Overview & Reviews

Since its 1995 introduction, the Hyundai Accent has served as the company's entry-level small car. Although grouped with similarly priced subcompact cars, the Accent sedan and hatchback have always fallen under the EPA's classification for a compact car, which translates to a surprisingly roomy interior. Other typical Accent advantages include generous standard equipment, a choice of hatchback and sedan body styles and long warranty coverage.

The latest Hyundai Accent has made great strides toward front-runner status in this competitive segment, which is a welcome change from past models. It is now larger inside and out, and the overall look of the car is certainly more dynamic. Performance and overall quality have been notably improved as well. Prior to the current-generation car, older Accents suffered from low safety ratings and an overall level of quality that didn't match up to some competitors.

Current Hyundai Accent
Available as a sedan or a four-door hatchback, the Accent comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed automatic is also available. Power output is impressive for the class, and the Accent gets excellent fuel economy as well.

The sedan comes only in base GLS trim, while the hatchback comes in GS and the top-line SE trims. The GLS is nicely equipped with air-conditioning, full power accessories and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and iPod/USB/auxiliary input jacks. Option highlights including foglights, alloy wheels, keyless entry, upgraded interior trim, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control and Bluetooth are available. The GS hatchback adds a few extra features. Stepping up to the SE hatchback gets you pretty much all of the optional features as standard.

Inside, the Hyundai Accent has a look and feel that's a cut above most rivals, with patterned upholstery, a sculpted dash and a modern overall design. Although some drivers may be bothered by the lack of a telescoping steering wheel as standard equipment on most trims, taller passengers will find all but the rear center seat roomy and comfortable. Cargo space is also quite accommodating, especially in the hatchback models.

On the road, the Accent's four-cylinder engine pulls significantly stronger than the power plants of its major competitors. Both the six-speed manual and the six-speed automatic transmissions make good use of that output, too. What it lacks in sporty handling dynamics, it compensates for with a quiet, comfortable ride and good overall composure -- criteria likely more important to buyers shopping this segment. That the Accent performs this well overall while still rating an EPA-estimated 31 mpg combined is impressive. Overall, the Hyundai Accent stands as a front-runner in the subcompact segment.

Used Hyundai Accent Models
The Hyundai Accent was fully redesigned for 2012, marking its fourth generation. Compared to the previous generation, this Accent is roomier inside, with a more stylish design and a more powerful and fuel-efficient engine. There haven't been any major changes since, although the optional telescoping steering wheel didn't become available until 2014.

The third-generation Hyundai Accent was built from 2006-'11. It's a cost-effective choice for a used car, though not a particularly exciting one. All third-generation Accents were powered by 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 110 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices included either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.

During its run, a steady progression of changes and improvements were implemented. Initially, a sedan body style and single trim level were available. In 2007, a two-door hatchback was added to the lineup along with additional trim levels: the GS and SE were offered on the hatchback and GLS was the only sedan choice.

GS models were modestly appointed with the bare necessities. The SE added 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, power accessories, a CD player, a sport-tuned suspension and quicker steering. The GLS sedan included air-conditioning and the audio system as standard, with power accessories and alloy wheels optional. A sunroof and an upgraded audio system were optional on the SE.

There was a slight bump in fuel economy for 2009, as well as available cruise control. For 2010, the entry-level Blue trim joined the lineup as the new value leader, but was renamed the GL one year later. In the meantime, the GS received standard air-conditioning. USB connectivity was added to the available auxiliary input in 2010. Used car shoppers should pay special attention to whether or not an Accent has antilock brakes, as the car's braking distance grows excessively long without them. Antilock brakes weren't even an option for the GS until 2010. Finally in 2011, all Accents featured it as standard.

