The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
2018 HYUNDAI ACCENT
Affordable sub-compact model has plenty to offer
The fifth generation of the subcompact Hyundai Accent hit the showrooms last year as a 2018 model and is a carry-over for this year.
While the sub-compact segment is the least expensive group of cars in America, they are no longer cheap — with all the connotations of that description. They are still economical, but their level of equipment, quality and design make that merely a designation.
Interestingly, this new generation of the Accent is officially categorized as a compact car by the U.S. government. Compared with the last generation, the Accent is wider by 1.2in., and just over a half-aninch wider. The wheelbase is a tenth under a half-aninch longer, so the wheels are that much closer to the corners for more room inside
The looks of the Accent are upgraded, starting with a distinctive definition of Hyundai’s cascading grille. This is bordered with wraparound headlights and on some models LED daytime run- ning lights. The roof profile makes the car more distinct, emphasizing that this sub-compact is a sedan, not a hatchback.
The interior is decent looking, but not unusual in this segment. It is big for a sub-compact, as the Accent sedan passenger volume has grown to 103.9 cu. ft. The dashboard is modern and fresh. The seats are comfortable, at least in front, but the rear seats surprise you, as they are reasonably comfortable for a sub-compact sedan.
The design does more than make it different. This generation of the Accent uses 54.5 percent high-strength steel, 13-percent more than the previous model. This ups torsional rigidity by nearly a third. That improves ride, handling as well as noise vibration and harshness inside the cabin. The highstrength steel also improves accident survivability
he improvements to the structure of the car in this generation means that the front side members and inner side sills provide more collision protection. Hyundai also increased the front crumple zones and installed reinforcements throughout the chassis to improve collision improvement.
To a large degree these improvements can be achieved because the Accent’s suspension can be more consistently set up. The Accent also uses elec- tronic power steering for a steering feel much like bigger and more expensive vehicles. This even allows it to adjust to changing driving conditions for greater precision and steering feel.
The only powerplant is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline direct injected engine produces 130-hp. and 119 lb. ft. of peak torque. The base model of the car comes with a six-speed manual transmission, but you can opt for the automatic. The other trim levels only have the six-speed automatic. Fuel efficiency for the automatic — which will be the utter majority of sales, is 28-mpg city and 38 mpg on the highway.
The transmission is a good one, though, and even has adjustable driving modes. These are Normal and Sport and do change the powertrain’s performance as well as steering calibration.
But all of this adds up to a better handling, and therefore safer, car. Hyundai hasn’t stopped there, especially for the top Accent Limited model the trim level I tested. While it adds close to five grand to the base model’s price, there is simply no comparison in the volume of their equipment.
Drivers of these cars in the past knew they were missing quite a bit, but sub-compact competitors such as this Accent allow them to not have to miss quite so much. All Accents come with a standard backup camera system with a five-inch or optional seven-inch color display.
I appreciated that the buttons on the control panel under the screen are logically ordered by func- tion. the rear seats also split 60/40. Six-airbags are standard, as well as with electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, traction control and anti-lock brakes.
Perhaps this is a new marketing attempt to attract people out of the smaller crossovers at a particular time in their lives where they may not want a larger vehicle but may want the features found on more expensive vehicles.
Maybe the concept that the only people who buy value-oriented sedans were young folks buying their first new vehicle. With smaller cars being engineered to make them safer, thanks to the technology that can increase safety and reduce the impact of an, um, impact.
The capabilities of entertainment and connectivity equal almost anything going, because these are as necessary to the car as is the steering wheel for those people looking to buy these cars. Depending on model and option choices the Accent can have Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Hyundai’s own Blue Link and SiriusXM satellite radio.
These mean occupants have easy and safe control of their smartphone’s appbased navigation, streaming audio and voice-controlled search capabilities. There are optional dual USB charging and auxiliary input jacks. smartphone functions,
While not actual entertainment, you can have your sub-compact equipped with heated front seats. But the most important of the additional options on the Limited model is the availability of close-to-cutting-edge driving and safety technologies. These include forward collision-avoidance Assist that uses a front forward facing radar to detect a vehicle and warn the driver of a potential collision.
So, the Accent Limited is good value for money. It is small, but well proportioned. its trunk is nicely usable. I am not small but was comfortable sitting in, and driving, this car. As fuel prices can only rise again, the Accent allows people to decide to drive smaller vehicles because they’re smaller, not cheaper.
The starting price for the base Accent Sedan SE equipped with a six-speed manual transmission is $14,995 and with the sixspeed automatic transmission the SE has an MSRP of $15,995. The volume seller, the Accent Sedan SEL starts at $17,345 with a decent amount of standard features, and the fully loaded — and especially so for a sub-compact — Accent Sedan Limited begins life at $19,080.