New Car Reviews- Hyundai Accent

The Hyundai Accent is a 4-door saloon car that packs punch with a peppy engine, smooth suspension and plush interiors, making the whole driving experience a real pleasure. Hyundai raises the bar on the Accent sedan for this model. Available in a single GLE petrol variant, the sedan is spacious and refined, with upscale features, a gutsy engine and upgraded safety features.

Hotting up competition in the fast-growing midsize segment are the successful Honda City, Tata Indigo, Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Aveo. Hyundai launched an all-new Accent in September 2006; the new car has larger dimensions than its predecessor.

The Hyundai Accent comes in five colours viz. Real Earth (Golden), Husky Blue, Noble White, Ebony Black, and Bright Silver.

The Accent comes with a 1.5-liter Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC) petrol engine that outputs 94 bhp of power and 12.5 kgm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission gives fuel economy of 8/13 kmpl (city/highway). A similar powered 1.5- liter engine with a CNG kit is also available with this model.

The Accent gets technologically advanced engines, rack and pinion power steering and McPherson Strut suspension with coil springs in the front and dual link with coil springs in the rear. The 1.5L engine provides adequate low-end pull and a wide band of power to ease into highway traffic. Acceleration is decent on the manual transmission, which shifts smoothly.

The Hyundai Accent's ride is smooth and comfortable; tuned suspension flattens out road irregularities. Handling is responsive, thanks to a front McPherson strut suspension, while its power rack-and-pinion steering allows for a precise feel. Pushed through corners, the Accent responds with predictable body roll.

The Hyundai Accent looks elegant with chrome-trimmed front grille, chrome Hyundai badge, integrated bumpers, a high roofline with rubber trim and rectangular headlights set back from the front fenders. The car comes standard with 13-inch steel wheels, front fog lamps, body-coloured bumpers, power windows, intermittent wipers, waistline mouldings and body-coloured mirrors/door handles.

The Accent cabin has a new upscale beige colour scheme. A contoured instrument pod in front of the steering wheel incorporates the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel and coolant temperature gauges. All seats are contoured and finished in good quality upholstery; rear-seat legroom and headroom is adequate. Rear seat splits 60/40 for storage of additional luggage.

Standard equipment on the Accent includes power steering, a tilt steering wheel, passenger vanity mirror, adjustable front headrests, front seat armrest, door map pockets, and front seatback pockets.

The Hyundai Accent comes with standard safety features that include a collapsible steering column, child-safety rear door locks, front/rear seatbelts, adjustable headrests, rear defogger, and central door locking.