2012 Hyundai Accent Manual Hatch
16-February-2012
- Vital Stats
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$16,990 - $20,990
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Petrol
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Positioned in Australia’s light car class, the new 5-seater Hyundai Accent is available in three different models – the Active (from $16,990), the Elite (from $18490), and the Premium (from $20,990). All three models come in either 5-door hatch or 4-door sedan design. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on all models with the exception of the Premium sedan which is has a 4-speed automatic transmission only.
Once the poor cousin to the i20 and i30, Hyundai’s all-new Accent is a huge improvement on previous models both in style and design. I test drove the Accent Elite manual model in Apple Green (which the Hyundai staff nicknamed Kermit) … and discovered that it’s a really fun car to drive.
Style & Drive
The Accent Elite currently comes equipped with a 91kW/156Nm 1.6 litre petrol engine, and Hyundai has confirmed that a turbo-diesel and a direct-injection petrol engine will be introduced to the Accent range in the near future. The drive is light and tight, gear changes are smooth and easy, and the car negotiates corners and hills with ease. Parking is pretty good, although you have to get used to the limited rear vision due to the high rear window in the hatch.
The Accent looks very smart both inside and out, showcasing Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design. The dash is user-friendly and includes a four-speaker stereo system with single-CD/MP3 player, USB/AUX inputs and Bluetooth integration, steering wheel mounted audio controls, air-conditioning, power windows and power mirrors.Space-wise the Accent Elite doesn’t feel cramped like some small cars. There is enough room to fit 4 adult passengers comfortably, with 5 at a bit of a squeeze. The hatch comes with 60/40 split rear seats and a boot that’s relatively roomy for a small car. It’s great for a good-sized grocery shop or a couple of small suitcases, and will fit a full-sized pram lying on a bit of an angle. As an added bonus, the car has a full-sized spare wheel.
Safety
The Accent scored a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, and comes with six airbags, including front, front side and full-length curtain airbags, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-skid Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).
Eco
Fuel consumption: 6.0L/100km CO2 emission: 139g/km
Describe the car in 3 words
Compact, Zippy, Practical.
What are the best things about this car?
It’s a small car that doesn’t feel like a tin box. It feels solid and has a powerful drive.
What are the downsides of this car?
Limited rear vision through the high rear window.
What kind of petrol does it use?
Unleaded petrol.
Liked it?
Yes. For an urban dweller in a big city, this is a great car to have. Compact enough to fit into small parking spots, but has that extra oomph that makes it fun to drive.