2006 Hyundai Accent GL Road Test (Video Clip)

From A to B with "eaze".

Simple transportation is a way under-rated affair. There are many people out there that could not care less about lane departure systems, displacement on demand, 8-speed automatic gearboxes or 500 hp sedans. These consumers are searching for an inexpensive means of getting around without having to spend $50,000, even if they can afford it. This portion of the population is looking for a Hyundai Accent.

Back in 1995, Hyundai introduced the Accent to help the world forget about the Excel. Unfortunately, the Accent did not fare any better in the first few years. In 1998, the design was refreshed and a fair number of ills were corrected. In 2000, the Accent finally became an interesting proposition thanks mostly to a better chassis. For 2006, Hyundai is now treating the population to their best offering yet. The heat is on in the sub-compact segment.

A 2006 4-door sedan's pricing begins at $13,995. A range toping GLS with the automatic transmission retails for $17,645. My tester was a GL with comfort package and automatic transmission. It has an asking price of $16,245.

Styling

From 1995 until 2005, the Accent's physical evolution was never more than a minor facelift. In 1998 and again in 2000, a clear link could be made from one Accent to another. For 2006 though, the car has earned a complete makeover. The new design seems more inspired by European cars like the Fiat Punto and the Renault Twingo. Certainly, this is a good source of inspiration. The 3-door hatchback adds welcome sporty character to the line-up.

On Hyundai Canada's website, they make a point about describing the efficiency and brightness of their new clear-lensed headlights. I almost find this funny as one of the first things I noticed when I first drove the Accent in the evening was how weak the headlights were.

The Accent's cabin is airy and comfy. The dash is purposefully laid out and navigating through the controls is child's play. The hard interior plastics look better than they feel and thanks to fairly good attention to detail, the assembly job is a quality one. The seats are firm and offer a sufficient amount of support. The driving position is not perfect even with the height adjustable seats and tilting steering-wheel. The overall effect of the interior of the Accent is that of a car costing more than $14,000.

Technical

Hyundai keeps it simple as they offer only one engine in the Accent. It is a 1.6L inline 4-cylinder that pumps out 110 hp and 106 lb/ft of torque. Transmission selections are between a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. Brakes consist of front discs and rear drums. Steering is power assisted rack and pinion and the suspension is fully independent. Standard wheel size is 14" whereas on the GLS trim, the Accent receives 15" alloys.

On the road

Hyundai's 1.6L is punchy and alive. Low-end torque is reasonably present for quick take-offs and as the revs rise, both speed and noise increase. My average fuel consumption was of 8.0L per 100 km. I am certain that I could have done better had it not been for the frustrating transmission.