The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

2018 Hyundai Accent Limited Review By John Heilig


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

THE AUTO PAGE
By John Heilig
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Mid-Atlantic Bureau
The Auto Channel


REVIEWED MODEL: 2018 Hyundai Accent Limited
ENGINE: 1.6-liter I-4
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with Select Shift
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 130 hp @ 6,300 rpm/119 lb.-ft. @ 4,850 rpm
WHEELBASE: 101.6 in.
LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 172.6 x 68.1 x 57.1 in.
TIRES: P205/45R17
CARGO CAPACITY: 13.7 cu. ft.
ECONOMY: 28 mpg city/38 mpg highway/29.2 mpg test
FUEL TANK: 11.9 gal.
CURB WEIGHT: 2,679 lbs.
TOWING CAPACITY: Not recommended
COMPETITIVE CLASS: Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Spark, Nissan Versa
STICKER: $19,080 (base)
BOTTOM LINE: The Hyundai Accent drives like a larger car with good handling and reasonable power for its size.

Generally, when a compact car is scheduled, I enter the week preparing for a vehicle that’s usually not a lot of fun to drive. Occasionally, the week turns out to be much less of a bore than I expected. Such was the case with the Hyundai Accent.

Redesigned this year, the Accent takes full advantage of its size and offers larger car convenience. For example, compact cars usually require me to lower at least one rear seat back to carry my golf bag. The Accent, however, has a wide enough trunk to carry the clubs “horizontally” without having to lower a seat back. I’m sure that had I been chauffeuring a foursome, we all could have put our clubs back there. For larger cargos, you can still lower the rear seat backs.

Ride quality is good. Overall, the ride is firm, but still within the parameters of a small car. The 1.6-liter inline four under the hood delivers a decent 130 horsepower, which is adequate for the Accent, which weighs only 2,679 pounds. Putting the power to the front wheels is a 6-speed automatic with Select Shift, which is handy if you’re looking for better performance and want to keep the engine revs higher by shifting manually.

Adding to the ride comfort are front seats that have firm backs and good side support. Rear seat legroom is tight, as is to be expected from a compact. Unfortunately, there are no indents on the backs of the front seats to aid in the legroom department. The rear seat backs fold easily, but with the tight legroom and proximity to the front seats, the rear head restraints must be removed for a flat storage floor, even if the rear head restraints are smaller than the fronts.

All controls are within easy reach of the driver. The wheel is busy. I like the “toggle-type” switches for volume control, mode, cruise and scrolling through the information screens. 

For interior storage there’s a large cubby at the base of the center stack that can easily handle a phone or keys, plus it has two 12-volt, AUX and USB outlets. It’s lighted at night. All the doors have room for water bottles.

The left side blind spot monitor is a convex mirror in the upper left corner of the outside rearview mirror. There’s no such mirror on the right. Also, there was no rear cross traffic alert, which caused a few surprises in parking lots. 

There are the standard two visors with vanity mirrors, but the mirrors aren’t lighted. To get the makeup right you have to turn on the reading lamps. 

Overall, the Hyundai Accent is a good compact. It may be a bit too compact for rear seat passengers, though.

(c) 2018 The Auto Page Syndicate

The Most In-Depth Independent Hyundai Buyer's Research - Anywhere!