2009
07.28
While I’d love to believe I’m a fan of all cars at all speeds, the truth is I’ve got a heady slow-cars-fast tilt. I can’t help it. I sharpened my claws on wheeze-tastic whips like a ’90 Nissan Hardbody pick up and an ’83 Subaru GL wagon. You know, cars that felt like you were on the bleeding edge of control at 55 mph. There’s just something rewarding about pushing a tiny, low-displacement car and still being under the legal speed limit. Econo bruisers have the added bonus of being low-buck fun, bolstering your confidence with the knowledge that if you ball it up on a hair pin, you won’t break the bank getting the thing fixed or replacing it outright. The Hyundai Accent SE 3-Door fits into that category like a champ – serving up low power and high grip for a driving experience startlingly reminiscent of the OG GTI or Civic SI. Hop the jump for a look at a commuter that won’t kill your pulse.
Hyundai’s long been a purveyor of inexpensive transportation, and the Accent has carried that flag for years. In mid-level SE trim, the car comes standard with slew of tech and safety goodies. Those include power windows, mirrors and locks, a six-speaker AM/FM/XM radio with CD/MP3 capability and an AUX input, plus keyless entry. Anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and enough airbags to make moms everywhere sigh with relief are all part of the package as well. Best of all, this sucker starts at a hair over $15,000. If that’s not bang for your buck, I don’t know what is.
Inside, the
Accent delivers an interior you actually don’t mind spending time in, which is more than I can say for most cars in this class. The seats are attractive, comfortable and supportive, and the instrument cluster is easy to read. Climate and audio controls are simple and attractive as well, nestled in a well-sorted center stack. While there’s plenty of plastic around, body contact points are dipped in leather or soft-touch materials that make the interior seem much more expensive than it is.
The SE 3-Door has a bit more of a sport flavor compared to its stable mates.
Hyundai’s incorporated stiffer springs and more precise dampers on the car’s MacPherson strut front end, and larger sway bars front and rear work with the torsion bar set up out back. There’s a quicker steering rack for more precise inputs and a B&M sport shifter on 5-speed manual models. Speaking of the transmission, it does a smart job of making the best of all 110 horsepower available out of the car’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Power isn’t going to bowl you over, but it’s enough to keep up with traffic on the six-lane and get you out of any hairy situations.
What the car lacks in gusto, it more than makes up for in stick. The suspension handles the car’s 2,400 lbs without breaking a sweat. With the wheels pushed far to each corner, you can whip this little hatch around any organization of cones or apexes quick enough to slap a grin on your face in a hurry. The astounding amount of available grip allows you to keep up serious momentum, resulting in faster lap times than the 110 ponies would have you believe. Turn in is bright and the set up is wonderfully forgiving. If you’re looking to lay down the basics of car control for someone, the
Accent SE is a smart choice.
Of course, this thing is built first and foremost to tackle a daily commute, not cone dodging. To that end it does very well. The thrifty four-cylinder manages 33 mpg highway according to the EPA, but we saw a little better than that during our time with the car. While the cabin is fairly noisy, you have to remember you’re cruising around in a sub $16k car, so some racket is excusable. All in all the Accent SE 3-Door is a car that will be happy to ferry you to and from work without putting you to sleep in the process. The smart suspension is ready to bolt through a parking garage or tackle a cloverleaf at a moment’s notice. If it were mine, I’d even have it out to an AutoX or track day or two. Why not? There’s nothing better than wiping the smug smile off of someone else’s face with a quicker lap time in a car that costs a fraction of the competition.
Wow. One of a few reviews that convinced me the reviewer actually drove the car. The description of the car’s interior and performance are dead-on….and fair. These are very solid little cars, with an upscale feel, and yes, they are surprising fun to toss in the twisties. Especially fun with the manual. I love my ‘09 Accent hatch SE.
Glad you like the review, Hako. I was genuinely impressed with the car over the week I spent with it, and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a compact hatch.
I tell people all the time these days — Hyundai is no longer a joke. Neither is Kia for that matter, though I’d still take a Hyundai over a Kia. Just look at the Genesis.
Nice review of a fun little car. I was looking up the Accent of JD Powers, to see how they rated it, and I was shocked. They gave it two “stars” in every catagory….while giving other subcompacts four or five stars in the same category. Really, I thought…the Fit and Yaris and whatever have twice as much comfort and quality? Sheesh. What a crock. I’ve seen almost every subcompact, and not one was TWICE as good as any other. They probably decided to give the Accent two stars before they even sat in it….that’s assuming they actually did. At least some independant reviewers, like yourself, aren’t bought and paid for.