Hyundai Accent

Overview

Hyundai has always known to be market reactive and had products which have exceeded the people’s expectations or have been trendsetters. There was a time when Hyundai used to be the copycats of the world, drawing design inspiration and borrowing powertrains. However, now they have their own design team and one headed by Peter Schreyer from Audi. The new Hyundai Accent, when it was launched in 2011 was one such game changer. It just took away the Honda City’s crown from under its nose and is now the largest selling compact sedan in the Philippines. The third generation Accent is actually outdated now but due to its strong feature set as well as its engine, it still is a favourite here. Other markets where it is sold as the Verna have already got the fifth generation car and it looks like a mini-Elantra. Expect the Philippines to get it within a year as well.

Interior & Features

The cabin of the new Hyundai Accent is done beautifully. However, age is catching up with it and the omission of a touchscreen infotainment system is glaring too. The age-old blue displayed music system seems okay-ish. We have experienced the next-gen Accent and its Arkamys sound system is definitely way better than this. The driver’s seat gets manual adjustment and there is also one for the front seat passenger as well. Hyundai also gives a tilt adjustable steering wheel. The wheel has audio as well as Bluetooth controls on it and one can also receive or disconnect a phone call through it. The instrument cluster is a twin pod unit and relays out information about the travel time, trip, average efficiency, and distance to empty. A choice of three upholstery options are given to the customers - beige and grey dual tone along with black monotone. One sits low in the Hyundai Accent and this is the case both with the front as well as the rear passengers. An air conditioning vent is also given for the rear passengers while on top models, Hyundai offers an automatic climate control. The rear seat passengers also get lower headroom than the competition thanks to the swoopy roofline. At 495 litres, the boot isn’t as big as what the competition offers but can swallow a couple of suitcases. Quality of materials used in the cabin seem satisfactory and will endure the time.

Exterior

The Fluidic Sculpture has done wonders for Hyundai cars. They have become more desirable and at the same time are also trend setters. Well, we haven’t seen anyone ape them but who knows the theme may start.

The swooped bonnet and those curvy headlights head lamps with LED DRLs besides the well-sculpted grille, cut a distinct figure. The Volvo S60-eque L-shaped fog lights also look good. The Hyundai Accent’s side profile is more interesting and looks more coupe-ish than a compact sedan. At the rear, the lights aren’t LED but seem beautiful nonetheless. The overall height of the Hyundai Accent has been lowered down when compared to the previous generation. The length has been increased and the tyres also have a bigger as well as wider profile now. The overall dimensions are 4,375 mm x 1,700 mm x 1,475 mm with the ground clearance at 155 mm. Hyundai offers a choice of 8 colors with the Accent. They are Coffee Brown, Sonic Silver, Dazzling Blue, Veloster Red, Misty Beige, White Crystal, Phantom Black, and Sleek Silver. There are multiple variants to choose from and you also can choose from either petrol or diesel too.

Ride & Handling

The Hyundai Accent has always been tuned for ride quality. However, it is a bit bouncy at the back and neither is the handling up to the mark. The car displays some amount of body roll when enthusiastically driven. The engines are lovely but the chassis itself isn’t as willing a partner. The steering is light and stays the same throughout the drive, robbing off confidence at higher speeds. NVH has been well-taken care off and it is hard to say if the engine is switched on or not. Even the diesel has very low NVH and is very refined.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Accent sells in the Philippines with two different engine options. There is a 1.4-litre Dual CVVT petrol producing 100 PS at 6000 rpm and 13.6 Nm of torque at 3500 rpm. It comes with a 6-speed manual or a CVT. There is also a 1.6-litre CRDi VGT diesel that comes with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. While the power output is the same for both the transmissions at 136 PS at 4000 rpm, the torque is another story. The 6-speed manual generates a peak torque of 26.5 Nm between 1500 and 3500 rpm. The 7-speed generates 30.6 Nm of torque between 1750 and 2500 rpm. This equates to very good performance especially on highways, where it can really stretch its legs. The wide rev range for the peak torque makes it fast while cruising. Acceleration is powerful across the rev range. This makes the diesel the better option here. But you probably already knew that because of its other major advantage. The Accent diesel gives excellent fuel economy at 27 to 37 kmpl depending on the transmission. For best of both performance and fuel economy, the 6-speed manual is the obvious choice.

Braking & Safety

Hyundai gives the Accent six airbags, ABS with EBD, Hill Start Assist and brake assist. The GNCAP rating for the Accent is four stars. Hyundai has given the top-spec trims reverse parking sensors, a reverse camera and height adjustable seat belts.

Verdict

We have always liked the Hyundai Accent. However, it is starting to show its age now and the replacement we hear is not far off. That is a much better car to begin with. The Accent right now would not be a bad choice but will be a stagnating one though.