* Click HERE to see a video on the Accent *
The Koreans retaliate and hit their targets
Merrickville, Ontario--Honda launched their Fit, Toyota introduced their Yaris last year, and Nissan is about to set its Versa loose into their showrooms. The subcompact war is going to be ferocious, and Hyundai badly needed to rejuvenate its smallest car, the Accent Hatchback.
Well, after over 200 kilometers behind the wheel of this new model, one thing is certain: Hyundai has created a subcompact that has nothing to envy its competition about.
A sporty look
From all angles, the 3-door Accent is beautiful. Like the sedan, it has a friendly face, but has a round posterior that is pretty cute. The crease that
flows from the headlights to the taillights gives a muscular stance to the car, and it looks like its ready to pounce. The side-marker turn signals are well-integrated into the front fenders.
Even the base models, the GS and GS Comfort, don't look like strippers, since they sport body-coloured mirrors and door handles. There is also a hatch-mounted spoiler on all Accent hatchbacks. To recognize the GS Premium, look for the 14-inch alloy wheels and fog lamps. And, the GS Sport distinguishes itself with its 16-inch wheels and power sunroof.
Sweating the details
In all models, we can see that Hyundai has taken the time to evaluate the needs of their customer base, and go one step further. For example, every
Accent Hatchback is equipped with a driver's seat armrest, as well as adjustments for the seat cushion. In addition, rear passengers can also appreciate having an armrest that flips out of the seatback. The CD player can read MP3 files, even in the base GS model.
Under the hood, Hyundai points out that the battery is covered in isolation, and the panel seam joints are all sealed. The gauges are all located in the front portion of the engine compartment, so they're easy to reach.
Congratulations to Hyundai for equipping every Accent Hatchback with rear wiper. It's a very important feature, because it helps rising the level of security by allowing an excellent visibility. And with the price of gas today, I'm glad to see that there are still some cars that have locking fuel-filler releases.
The seats are comfortable and the quality of materials used is impressive. Japanese manufacturers must realize that the Koreans are right behind them, and American manufacturers must simply return to the drawing
board. The sound system is good, and the air conditioning is very effective. Visibility is excellent despite the big C-pillar, and the rear headrests don't block the back window at all. A small shortcoming, maybe, is that the GS Sport's leather-wrapped steering wheel slips in my hands.
Interior space is impressive, although my head was only a few centimetres from the headliner while I'm driving. Access to the rear bench is difficult, obviously, and three people across will be tight. However, two occupants are fine back there. Finally, the trunk of the Toyota Yaris looks more like a glove box in comparison with the Accent's trunk.
The Koreans retaliate and hit their targets
Merrickville, Ontario--Honda launched their Fit, Toyota introduced their Yaris last year, and Nissan is about to set its Versa loose into their showrooms. The subcompact war is going to be ferocious, and Hyundai badly needed to rejuvenate its smallest car, the Accent Hatchback.
Well, after over 200 kilometers behind the wheel of this new model, one thing is certain: Hyundai has created a subcompact that has nothing to envy its competition about.
A sporty look
From all angles, the 3-door Accent is beautiful. Like the sedan, it has a friendly face, but has a round posterior that is pretty cute. The crease that
 |
| 2007 Hyundai Accent Hatchback (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |
Even the base models, the GS and GS Comfort, don't look like strippers, since they sport body-coloured mirrors and door handles. There is also a hatch-mounted spoiler on all Accent hatchbacks. To recognize the GS Premium, look for the 14-inch alloy wheels and fog lamps. And, the GS Sport distinguishes itself with its 16-inch wheels and power sunroof.
Sweating the details
In all models, we can see that Hyundai has taken the time to evaluate the needs of their customer base, and go one step further. For example, every
 |
| 2007 Hyundai Accent Hatchback (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |
Under the hood, Hyundai points out that the battery is covered in isolation, and the panel seam joints are all sealed. The gauges are all located in the front portion of the engine compartment, so they're easy to reach.
Congratulations to Hyundai for equipping every Accent Hatchback with rear wiper. It's a very important feature, because it helps rising the level of security by allowing an excellent visibility. And with the price of gas today, I'm glad to see that there are still some cars that have locking fuel-filler releases.
The seats are comfortable and the quality of materials used is impressive. Japanese manufacturers must realize that the Koreans are right behind them, and American manufacturers must simply return to the drawing
 |
| 2007 Hyundai Accent Hatchback (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |
Interior space is impressive, although my head was only a few centimetres from the headliner while I'm driving. Access to the rear bench is difficult, obviously, and three people across will be tight. However, two occupants are fine back there. Finally, the trunk of the Toyota Yaris looks more like a glove box in comparison with the Accent's trunk.