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No one sells more subcompacts in Canada than Hyundai. In fact, they're moving out almost twice as many Accent sedans and hatchbacks as the second-place Ford Fiesta and the third-place Kia Rio.
And the reasons for its success are easy to see. It's got plenty of power thanks to its class-leading, 138 hp engine, sophisticated good looks and a well-executed cabin. It's got high levels of standard features, and an aggressive price.
In short, the 2012 Hyundai Accent is on a roll and no other subcompact seems able to stop its segment domination.
Rich-looking cockpit
We'll sit you inside an Accent and remove your blindfold, and chances are you'll think you're in a much more expensive car. Our GLS trim tester smartly flaunts its higher-grade cloth upholstery, leather-wrapped and button-laden wheel as well as niceties such as heated front seats, Bluetooth, climate control, power sunroof, and premium sound system. All this wrapped in a tasteful, modern design, including the comfortable front and back seats.
You also get 600 litres of cargo space with the rear seatbacks in place; that's more than in the Accent's rivals that participated in our recent subcompact hatchback comparison test: the Chevrolet Sonic, Fiesta, Rio and Toyota Yaris. Fold down those rear backrests and you get a very practical 1,345 litres of cargo space.
Oh, but the Accent isn't perfect. Its steering column doesn't telescope, which makes finding a good driving position a little harder. Curiously, the Kia Rio which shares many components with the Hyundai does have a telescoping wheel.
Cabin insulation could also be better; driving down country roads sprinkled with sand and tiny stones, you'll hear them all hitting the Accent's underfloor. And the rear window is pretty small, which limits rear visibility.
Class-leading power
Like the Kia, the Hyundai gets a new direct-injected, 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that develops 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. While its output ratings are high, it doesn't feel more muscular than the Fiesta's 120 hp or the Sonic's 136 hp. It's also buzzy at full throttle.
Equipped with a 6-speed automatic, our tester reached 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds, pretty much in line with the rest of the pack. On the other hand, at a steady 100 clicks on the highway, the engine spins at only 2,000 rpm, which helps keep both noise and fuel consumption down.
And since we're on the subject, my fuel economy averaged 7.9 L/100km over the course of the test week, which isn't extraordinary. The automatic Accent is rated at 4.8 L/100km on the highway, a figure you might achieve if you drive well under the posted speed limit.
On the road, the Accent handles well for a subcompact, although we found its steering assist a little heavy at slow speeds; somehow, it just doesn't feel right, but you get used to it after a while. The Ford Fiesta, the Honda Fit and the Mazda2 are more engaging to drive, but not by much.
Affordable price
The 2012 Hyundai Accent Hatchback starts out at $13,699, while our top-of-the-line GLS automatic lists for $18,649. That's not bad for a well-equipped and decently refined car such as this one. On the other hand, the Kia Rio EX 5-door gets even more features for about the same money.
There's so much to like about the Accent that its shortcomings seem easily forgivable. It offers refinement, power and lots of features for people on a small budget, and it doesn't make them look like cheapskates. That's what a smart design can do.
An Accent or a Rio will please the typical subcompact buyer at about the same level; the only differences concern exterior and interior styling as well as feature content and price gaps of a couple hundred dollars.
We're smitten by the Hyundai Accent, especially in hatchback configuration, and its virtues will provide it with strong and well-deserved sales numbers for the next few years.
And the reasons for its success are easy to see. It's got plenty of power thanks to its class-leading, 138 hp engine, sophisticated good looks and a well-executed cabin. It's got high levels of standard features, and an aggressive price.
In short, the 2012 Hyundai Accent is on a roll and no other subcompact seems able to stop its segment domination.
 |
Rich-looking cockpit
We'll sit you inside an Accent and remove your blindfold, and chances are you'll think you're in a much more expensive car. Our GLS trim tester smartly flaunts its higher-grade cloth upholstery, leather-wrapped and button-laden wheel as well as niceties such as heated front seats, Bluetooth, climate control, power sunroof, and premium sound system. All this wrapped in a tasteful, modern design, including the comfortable front and back seats.
You also get 600 litres of cargo space with the rear seatbacks in place; that's more than in the Accent's rivals that participated in our recent subcompact hatchback comparison test: the Chevrolet Sonic, Fiesta, Rio and Toyota Yaris. Fold down those rear backrests and you get a very practical 1,345 litres of cargo space.
Oh, but the Accent isn't perfect. Its steering column doesn't telescope, which makes finding a good driving position a little harder. Curiously, the Kia Rio which shares many components with the Hyundai does have a telescoping wheel.
Cabin insulation could also be better; driving down country roads sprinkled with sand and tiny stones, you'll hear them all hitting the Accent's underfloor. And the rear window is pretty small, which limits rear visibility.
 |
| The 2012 Hyundai Accent GLS looks like a more expensive car, inside and out. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
Class-leading power
Like the Kia, the Hyundai gets a new direct-injected, 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that develops 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. While its output ratings are high, it doesn't feel more muscular than the Fiesta's 120 hp or the Sonic's 136 hp. It's also buzzy at full throttle.
Equipped with a 6-speed automatic, our tester reached 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds, pretty much in line with the rest of the pack. On the other hand, at a steady 100 clicks on the highway, the engine spins at only 2,000 rpm, which helps keep both noise and fuel consumption down.
And since we're on the subject, my fuel economy averaged 7.9 L/100km over the course of the test week, which isn't extraordinary. The automatic Accent is rated at 4.8 L/100km on the highway, a figure you might achieve if you drive well under the posted speed limit.
On the road, the Accent handles well for a subcompact, although we found its steering assist a little heavy at slow speeds; somehow, it just doesn't feel right, but you get used to it after a while. The Ford Fiesta, the Honda Fit and the Mazda2 are more engaging to drive, but not by much.
 |
| A 138-hp, direct-injected 1.6L engine equips the Hyundai Accent. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
Affordable price
The 2012 Hyundai Accent Hatchback starts out at $13,699, while our top-of-the-line GLS automatic lists for $18,649. That's not bad for a well-equipped and decently refined car such as this one. On the other hand, the Kia Rio EX 5-door gets even more features for about the same money.
There's so much to like about the Accent that its shortcomings seem easily forgivable. It offers refinement, power and lots of features for people on a small budget, and it doesn't make them look like cheapskates. That's what a smart design can do.
An Accent or a Rio will please the typical subcompact buyer at about the same level; the only differences concern exterior and interior styling as well as feature content and price gaps of a couple hundred dollars.
We're smitten by the Hyundai Accent, especially in hatchback configuration, and its virtues will provide it with strong and well-deserved sales numbers for the next few years.