In reviews, we found the third-generation Accent to be a decent choice for those seeking basic, fuel-efficient transportation, but plain styling and cheap materials kept appeal fairly low. Still, there was enough interior space for average-sized adults to get comfortable in the front or rear. Driving the Accent offered no revelations in performance, but the brakes were strong (with ABS) and ride quality and handling were acceptable for an economy car. Power was adequate for driving around town, but sluggish at highway speeds in automatic-transmission models. One final aspect to consider is the Accent's crash test scores; it performed very poorly in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's side-impact crash test.

The second-generation Accent was sold in sedan and hatchback form from 2000-'05. Initially, this Accent was offered only with an 89-hp, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (horsepower varied slightly over the years). A 104-hp, 1.6-liter engine joined the lineup in 2001 and replaced the 1.5-liter altogether in 2003. Acceleration was adequate even with the 1.5-liter engine, however, and both the automatic and manual transmissions perform acceptably.

Handling and braking capabilities were modest on second-gen Accents, mainly because of the car's undersized 13-inch wheels and tires. Hyundai did offer the 2004 and '05 GT hatchback with 14-inch wheels and a firmer suspension, but if you're buying any used Accent, it's a good idea to set aside some money for better tires. Unfortunately, antilock brakes were optional only on 2005 Accents. Front seat-mounted side airbags were standard on 2003 GL sedans and hatchbacks, and on all 2004 and '05 models.

Sold from 1995-'99, the first-generation Hyundai Accent was also available as both a compact sedan and a three-door hatchback; it replaced Hyundai's shoddily built Excel subcompact (1986-'94). All Accents of this era came with a 92-hp, 1.5-liter engine, except for the 1996 and '97 GT hatch, which had a DOHC, 16-valve version of this engine good for 105 hp. ABS was optional on automatic transmission-equipped Accents sold from 1995-'98, but this safety feature was discontinued entirely for 1999 and didn't turn up again until 2005.

User Reviews:

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  Radio/Time Display Screen - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By wubaja - February 6 - 8:13 pm

  I really like my Accent. It is fun to drive and quite comfortable. But . . . the radio display LCD is terrible! There is very little contrast in the display of dark gray and light gray, and there is no brightness control. This may be petty, but Id like to be able to see the clock (hidden in the upper right corner), rather than the radio station that Ive been tuned to for the last two hours. Does anyone else have a problem with the display screen?

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  So close, but a few suggestions - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By rb7385899 - January 30 - 11:06 am

  Have an 09 Elantra Touring already, & bought a 12 Accent Hatch SE. Im blown away by the mileage. Over 35 mixed use easy to get well over 40 Hwy. The accent is quieter & more refined than the (more expensive) Elantra Touring, w/comparable passenger room, but the cargo space is tighter, & a higher liftover. Im disturbed by the lack of spare tire Dealer has promised to alert me when the "donut kits" arrive. Also there is no ext temp display. How much did they save by leaving THAT out, LOL? Paid sticker, plus dealer installed mudflaps & iPod cable. Elecrolyte Green. Other than that Im completely satisfied. Paid $18,020 including delivery,

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  Gas Mileage Ratings not even close!! - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By winvid33 - January 26 - 2:42 pm

  This car for the most part is what it is advertised. A cute reliable fun to drive car. My biggest qualm is the gas mileage. I drive my car mixed between highway and city. Their sticker says 30 for city, and 33 mixed. I average 28MPG. I have tried both the active eco mode and standard mode, and actually if I drive it easy in normal mode, do just as good as ECO. Plus, in my opinion, the active ECO mode is actually dangerous to use. I have had Fords that have been dead on as far as the EPA estimates are concerned. They should change their sticker to better reflect the actual fuel economy! Especially since this is the exact reason people buy this vehicle.

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  Awesome company provided car - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By mboughman - January 17 - 9:19 pm

  This car was bought as a company car by the company for me. MPG were a huge reason for the purchase and I am observing about 32 mpg (not the 42 Hyundai says you will get) however I do not drive with ECO on. Either way, this car is very comfortable for subcompact standards and is packed with features, again for subcompact standards. Personally I own a full size 07 GMC and 09 Maxima, so I know comfort. That considered, it drives very well and induces grins while driving. I recently took a trip from Raleigh NC to Balimore MD in this car and was very comfortable the entire way, keeping in mind that I am a 62" 290lb man. All in all, Hyundai hit the mark with this one.

