We were pretty impressed with the redesigned-for-2012 Hyundai Accent GLS sedan we tested. It proved to be a substantial improvement over the model it replaced. Now we bought a second Accent to test, this time a well-equipped SE hatchback with a manual transmission.
Its $16,695 sticker price includes a lot of content-full power accessories, iPod control, keyless entry, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, even a trip computer. Other than the lack of an outside temperature display, this Accent really doesn’t want for anything. Several early logbook comments from our staff say that they could happily live with this inexpensive car. (That said, the roomier Hyundai Elantra GLS stickers at only $17,205 with a manual -and at that price, all you give up are the Accent SE’s alloy wheels.)
Like several other Hyundais, the Accent SE claims 40 mpg on the highway. Hyundai’s come under fire in some quarters, particularly from Elantra owners, for having optimistic EPA fuel economy estimates. We’ll be curious to see how this Accent stacks up in our formal tests, but so far, it’s not too hard to eke over 40 mpg out of the car on the highway. The six-speed manual transmission certainly seems to help. The Accent shares its 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder with the funky Veloster sports car.
Small stick-shift hatchbacks like these may be sold as gas-sippers, but they often provide cheap fun as an unexpected bonus. Cars like the Ford Fiesta SES and Honda Fit Sport hatchback that we’ve tested prove to be both practical and entertaining. We’ll see how this Accent SE compares when we fully test it.
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