The Hyundai Accent is one of the better subcompact cars, but suffers from many of the shortcomings that are common in this segment, such as a stiff ride and lots of road and wind noise. Even though the Accent’s fuel economy is good for the class, there are plenty of larger compact cars that get the same or better, and for not much more money.
Drivers will never forget that the Accent is basic transportation, as there's nothing notable about the engine and transmission. There's just enough power to accelerate the Accent from zero to 60 mph in just under 10 seconds, which makes the Hyundai one of the quicker subcompacts. But drivers really need to mash the gas pedal to climb hills and to merge onto highways. That’s when the engine gets buzzy and sounds coarse.
The Accent got 33 mpg overall in our tests, which is good, but no better than most compact sedans, such as the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. There isn’t really a fuel economy advantage to choosing a subcompact car.
The Accent has safe, competent handling, even when pushed to its limits on our track. However, it isn’t cut from the same mold as the Ford Fiesta or Honda Fit, subcompacts that inspire driver to take the long and winding road home.
Our drivers found the ride to be quite stiff, with bumps punching through in a pronounced way. The car moves in short, choppy motions when driving over pavement with mild undulations. On the highway, road and engine noise combine to create a constant din.
The Accent’s cabin furnishings are basic, and the seats have enough support for short stints. But they become fatiguing during long drives, partly because they lack adjustable lumbar support. The rear seat is cramped, which is par for the class. It’s easy to fold down the rear seats to access the large and highly useful trunk pass-through. The Accent no longer offers a hatchback.
We did find some high points. The controls are very user-friendly, particularly the large knobs and buttons for the climate and audio systems. Most labels use large, easy-to-read text, and the straightforward touch-screen infotainment system comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Unfortunately, forward-collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB), aren’t available on the base SE or next level SEL trims. Buyers have to choose the top Limited trim, which has standard FCW and AEB. CR believes these two key safety features should come standard on all cars.
Shoppers considering a new car in the $15,000-to-$20,000 range should be aware that there are plenty of great deals available on larger compact cars, which makes it easy to get more car for the same money. Our analysts have found that shoppers can buy a more substantial Hyundai Elantra or Toyota Corolla for roughly the same price as a new Accent.