Last redesigned in 2017, there are rumors that the Hyundai Accent is on its way out the door. Though compact sedans aren’t as popular as they once were, the Accent is likely to get a mid-cycle refresh for the 2023 model year. From the few spy shots we've seen, the new Accent driving around appears to have a facelift and a few interesting changes.
Though the spy shots are heavily camouflaged, the exterior of this refresh may see the Accent getting new front and rear fascias that appear similar to the ones found on the Elantra. The front of the car may be rearranged to move the headlights lower and integrate them with a new, wider grille. In the back, the taillights appear to be redesigned and seem to bookend a new style of opening for the trunk. We don’t have any information about alterations to the interior, but refreshes typically don’t change much in the cabin aside from perhaps new upholstery options.
Under the hood, the changes may be continuing. It is rumored that the Accent’s 1.6-liter engine may downsize to a 1.5-liter and be paired with mild-hybrid technology. Since the 1.6-liter engine only made 120 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque, the hope is that the hybrid tech will improve those numbers. To the dismay of some, Hyundai got rid of the manual transmission last year for the 2022 model. This will also be the case for the 2023 Accent, which is speculated to have only the continuously variable transmission gearbox. Manual transmissions aren’t as popular in the U.S. market, and Hyundai isn’t the only brand dropping them, as Kia recently discontinued the manual transmission for the 2022 Soul.
