Just to admit my biases up front, I have a long history with Hyundai’s little cars.
I drove an ’85 Excel for five years back in the early ‘90s. It was my daily beater, its sole purpose being to keep me off the bus. It really was a utilitarian piece of work, but at least it had a radio. And it was dead simple to work on. My technician nephew and I rebuilt the engine one Saturday without needing to remove it from the car. When my time with that car was over, it was sold twice more, rebuilt several times and for all I know is still out there running around.
One of the first cars I reviewed for the Ottawa Citizen was a 1999 Hyundai Accent. I remember that I was impressed with just how vastly superior it was to the Excel. I also reviewed the 2000 Hyundai Accent GSi and the 2007 Accent hatchback and noted not only the continuing improvement Hyundai demonstrated in these entry level vehicles but also the incredible value for money that they represented.
Most recently I had the pleasure (yes, really) of driving a 2006 GLS sedan from Vancouver to Ottawa and found that despite my misgivings it was a fun little car to drive. With features like heated front seats, power windows and door locks and a decent stereo, I was quite comfortable and didn’t feel beaten up after four and a half days behind the wheel, despite the lack of cruise control, an item that was not even offered optionally in 2006.
Well here we are testing 2012 model year vehicles, and the Hyundai Accent just keeps getting better. Cruise control is now available as well as a shopping list of desirable comfort, convenience and safety features. And it still represents good value for money even if it is no longer the cheapest car in Canada. That honour now goes to the base Nissan Versa.
Our test vehicle was a GLS hatchback model, top-of-the-line as they say, and it came equipped with air conditioning, keyless entry, cruise control, heated mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, sunglass holder, centre console armrest, power windows, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, 16-inch alloy rims, fog lamps, XM satellite radio, heated seats, Bluetooth with voice activation, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a sunroof. Total cost all in, including $1,495 destination charge – $18,694.
Even in base L trim, the 2012 Accent is anything but basic with features like power door locks, six-way adjustable driver’s seat and an audio system with USB and iPod inputs, all for $13,599 plus destination. But it is likely that most buyers will forgo the L and opt instead for the GL which adds air conditioning, 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks, cruise control, power windows with driver’s side auto down, steering wheel audio controls and a pair of additional tweeters for the audio system for $15,399.
The 2012 Hyundai Accent is also available as a four-door sedan for about $500 less across the board.
Whichever trim level you choose, a full load of safety gear is standard equipment: six airbags (dual-stage front, front seat mounted side and side curtain), four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, seatbelt pretensioners and active front head restraints.
If Hyundai could do anything different (and most other manufacturers for that matter) it would be to include Bluetooth with even the base model. I no longer view Bluetooth as a luxury accessory but as a necessary safety feature. Including Bluetooth keeps people off their cell phones and their attention where it belongs, on their driving.
To my admittedly biased mind, this latest edition of the Accent hatchback is the most attractive version ever produced and one of the smartest looking subcompact hatches on the market today, rivaling only the Ford Fiesta for the sporty, hot hatch look. It is a crisp, sleek and aerodynamic look that separates the Accent from the two-box-design common among many of its competitors.
Despite its looks, it would be wrong to categorize the Accent as a sport hatch, although it is fun to drive. With 138 horsepower and 123 lb.-ft. of torque, its 1.6-litre all-aluminum engine is powerful enough for around town duties and highway cruising, but it’s not the kind of engine that will win stoplight challenges, nor should it. The Accent is a cool looking commuter that will make most owners proud without it being a stellar performer.
The suspension set-up (McPherson struts up front and torsion axle in rear) is a bit soft making the Accent comfortable to drive on even rough surfaces. Handling is on a par with most vehicles in this class, responding easily to steering inputs, although the electric power steering lacks the kind of feel that old style hydraulic systems have.
Even with the manual transmission, fuel consumption is quite good. Natural Resources Canada rates the 2012 Hyundai Accent with manual transmission at 6.7 L/100 km in the city and 4.9 L/100 km on the highway for a combined rating of 5.9 L/100 km. During my week of mostly city driving, I averaged just over 7.5 L/100 km, still a very good result considering my somewhat leaden foot.
One of the most surprising elements of the 2012 Accent hatchback is the amount of space inside. You feel like you are entering and sitting in a much larger vehicle. The driver’s seat has plenty of for and aft travel, so that even tall people will feel comfortable. I’m well over six feet tall and I didn’t need to use the full travel to get comfortable behind the wheel. My only gripe with the seats was a desire for more lumbar support, something that needs to be addressed in the next generation of the Accent.
The large, round analogue gauges (tachometer left, speedometer right) are easy to read and bracket a driver information display and trip computer. Cruise and audio controls are mounted on a thick leather wrapped steering wheel that tilts but, unfortunately, cannot be telescoped. The XM satellite radio equipped audio system (172 watts) is housed at the top of the centre stack, just below two air vents in a U-shaped integrated unit that also contains an A/C button, rear window defroster control and an easy to find four-way flasher control. Beneath that are the round HVAC controls. The auxiliary, USB and iPod inputs are located at the base of the centre stack and front of the console with a space to leave your device.
While the interior of our tester was various tones of charcoal, the monotony often found with this combination was broken up with some attractive bright work – on the steering wheel, bordering the shifter and on the shift knob, centre stack, gauge surrounds, arm rests and interior door handles. The patterned seat materials felt durable, while the pattern was continued into the door panels. Fit and finish throughout seemed good.
Despite a few gripes, this latest generation of the Accent is a huge leap forward from previous versions, as were those cars as well. It’s not perfect and there is always room for improvement. Softer materials on arm rests and dash tops are always appreciated. But the way this car (and others in this class) is improving, I suspect it won’t be long before we find luxury car quality dash tops, headliners and eight-way powered leather seats available for those who want an upscale subcompact.
