The 4-speed automatic transmission is a sad affair: it slow to react and the gearing is so widely spaced that any attempt to really fly are quickly thwarted. With an engine so zippy, it would have been great fun to experience it with a 5-speed manual. The 2005 Accent5 I drove last year was mostly enjoyable because of the gearbox. In normal driving situations, the autobox still does a fine job.
The brake pedal is solid, performance is admirable and response is very good. Steering is heavy but not in an annoying manner. The turning radius is a short 10 meters. The Accent's road manners are quite good but vertical movements are not as controlled as they should be. The struts have a tendency to decompress at a needlessly rapid rate. When the time comes for them to absorb the movement, they feel somewhat over-burdened.
Comparison
In comparing the Chevrolet Aveo to the Hyundai Accent, I come up with many pros and cons. In the end, there is one contention that cannot be denied. These two cars are, in fact, both Koreans. The Aveo and its twin, the Pontiac Wave, are derived from the old Daewoo cars. Both cars have a selection of body styles to fit everyone's needs. The Aveo has the same size engine although overall performance is a notch below the Accent. On
top of that, the Aveo has a stronger thirst for fuel that the Hyundai. The Accent is more nimble and fun to drive than the GM cars. I have to say that the Aveo's interior is nicer looking and seemingly better assembled than the Accent's. Starting prices should be similar. The closing argument is really Hyundai's better warranty. I would get an Accent.
Safety
The car has standard dual front air bags, available ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution and seatbelt pre-tensionners. Nor the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) or the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) have yet rated the Accent.
Conclusion
With the arrival of the all-new 2007 3-door Accent, this little subcompact holds just about every good card in its hands. Although things like the sound of the starter engine and the typically Korean car interior odour are
reminders that this is a very basic inexpensive car, everything else about the Accent is impressively well thought out.
This is a good small car for those that are not looking for a pocket-rocket. The 90's Accent did poorly reliability-wise. The Accent from 2000 up until 2005 fared much better. If the trend continues at Hyundai, where they continuously improve on their products, this small car should be a reasonably safe bet. Once the price climbs into the $17,000 range though, make sure you look into the Toyota Yaris and the upcoming Honda Fit.
Good stuff:
Peppy 1.6L
Roomy interior
Not so good stuff:
Lazy and energy sucking automatic transmission
Competitors:
Kia Rio
Toyota Yaris
Honda Fit
Pontiac Wave / Chevrolet Aveo
Suzuki Swift+
Nissan Versa
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The brake pedal is solid, performance is admirable and response is very good. Steering is heavy but not in an annoying manner. The turning radius is a short 10 meters. The Accent's road manners are quite good but vertical movements are not as controlled as they should be. The struts have a tendency to decompress at a needlessly rapid rate. When the time comes for them to absorb the movement, they feel somewhat over-burdened.
Comparison
In comparing the Chevrolet Aveo to the Hyundai Accent, I come up with many pros and cons. In the end, there is one contention that cannot be denied. These two cars are, in fact, both Koreans. The Aveo and its twin, the Pontiac Wave, are derived from the old Daewoo cars. Both cars have a selection of body styles to fit everyone's needs. The Aveo has the same size engine although overall performance is a notch below the Accent. On
 |
Safety
The car has standard dual front air bags, available ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution and seatbelt pre-tensionners. Nor the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) or the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) have yet rated the Accent.
Conclusion
With the arrival of the all-new 2007 3-door Accent, this little subcompact holds just about every good card in its hands. Although things like the sound of the starter engine and the typically Korean car interior odour are
 |
This is a good small car for those that are not looking for a pocket-rocket. The 90's Accent did poorly reliability-wise. The Accent from 2000 up until 2005 fared much better. If the trend continues at Hyundai, where they continuously improve on their products, this small car should be a reasonably safe bet. Once the price climbs into the $17,000 range though, make sure you look into the Toyota Yaris and the upcoming Honda Fit.
Good stuff:
Peppy 1.6L
Roomy interior
Not so good stuff:
Lazy and energy sucking automatic transmission
Competitors:
Kia Rio
Toyota Yaris
Honda Fit
Pontiac Wave / Chevrolet Aveo
Suzuki Swift+
Nissan Versa
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