Photo Gallery  ^NEW!

Day 1:

Click Image to Enlarge

Introducing the cute little 2007 Hyundai Accent 3 Door! Starting at only $13,495 and backed by Hyundai’s excellent warranty this car is sure to be on many first time buyer’s lists. Packed with available features this little hatchback is a giant leap forward in refinement over the previous generation Accent.

The 2007 Hyundai Accent 3 Door is available with an entire slew of features that are normally reserved for more expensive vehicles. The top of the line, which tops out at only $17,645, is available with heated seats, heated mirrors, a power sunroof and front and side curtain airbags.

At only $1,500 less than the fully loaded model it seems my tester is a little out of place.

Click Image to Enlarge

My tester is a GS model with comfort package and automatic transmission. While the fully loaded bundle gets you the same plus heated seats and mirrors, side curtain airbags, ABS brakes, power sunroof and alloy wheels.

Equipped with a 1.6litre engine and a 4 speed automatic transmission with overdrive, this little run-about is sure to provide excellent fuel economy and should prove to be an excellent seller for Hyundai to first time new car buyers as well as buyers looking for a second or third vehicle to run errands.

The Accent is a direct competitor to such vehicles as the Honda Fit, Toyota Yarisand the new comer the Nissan Versa (to be reviewed within the next few weeks). This puts the Hyundai in direct competition with some of the big name, small car makers. We will see how it fairs over the next week.

2007 Hyundai Accent 3 Door with Comfort Package + Auto
MSRP as tested: $16,145.00

For more information on Hyundai and the Accent visit Hyundai Canada

Updated August 14th 2006
Day 2:

Click Image to Enlarge

So far I have had the opportunity to pilot the Accent in city traffic, on the highway and in parking lots. I am extremely impressed by this little car….. really! I do tend to like small cars, but to a point: too small and they become cramped and/or loud, which is exactly how I expected this vehicle to be.

My preconceptions of what this vehicle would be like were completely wrong. I took a road trip this weekend, consisting of an hour and twenty minutes of highway travel in each direction. I sifted through my basket of keys and decided to take the Accent, based on its low highway fuel consumption rating (6.0 L/100 km hwy).

Click Image to Enlarge

I was seriously dreading this trip: three hours of driving with no cruise control, no AUX input for my XM radio receiver (although I solved that with an FM transmitter) and a small car which was bound to be loud and uncomfortable.

However, the trip was fine. The Accent has a very quiet ride on the highway, and the engine spins at less than 3000rpm at a lofty 120km/h, not that I would go that fast on a public road. Acceleration onto the highway is a little noisy, but no more so than the Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit I tested a few months back.

Wind noise was practically nonexistent, the 8-way adjustable driver’s seat was very comfortable during the trip and it was easy to find a good driving position. The car was stable at high speeds and wind turbulence from transport trucks did not seem to throw the Accent around at all.

Typically I spend the first few trips in a new car moving the driver’s seat around, something I did not find I needed to do this in the Accent. If cruise control was an option on the Accent, I would not hesitate to recommend this car as a highway cruiser - I was that impressed.

Updated August 16th 2006
Day 3:

Click Image to Enlarge

If the Accent is good on the highway, it should be great in the city, right? I would certainly agree with that statement. This is, without a doubt, not your Accent of old, and like all other things Hyundai, this car has improved by leaps and bounds over the previous generation.

Weighing in at a mere 1136kg (2504 lbs), the Accent 3 Door feels very light on its feet. With a turning radius curb to curb of 10 meters (33.1 feet) and a wheel base of only 2.5 meters long, it also has an excellent turning circle. These elements combined make for a great city commuter that is a blast when navigating parking lots.

Click Image to Enlarge

Although getting the Accent into tight spots is a breeze, as it is with many two-door vehicles, exiting the vehicle is still a chore. The doors swing wide enough to smash into vehicles in the next space - one of the real downfalls of a two-door vehicle.

A few things are missing in the Accent that are hard to excuse even on a vehicle starting at only $13,495. Seat belt hangers on the seats are the biggie here: when disembarking from the vehicle the seat belts end up way out of reach. Getting back in forces you to strain your body to reach back for the belt. How much could those little holders cost? And why a driver’s arm rest but none for the passenger? My passenger complained a lot about this.

A few positive notables include an A/C that blows as cold as cold can be. Automatic headlight shut off - why this isn’t standard on all cars I’ll never understand. And a cargo shelf is included! Many manufacturers force you to purchase the cargo shelf as a separate option, sometimes for hundreds of dollars. Kudos to Hyundai for including it on all their models, although a simple string tied to the hatch would have made it even better.

Updated August 17th 2006
Day 4:

Click Image to Enlarge

Has is it been four days already? Wow. Time sure does fly. I haven’t mentioned much about the interior of the Accent during the past three days. Although the interior is fairly sparse, there are a few things that may warrant mentioning.

Click Image to Enlarge

There are numerous cubby holes for small items in the Accent: one below the radio, one below the driver’s arm rest, two cup holders and the usual glove box. Unfortunately, none but the glove box have lids to hide valuables, so best not to leave them in the car.

The radio in the Accent is an AM/FM CD player with MP3 and WMA support; I would have liked it to include an AUX input jack as well. Fortunately, Hyundai uses a standard single-DIN radio in the Accent, which means going aftermarket is a breeze. One of the first things I would swap out on the Accent is the stock radio as the EQ settings all sound horrible.

I achieved a fuel consumption average of 7.2 L/100km over the past week in mixed 30/70, city/highway driving. That is the best I have ever achieved during a test drive and quite impressive indeed. I admit I chuckled quietly at the pump as it stopped at only $23.51.

As some readers have noted, the lack of a five-door hatchback is a little disappointing, especially when the Accent’s twin, the Kia Rio, is available in that body style. The three-door may not be practical enough for some buyers. But with fit and finish and refinement all close to those of the big Japanese rivals, the Hyundai Accent proved to me that it is a worthy competitor to the likes of the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.

*Rating out of 5:

2007 Hyundai Accent 3-Door
Acceleration
Handling
Comfort
Interior
Audio System
Gas Mileage

*Rating based on vehicle’s classification

2007 Hyundai Accent 3 Door with Comfort Package + Auto
MSRP as tested: $16,145.00

For more information on Hyundai and the Accent visit Hyundai Canada

This entry was posted on Monday, August 14th, 2006 at 3:39 pm and is filed under Coupes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.