Driving the Accent feels like second nature. The clutch and shifter are both extremely smooth and easy to manipulate. I almost wished it had a bit more feedback, but then I thought about the buyer of said vehicle, and feedback is not something they would really want. Power kicks in pretty late in the revs (approximately 3,500 rpm), which might be a bit of a letdown for sudden manoeuvres, but is all about fuel efficiency.
The hatchback's cargo volume is among the best in its class, with 600 litres of space with the rear seats up and 1,345 litres once they're folded down.
It's clear that Hyundai is working a whole new angle when it comes to their image. From the outside, the Accent has clearly risen to a new level, while on the inside, the upscale appearance mimics the bigger Elantra and Sonata sedans. Modern, slightly flirty and fun and appealing to more than one demographic, the Hyundai Accent has been designed to please many without being overly generic.
Las Vegas is all about losing yourself in the moment, taking time away from your real life to be someone else, to experience new things; and in a way, that's what Hyundai has done with the Accent. Hear me out on this one. It's not that the Accent is so far removed from previous generations that it's unrecognizable, far from it, but that it's changed enough to make us take notice.
Perhaps one of the best changes is the price. Despite the new engine with more power and the larger size (longer than a Ford Fiesta and wider than all others in the segment), the price of the Hyundai Accent has dropped for the 2012 model to $13,199 (base manual L sedan model).
Top-level Accents GLS models, priced between $17,199 and $18,399, include keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, power windows, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped wheel with audio controls, a sound system USB port, fog lamps, 16" alloys and a power glass sunroof.
Hyundai joked that the drive event in the desert heat was to prove how well the Accent could perform under the scorching sun, but what they really did was prove that their latest reincarnation of their subcompact cash cow can take the heat of scrutiny--something not every manufacturer can do.
The hatchback's cargo volume is among the best in its class, with 600 litres of space with the rear seats up and 1,345 litres once they're folded down.
It's clear that Hyundai is working a whole new angle when it comes to their image. From the outside, the Accent has clearly risen to a new level, while on the inside, the upscale appearance mimics the bigger Elantra and Sonata sedans. Modern, slightly flirty and fun and appealing to more than one demographic, the Hyundai Accent has been designed to please many without being overly generic.
Las Vegas is all about losing yourself in the moment, taking time away from your real life to be someone else, to experience new things; and in a way, that's what Hyundai has done with the Accent. Hear me out on this one. It's not that the Accent is so far removed from previous generations that it's unrecognizable, far from it, but that it's changed enough to make us take notice.
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| Hyundai Accent has dropped to $13,199 and top-level GLS models, priced between $17,199 and $18,399 (Photo: Miranda Lightstone/Auto123.com) |
Perhaps one of the best changes is the price. Despite the new engine with more power and the larger size (longer than a Ford Fiesta and wider than all others in the segment), the price of the Hyundai Accent has dropped for the 2012 model to $13,199 (base manual L sedan model).
Top-level Accents GLS models, priced between $17,199 and $18,399, include keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, power windows, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped wheel with audio controls, a sound system USB port, fog lamps, 16" alloys and a power glass sunroof.
Hyundai joked that the drive event in the desert heat was to prove how well the Accent could perform under the scorching sun, but what they really did was prove that their latest reincarnation of their subcompact cash cow can take the heat of scrutiny--something not every manufacturer can do.
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