than the previous version, though it’s still tiny, and the restyling makes it look sleeker and less boxy.

The interior is fairly roomy, with good headroom front and rear, though legroom in the back is a bit tight. The basic model tested here, without power windows or power door locks, was comfortable and nicely finished, for such an inexpensive car.

The driver seat on this bottom-rung model has a manual tilt feature, but there’s no provision for a tilt steering wheel.

With a five-speed stick shift, the single-overhead-cam 1.5-liter engine displays a surprising amount of spunk, a bit noisy on acceleration, but cruising smoothly and quietly at highway speeds. Some of that refinement can be chalked up to internal counterweights to dampen vibration and hydraulic engine mounts to isolate it from the body.

The shifter is notchy and kind of clumsy. An automatic is available, electronically controlled to adapt to driving conditions.

The handling improvements include responsive rack-and-pinion steering and all-independent suspension. Antilock brakes are available as an option. On this stripped-down version, the only options were air-conditioning, for $750; delivery, $435; the ubiquitous floor-mat charge, $70; and a cargo net for the trunk, $38.

The new Accent may be basic, but its comfort and performance are pleasant bonuses.

2000 Hyundai Accent

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan, front-wheel drive.
Base price: $9,699.
Price as tested: $10,992.
Engine: 1.5-liter in-line 4, 92 hp at 5,500 rpm, 97 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Transmission: 5-speed stick shift.
Curb weight: 2,240 pounds.
Wheelbase: 96.1 inches.
EPA mileage: 28 city, 36 highway.
Highs: Value pricing. Surprising refinement. Decent performance.
Lows: Diminutive size. Notchy shifter. No tilt steering wheel.