The 2009 Hyundai Accent is a basic car. It’s easy on the bank account, pleasant to drive, and costs less than almost any other car in its class on the market. In 2009, Hyundai has improved the power train and the fuel economy of the vehicle, and have also added cruise control, keyless entry and different option packages, all within most car buyers’ budgets.
At the GS base level, you get a standard stereo, 14” steel wheels, intermittent wipers, two 12 volt power outlets, and an adjustable driver’s seat. Available options include air conditioning, power locks and doors, keyless entry, an alarm, and a 172 watt CD/MP3 audio system with a satellite radio. At the SE level, you have all of the GS optional features, 16” alloy wheels, a tighter tuned sport suspension, fog lamps, a leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter, and rear center arm rest with cup holder. Move up to the GLS package, and you get standard air conditioning on top of the GS optional features.
But here’s the big problem – when it comes to safety, the Hyundai Accent is a mixed bag. It does have front seat side impact air bags, and full length head curtain air bags. Anti-lock brakes are standard on the SE coupe and optional on the GLS sedan. In front impact crash testing, the Accent got 5 out of 5 stars. Even with the side air bags, however, it only got 4 out of 5 stars on side impact crashes and 3 out of 5 stars for back seat passengers in the event of a side impact crash. In short, crash ratings for front impact crash testing are acceptable, but the car received the lowest level poor rating in side impact testing.
On the plus side, the Hyundai is well designed. There’s more total interior volume in this car than in either the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla – both of which are larger than the Accent. The layout of the interior is simple and functional, making it easy to drive. It’s comfortable and visibility is good. The Accent’s cargo room is average for the class, at about 12 cubic feet. It clearly isn’t a sports car, but still offers an acceptable driving experience. A slightly firmer drive is available in the SE package, but again, this isn’t a sports car and you can’t expect sports car handling or performance.
If you’re looking for small and simple, the Mazda 3 is in the same class and may handle a little better. The Honda Fit has the same kind of flexible interior, handles a little better, and is a safer car. There are also more bells in whistles in the Nissan Versa and the Ford Focus. Still, if this is the type of car you’re shopping for, you can’t ignore the Accent.
The bottom line is that the Hyundai Accent is a good entry-level, starter car. This is the kind of car you buy as the first car you can afford with your own money, and you remember it fondly as you trade up for nicer, safer models. In that niche, you can do a lot worse than spending your money on a Hyundai.
