Introduction

The Hyundai Accent is an exceptional value, with a long list of standard equipment and trim. At this price, buying a new car with up-to-date safety equipment may make more sense than buying an older used car. And to eliminate worries about maintenance costs, Hyundai backs the Accent with one of the best warranties in the business. The Accent is roomy and comfortable, and surprisingly refined for such an inexpensive car. Its twin-cam 1.6-liter engine is gutsy, and zippy performance makes these cars fun to drive. The Accent offers surprisingly sophisticated ride and handling. The GT ratchets up the latter with a sports suspension and other goodies. Hyundai's 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection plan shields the owner against a variety of problems, while the powertrain is warranted for 100,000 miles. The plan even includes five years of roadside assistance with lockout and emergency towing service. If the car title is transferred, the powertrain is still protected for the first 50,000 miles or five years from dealer sale. That's peace of mind.

Walkaround

The overall form of the Hyundai Accent is a low-slung wedge topped by a steeply raked windshield and a tall wrap of window glass. There's a fast slope to the front hood and a brief back deck. The three-door model is shaped more like a sedan than a traditional hatchback. Hyundai calls it a hatchback coupe. The Hyundai Accent is neatly styled, with the hood flowing smoothly up from the body-colored front bumper and back to the windshield. Oblong front light clusters blending back around the new fenders flank a grid-like body-color grille over a lower air inlet in the bumper. The look is at once soft, yet alert. The grille and light combination gives the Accent's face a cute, wide-eyed and cheery quality we find appealing. Feature lines on the sides flow into the high tail lights, suggesting speed and action. At the rear, the sharply-sculpted body-colored bumper may be a trifle busy, but the overall look is appealing. The spoiler and lower bodyside molding on the GT blend nicely into the car's overall lines so they don't look like aftermarket add-ons.

Interior Features

Hyundai Accent was designed to maximize interior room. Its tall windows, generously sized bucket seats and multi-level console all contribute to an overall impression of spaciousness. The higher rear roof line on the hatchback adds to the feeling of interior space. Those form-fitting front bucket seats feel substantial and supportive. Packed with high-density foam, they feature swoopy indentations and firm side bolsters. The driver's seat is comfortable, and adjusts to fit even a tall frame. High off the floor, it provides excellent visibility through those tall windows all around. The front seats in GL and GT models move in multiple ways to conform for leg length, seat height, lumbar curve, seatback tilt and headrest position. Also, the driver's seat (on GL and GT editions) provides a right-side armrest that folds up and out of the way when not wanted. Three-point seatbelts adjust for height. The curvaceous front door panels include an integrated armrest and a generous map pocket low near the floor. The instrument panel orients the driver with large, clearly marked gauges set immediately forward of the steering wheel. These consist of a speedometer and tachometer with flanking dials indicating fuel level and engine temperature. (The base model omits the tachometer.) On base and GL models, white markings and red pointers over a dark gray field ensure an attractive appearance and easy readability. Accent GT gets fashionable white-faced gauges. The surfaces of the doors and dash, coated in soft-touch synthetic material, feel refined, even sophisticated, which is unexpected for the class. The GT gets leather coverings for the steering wheel and shift knob. All controls are close at hand, logical, and easy to operate. Large and easy-to-use rotary knobs for the audio and climate systems are stacked at the middle of the dash. The glove box is an ice-chest-size bin that drops down from below the passenger-side airbag, looking as though it could swallow a couple of six-packs of soda. The back bench provides three-point belts and bucket-style spaces for outboard riders, plus a two-point belt on the center hump. The seatback splits 60/40 and folds to increase the capacity of the flat-floored trunk.