Item: 2016 Hyundai Accent
Author: Justin Cupler

Overview

The most affordable vehicle in the Hyundai lineup, the subcompact Accent comes off as the sophisticated kid in the economy class. There's enough content and quality baked into the Accent to advance it beyond the realm of basic transportation.

What's New for 2016

The standard trim level is now known as SE for the both the sedan and hatchback.

Choosing Your Hyundai Accent

Every Accent is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that's good for 137 horsepower, robust output for this class. You have a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with a fuel-saving Eco mode. With the automatic, the Accent achieves 27 mpg in city driving and a laudable 37 mpg when cruising the highway.

The Accent is technically a five-passenger vehicle, but we wouldn't plan on carrying more than four on a regular basis. Cargo space is a happier story. With 13.7 cubic feet of it, the sedan virtually matches some midsize cars. The hatchback gives you even more, of course -- up to 47.5 cubic-feet with the rear seat folded.

To keep things simple, the Accent is offered in just two trim levels:

There are no further options for any Accent aside from the usual dealer-installed accessories.

CarsDirect Tip

The automatic transmission isn't cheap at $1,000, but we still heartily recommend it. You get slightly better fuel economy and access to the option packages, which furnish a lot of content for the money.

Get your price on a Hyundai Accent »

Read our review on the Hyundai Accent »

John Diether

Automotive Editor - September 21, 2015

Read Less

Expert Review

Expert Rating

Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Justin Cupler

Automotive Editor - November 24, 2015

For the 2016 model year, Hyundai has simplified the Accent lineup to include just three versions: SE Sedan, SE Hatchback, and Sport Hatchback. Continue reading to find out if this change is for the better.

Pricing and Equipment

The Hyundai Accent lives in the subcompact realm, which means that it has two primary responsibilities: be inexpensive and deliver good fuel economy. The 2016 Accent certainly delivers in the former, as its base SE sedan model starts from $14,745 while the SE hatchback starts at $14,995. At this low price, this subcompact is decently equipped with standard features like:

Six-speed manual transmission
14-inch steel wheels
Power mirrors
Air conditioning
Power windows
Six-speaker audio system

Performance Pros

Predictable handling is good for its class.
Sport model's electric power steering feels pretty good.

Performance Cons

The 1.6-liter engine leads its class with 138 horsepower, but still feels sluggish.
The base model's electric power steering is too heavy.

Interior Pros

The Accent's cabin is large for its class, giving ample room for those up front and in the rear. What's more, its folding rear seats open up even more room for hauling.

The adjustability of the front seats accommodates all sizes.
Rear seats are big enough for children and teens.
There's surprising cargo room in the hatchback models.
Lots of cubbies for storing cellphones and other pocket-dwelling items.

Interior Cons

The seats are not particularly comfortable for long hauls.
The Accent lags behind others in crash-test ratings.

The Most Pleasant Surprise

The roominess of the Accent’s cabin is quite surprising, particularly the hatchback. It has plenty of room for a car full of teenagers or a growing family. When the rear seats aren’t in use, the cargo area expands to swallow all the gear you need to head off to your dorm room.

The Least Pleasant Surprise

We could harp on the Accent’s iffy performance all day, but that is expected in this class. The big issue for the 2016 Accent is its not-so-hot safety ratings. It received a four-star rating from the NHTSA, which doesn’t sound too bad on the surface, but the side-impact test showed that there is a high likelihood of thoracic injury.

The Bottom Line

It’s cheap, it is roomy, and it is fuel efficient, so the 2016 Hyundai Accent definitely checks most of the subcompact boxes. It does, however, fall short in safety, which could deter some buyers.

Read Less

Specs & Features

Highlights

Overall Crash Safety Rating

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque

1.6L I-4 / 137 HP / 123 ft.lbs.

Transmission

Standard: 6-spd man w/OD

Available: 6-spd SHIFTRONIC w/OD

Drive Type

Front-wheel

Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined

27 / 38 / 32 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

Bumper to Bumper Warranty

60 Months / 60,000 Miles

Mechanical Specs

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque	1.6L I-4 / 137 HP / 123 ft.lbs.
Drive Type	Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined	27 / 38 / 32 Mpg
Brakes	Front Disc/rear Drum / 4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension	Strut
Rear Suspension	Semi-independent Torsion Beam Beam
Spare Tire And Wheel
Fuel Tank	11.4 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type	Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank	$43

Dimensions & Capabilities

Maximum Cargo Volume	13.7 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume	90 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length	172.0 "
Exterior Width	66.9 "
Exterior Height	57.1 "
Front Headroom	39.9 "
Rear Headroom	37.2 "
Front Legroom	41.8 "
Rear Legroom	33.3 "
Front Shoulder Room	53.7 "
Rear Shoulder Room	53.4 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight	2,480 Lbs. / 2,546 Lbs.
Wheel Base	101 "
Turning Radius	17.1 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	14.0 " Steel / 16.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Power Remote / Dual Power Remote Heated, Convex Spotter Driver
Bumpers	Body-colored
Grille Moldings	With Chrome Bar
Rear Spoiler	Lip
Exhaust	Stainless Steel

Interior Features

Seating

Passenger Capacity	5
Seat Trim	Cloth / Premium Cloth
Front Seat Type	Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls	6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls	4-way
Front Armrests	6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats	60-40 Bench

Radio & Infotainment

Radio	Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Clock, Seek-scan
Speakers	6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity

Convenience Features

Steering Wheel Type	Tilt / Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control	With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror	Day-night
One Touch Open Window	Driver
Tinted Windows	Light
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry	Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets	1

Safety Features

Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags	Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags	Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag	Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable

Warranty

Bumper To Bumper Months Miles	60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Major Components Months	120 Months / 100,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months	60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Corrosion Perforation	84 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months	60 Months / 60,000 Miles

Used 2016 Hyundai Accent for Sale