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  FAIL CAR and Dealerships - 2008 Hyundai Accent
  By bamagurl251 - January 12 - 8:38 pm

  This is the email I just finished writing Hyundai about their Accent and a dealership I am working with! My step-father Dale purchased an 2008, Nordic White, Hyundai Accent from Palmers Airport Hyundai as a gift for me back in late August early September 2008. I was in an accident in November 2008 where the seat belt snapped out of the safety position, the front end was shoved into the rear cradle suspension, all because the car failed to brake going 10 miles per hour and instead of hitting on coming traffic I swerved still hitting the brakes that did not work into an small median out in front of my place of business. My arm was shoved through the windshield as the air bag deployed late, and was sliced by the seat belt across my chest. I had the car repaired, and because it was new they would not total the car. After several thousand miles of travel to and from Florida on business, I began having transmission problems, the dealership replaced the transmission, and then the alternator went out and was replaced again. Following that 2008-2009 winter, the transmission went out again in the summer, I had the car taken into a different dealership (EASTERN SHORE HYUNDAI) in which the car was not purchased the first time for the the first transmission. Starting in 2008 problems began with the dealership (Palmers Airport Hyundai). I am writing this because not only did I have an issue with your Road side assistance that I have addressed in a previous E-mail, I have had several issues with the car and the dealership in which the car was purchased from. In 2009 when my transmission and alternator was replaced by the dealership, I lost my job because the dealership would not grant me a rental vehicle. In 2009 I also had issues with the radiator that was not damaged in the above stated crash and the dealership was to replace it. Instead the dealership replaced the hoses on the radiator as it was leaking profusely on to the ground. Again in 2010 following another problem with the car the ignition and belt I had another transmission failure and was replaced for a third time. This time it was taken to Palmers for the second time for a transmission from this dealership. When I received the car, my gas had been ran out, there was a food receipt that did not belong to me or anyone that I knew, and the AC unit had been re-wired to that when you turned it on hot was cold and cold was hot. Thinking that perhaps the car had no anti-freeze I placed some in the car, low and behold, it was not the anti-freeze, it was the doings of the mechanics at the shop at Palmers Airport Hyundai. Following the crisscrossed AC unit and transmission issue being taken up with Palmers Airport Hyundai, I began having brake troubles, even with new brakes where when I went over bumps my car would not stop I had to STAND in my drivers seat and put full weight on the breaks to make the car stop. I took the car into Palmers and they reported back to me that nothing was wrong with the car. Again the gas in my car was on FULL when it was taken in and when returned to me the GAS was below 3/4 of a tank. Fine, I took the car to FIRESTONE and had brakes and tires replaced and still the car was not grasping the full effect of STOP. At this point I noticed that I did not any longer need to push the release button on my Emergency break that it just all of the sudden comes up. I let it go seeing as how Palmers kept informing me nothing was wrong with the car. Also in 2010 there was an cylinder miss fire and the car was not firing on all cylinders only three, and a gasket had busted off in the vehicle that took Palmers nearly 4 weeks to repair, when they informed me it would take a week and they would be able to fix it within the week and release the car to me. Low and behold I waited nearly 4 weeks for my car to be returned to me. Between that time my mother and I both called for check-ups on the car, and nobody could give us a straight answer. 2011 - My step Father signed the car over to me in November and the car was taken back into Palmers due to a leak and the hoses where repaired and the car was returned to me fine no problems. Following this last visit to Palmers Airport Hyundai where the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT was on and there was a fluid leak in the vehicle coming from SOMEWHERE that I nor 2 other family members could find out where, TODAY the car was returned to me again with an There is no problems with the car. That was a total Lie. When I started the car in the parking lot of Palmers Airport Hyundai it began to rattle like a tin can full of marbles. I know this is not normal for my car at all!!!! I started my car down the road heading towards home, and I kept hearing this high pitched noise and it sounded like my car had an JET ENGINE placed inside of the driving compartment. This is not and NEVER was normal for my vehicle. Instead of Palmers FIXING my vehicle they have once again messed it up. The car was never ran which they stated they did, the gas tank was still on full just as I had left it. I was expecting like normal for the gas in my car to be GONE when I take it into Palmers. The car now sits in my driveway as we try to think of an alternative to the broken vehicle and I refuse to take it back into Palmers Airport Hyundai. I am very unsatisfied with the vehicle and I am very unsatisfied by the work that this DEALERSHIP has done. I have never in all my life ever seen so much failure in supposed certified technicians While the service providers are friendly, they continue to mess up my car. I would seriously like some compensation for this or some sort of alternative from you the company of Hyundai. Im really fed up. Im irritated with the car, I am irritated with the company that SOLD the car too me, and I am irritated with the problems I am having and the 118.00$ they want to charge me for junk they will just mess up again.

