New Hyundai Accent: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 10/May/2006

Hyundai latest super weapon in the burgeoning small car segment has arrived in Australia, and this year the new Accent brings with it a point of difference - Hyundai will also sell a new hatchback version of one of it’s best-known models.

It's also packing plenty of ammo, with standard features including electric windows and mirrors, a stitched leather steering wheel, air-conditioning, remote central locking and a CD stereo with MP3 compatibility.

And as Hyundai explains, the new Accent’s major new design highlight is the now marked difference between hatchback and sedan variants. Departing from the prior hatchback model's US-influenced extended boot section, a sassier, cropped coupe-look debuts in the new 3-door Accent.

Pricing is still keen for the little Korean runabout, as the new Accent 3-door hatchback manual will fetch $15,990, while the sedan manual starts at $17,490, with automatic models costing another $2000 extra.

The Accent has some pedigree to its name, having taken out Australia’s Best Small Car award in both 2000 and again in 2001, and now looks set to loom a lot larger on the radar of younger buyers with this new model, according to Theo van Doore, Hyundai’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

"Accent superseded Hyundai’s very popular '90s icon the Excel until Getz arrived late in 2002, but this new Accent debuts with two distinct personalities, the hatchback having similar appeal to young buyers as did Excel, while the sedan more suits small families and older or more conservative buyers.

"Hyundai now offers young and young-at-heart drivers two variations on the small car theme, the Euro ‘supermini’ look of Getz—the reigning and 2003 Australia’s Best Small Car—and the more rakish new Accent three-door," Mr van Doore said.

With a smoother new style and an evolved front end, the new Accent sedan presents a much more refined looking model, with simple lines that help give it a clean, pure look. The rear end is also an improvement on the previous model, with better proportions overall.

The new model, a 3-door hatchback, features a sort of coupe look with the curving roof rising to the rear, where the top of the hatch gets a small roof spoiler. The hatchback also has a single, body-colour bar across the grill opening instead of the four thin chromed bars of the sedan. Attractive, chrome-edged taillights with a band of clear lens bisecting the red lights contribute to the hatchback’s ‘cute butt’ persona, says Hyundai. Similarly, the up swept sills of the rear side windows of the 3-door hatch cut a sportier look than those in the more conventional sedan's rear doors.

Hyundai is also quite pleased with its revised range of engines, which have been tuned to give the new Accent not only a considerable fun factor but also better fuel economy, which is increasingly becoming the deciding factor for many new car buyers. Hyundai has toyed with the 1.6.-litre 4-cylinder gasoline engine, now capable of outputting 82kW @ 6000rpm and 145Nm of torque @ 4500rpm, thanks to 16-valves and continuously variable valve timing (or CVVT in Hyundai's words).

The DOHC 'Alpha' engine in both Accent models comes standard with a manual transmission, which has been modified to provide slightly more acceleration, propelling the Korean vehicle from 0-100km/h in 10.2 seconds and Hyundai says that fuel economy in the new Accent is markedly improved despite the higher output engine and around 100kg greater mass.

The manual sedan is rated at just 6.8 litres/100km and the slightly heavier 3-door manual at 7.0 l/100km. The automatic sedan is 7.1 l/100km and the automatic 3-door 7.3 l/100km.

In addition to the Accent's refined 4-cylinder engine, the chassis has also been upgraded, which will reward drivers who like to have a little fun. The new Accent's body bending stiffness is up 39 per cent from the last generation model, and bolted to the rigid body is a reconfigured suspension array comprising of a MacPherson strut system with coil springs, gas shock absorbers and increased caster for sharper steering at the front end, together with a21mm diameter stabiliser bar . At the rear, a new coupled torsion beam rear suspension with coil springs and gas shock absorbers may be a little archaic, but allows for increased boot space by requiring smaller wheelhouses.

A new rack-and-pinion steering system with engine-speed-sensing power assist makes the cut and aids drivers in with low-effort manoeuvering around town and a secure feel at highway speed.

The interior of the Accent takes more cues from the increasingly impressive Sonata with its inviting wraparound dash feel and with standard features such as a stitched leather steering wheel rim and gearshift knob, pollen-filtering air-conditioning with ducting to rear footwells, power windows on all doors with one-touch driver's window, remote central locking with burglar alarm and immobilizer, plus electrically adjusting door mirrors with demisters.

There's also a versatile stereo. The CD audio is MP3- and WMA-capable, has a security PIN code, plays through 6-speakers including front tweeters and has auxiliary control tabs integrated into the steering wheel for easier driver manipulation.

Seeing as how the new Accent is a slightly larger vehicle, both feature 60mm extended wheelbases, this pays comfort dividends for interior space explains Hyundai, with more room in virtually every measurable dimension: an extra 75mm height raises front seating 47mm to give the higher vantage point most drivers like as well as easing ingress and egress and providing more front headroom and more shoulder room front and rear results from a 15mm increase in the car's width.

Hyundai has also given the new Accent a safety upgrade, with the standard safety package across all models including ABS and EBD, while rear disc brakes replace the outgoing drums and a three-point retractable seatbelt for the centre rear passenger has been added. Dual airbags protect the driver and front passenger, rounding out the car's safety systems.

Hyundai's new Accent is safer, better equipped, more powerful and more fuel efficient, more refined, quieter, roomier and of course better looking than its predecessor, and with the longest-established five year/130,000km new car warranty in Australia, Hyundai is hopeful it's new small car stalwart will attract the attention of new car buyers.

Pricing:

Hyundai Accent 3-door hatch: $15,990 (man)
Hyundai Accent 3-door hatch: $17,990 (auto)

Hyundai Accent 5-door sedan: $17,490 (man)
Hyundai Accent 5-door sedan: $19,490 (auto)