Hyundai Accent
Motivation to move up |
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By Richard J. Newman
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Nits: There's a fold-down armrest for the driver, but none for the passenger. No fair.
G forces: The Accent is a solid little runabout, with an adequate 110-horsepower engine (choose the manual transmission if you can, to make best use of limited power) and crisp handling for a cheap car.
Gizmology: Features are bare-bones, with chintzy-feeling controls for the radio and available air conditioning. On the plus side, a CD player is standard, and the audio system sounds good.
Kidmarks: The back seat is cramped for adults but just right for kids. There's a center armrest with two cupholders, one round and one square (for juice boxes, presumably). Since the cabin is small, kids in back are within easy reach of adults in front.
Hot or not: Not. Be happy it's not ugly.
Pain at the pump: Minimal. Mileage ranges from 28 mpg/city to 36 mpg/highway. More info: www.fueleconomy.gov.
Crash course: Earns 10 stars out of 10 on the government's frontal crash test, and seven out of 10 on the side-impact test. Rollover resistance rating is four stars out of five. Details: www.safercar.gov
Standard safety gear: Antilock brakes, side-impact air bags, side-curtain air bags.
Price points: Base price is $12,455. Price as tested: $15,410. (All prices include delivery.)
More info: www.hyundaiusa.com
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Model year tested: 2006
I have Cobalt envy. I've stopped at a traffic light behind Chevy's plucky little sedan, and it's definitely cuter than the utilitarian Accent that I'm driving. I know the Cobalt, and I yearn for its perky 145-horsepower engine and its playful ride. But when my brain reasserts itself over my fun instinct, the Accent seems like a pretty smart economy car. It's not exciting–unless you get jazzed over supercheap stuff—but the Accent offers a lot for a little. For about $15,000 you can get an Accent packed with safety features like antilock brakes and three sets of airbags, along with air conditioning, a sport handling package, a whomping stereo system, and heated mirrors. To trick out the Cobalt like that, you'd have to put out at least $2,000 more.
A car like the Accent, of course, is not a passion buy. Rather, it's a chance for budget-conscious buyers to get a new car instead of a used one, along with more modern safety technology and other up-to-date features. And while it's certainly not a thrill ride, the Accent does deliver a bit more than mere point-to-point transportation. The base model, starting at about $12,500, comes without air conditioning, power windows, or power door locks. But it's a sturdy ride that doesn't rattle or wobble and feels stable on the highway. The engine is a modest 110-horsepower four-cylinder, but it is spunky enough to get you up to highway speed without heavy panting, especially with the manual five-speed transmission. And it doesn't take a pauper to appreciate the mileage: better than 30 miles per gallon in typical driving.
There are only two major options: air conditioning, and a package that includes power door locks, windows, and mirrors, A/C, and 15-inch alloy wheels. There's no leather upholstery available, no sunroof, no power seats, no six-CD changer. In fact, you couldn't spend more than $15,000 on an Accent if you wanted to. You're stuck with seat fabric that feels rough and industrial, with dashboard switches that are a bit flimsy, and with a little engine that tries hard. But that lets you aspire to something greater that is, itself, modest.
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