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  I beat [violative content deleted] out of this car everyday! - 2008 Hyundai Accent
  By 2canchew - January 10 - 1:55 am

  I bought it new in 2008 and I beat [violative content deleted] out of this car everytime i drive it. It has bounced off the rev limiter thousands of times. Its screams @ 4500-5000rpm driving down the hwy everyday. I have over 110,000 miles on it now and it runs as good as new. doesnt burn oil or coolant. I still have the original brakes on it and its four years old and it gets smothered in Canadian salty roads 7 months of the year. Bottom line best car ever made nothing fancy but im going to drive this one into the ground and buy a new one no questions asked. Im a Hyundai owner for life.

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  No spare shocker! - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By stevehouston - January 4 - 11:03 am

  I love this car but I was not "surprised" there was no spare tire, I was down-right pissed. I took a road trip over New Years and when I was heading back home, discovered there wasnt a spare tire!! Who does this!! What idiot S. Korean engineer dreamed this one up? Scenario: Me and my wife and son hit road debris at night on the freeway which shreds the tire. Im frantically looking up and down for the spare which doesnt exist. Bang, lights out. I guess Hyundai thinks a tire inflater will fix this. Wrong! This is inexcusable and is a safety hazard plain and simple. Im notified the dealer, Hyundai and I think Im going to contact a federal agency to complain.

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  Great little car - 2004 Hyundai Accent
  By sunnysammy74 - December 15 - 9:51 pm

  I love this little car I just bought it a few months ago as my first car for $3,700 Its been great to me so far, although it feels like Im not getting the best gas miles I could be getting. My car has around 99,000 miles on it and its still drives like a dream, it may not be a Lexus but its still an awesome car, it would be great as someones first car.

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  Hyundai gone a long way. - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By mpg_enthusiast - December 12 - 4:33 pm

  I have a hybrid in disguise! Just picked up 6spd SE Accent yesterday. Already drove 241 miles and it is still not at half a tank yet. And I was not driving too conservatively. I was revving the engine hard at times taking off treating it like a sports car. Pretty impress so far with the standard features like bluetooth, ipod, decent sound speakers (need sub), satellite radio, etc. Was at 70mph and felt like I was going slow, so suspension is pretty good I have to say. I will update the review if I find anything undesirable, but for now..two thumbs up.

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  Low-end luxury - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By tclune - December 8 - 3:01 pm

  The car looks very nice inside and out, has excellent head and leg room, and excellent driver visibility on all sides. The rear view mirror has a bit of a letterbox view, which feels a bit constricted but offers all the visibility you need. Ive been getting fuel efficiency in the high 30s on my commute. The 6-speed manual transmission has adequate pick-up when you need it and the road noise is minimal. The clutch is a bit soft. The dashboard instruments and controls are clean and clear. The trunk is quite spacious, and the back seat can fold down to provide additional room if needed. All in all, the car seems much roomier and better appointed than I would expect in a subcompact.