CD Article: 2008 Hyundai Accent L hatchback

[Leviathan]

My first new car was a '76 Datsun B210. It had a carburated 1.4L engine, a 4-speed manual transmission, power brakes, manual steering, 2 very uncomfortable bucket seats in front and an even worse rear bench, a heater, an AM radio, a speedometer and gas gauge, cardboard door panels covered in a thin layer of vinyl, no armrests, a live rear axle on leaf springs, skinny 13-inch bias-ply tires and wind-up windows in front (the rear ones swung out on hinges). There were no options except for a 3-speed automatic. Hell, if you asked for A/C they looked at you like you were from another planet, and power windows? Ha! It didn't even come with floor mats and there was no sound deadening to speak of so you could hear every pebble hitting the floorboards. You knew were driving a cheap econobox every time you got into the thing. It was noisy, cramped, rough and uncomfortable and driving it I always felt like I was being punished for not being able to afford something better. A small car as good as the Accent would have been an absolute revelation back then. I give it two thumbs up and then some.

Don't forgot the backfires!

[laspalmas]

My first new car was a '76 Datsun B210. It had a carburated 1.4L engine, a 4-speed manual transmission, power brakes, manual steering, 2 very uncomfortable bucket seats in front and an even worse rear bench, a heater, an AM radio, a speedometer and gas gauge, cardboard door panels covered in a thin layer of vinyl, no armrests, a live rear axle on leaf springs, skinny 13-inch bias-ply tires and wind-up windows in front (the rear ones swung out on hinges). There were no options except for a 3-speed automatic. Hell, if you asked for A/C they looked at you like you were from another planet, and power windows? Ha! It didn't even come with floor mats and there was no sound deadening to speak of so you could hear every pebble hitting the floorboards. You knew were driving a cheap econobox every time you got into the thing. It was noisy, cramped, rough and uncomfortable and driving it I always felt like I was being punished for not being able to afford something better. A small car as good as the Accent would have been an absolute revelation back then. I give it two thumbs up and then some.

Don't forgot the backfires!

Old school chums of mine back in '77 drove from Ottawa to Ft-Lauderdale non-stop (30hrs or so) in a Datsun B210...they were five in the car!  that must have been brutal!

[wing]

Can't believe nobody said $100k Cheverolet Corvette Z06 and Chevy Aveo.  same diff.

[Schmengie]

My first new car was a '76 Datsun B210. It had a carburated 1.4L engine, a 4-speed manual transmission, power brakes, manual steering, 2 very uncomfortable bucket seats in front and an even worse rear bench, a heater, an AM radio, a speedometer and gas gauge, cardboard door panels covered in a thin layer of vinyl, no armrests, a live rear axle on leaf springs, skinny 13-inch bias-ply tires and wind-up windows in front (the rear ones swung out on hinges). There were no options except for a 3-speed automatic. Hell, if you asked for A/C they looked at you like you were from another planet, and power windows? Ha! It didn't even come with floor mats and there was no sound deadening to speak of so you could hear every pebble hitting the floorboards. You knew were driving a cheap econobox every time you got into the thing. It was noisy, cramped, rough and uncomfortable and driving it I always felt like I was being punished for not being able to afford something better. A small car as good as the Accent would have been an absolute revelation back then. I give it two thumbs up and then some.

Don't forgot the backfires!

Old school chums of mine back in '77 drove from Ottawa to Ft-Lauderdale non-stop (30hrs or so) in a Datsun B210...they were five in the car!  that must have been brutal!

Ouch!! Brutal? That's TORTURE! 

[rrocket]

Can't believe nobody said $100k Cheverolet Corvette Z06 and Chevy Aveo.  same diff.

They did!  Reply #18 !! 

[sprockex]

i'm a honda guy who bought a hyundai accent when I moved to BC in 2005.  (Long boring story).  I have been very pleased with my base level Accent... crank windows and all.  It doesn't quite handle like a honda nor get the stellar gas mileage, but it just keeps on going year after year with no complaints.  As for A/C, it's not crucial on either of the coasts with our less sticky weather.  Best $10000 I've spent.

[Leviathan]

Old school chums of mine back in '77 drove from Ottawa to Ft-Lauderdale non-stop (30hrs or so) in a Datsun B210...they were five in the car!  that must have been brutal!

[airbalancer]

My wife also had a B210, you could fit 3 car seats across , good little car , trade it in on a Apsen wagon, need  something bigger

[Rupert]

I thought this was about the Accent. How do the crash results posted compare with the similar Yaris?

[PJungnitsch]

I thought this was about the Accent. How do the crash results posted compare with the similar Yaris?

Accent
Frontal offset: Acceptable
Side impact (with SAB, which this base model doesn't have): Poor (door structure is weak)

Yaris
Frontal offset: Good
Side impact (with SAB, which AFAIK all 2009's will have): Good
Side impact (without SAB, all 2007-2008 hatches): Poor

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/safety-recalls/carcrashtest/crashtestvideo.htm

B210, aka 'atomic cockroach'
Frontal offset: Break neck on steering wheel/windshield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56fy9qF9JJo&feature=related

Test dummies lived short lives in those days:

Mazda 626:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx4WiUkz4-s

VW Rabbit side impact:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jM9hOGvgF0&feature=related

[Leviathan]

B210, aka 'atomic cockroach'
Frontal offset: Break neck on steering wheel/windshield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56fy9qF9JJo&feature=related

That clip is of a 310 - which is the first car I owned. Glad I didn't find out just how bad it was 

Test dummies lived short lives in those days:

Those clips explain modern 3000lb "small" cars 

[jjac28]

poor crash test.....the crash tests are something to be taken seriously.
I wouldnt feel  safe driving a car like that, pay less but is it worth it the risk?

[johngenx]

poor crash test.....the crash tests are something to be taken seriously.
I wouldnt feel  safe driving a car like that, pay less but is it worth it the risk?

Everything is relative.  That Hyundai is safer than pretty much any car from 15 years ago.  Better metals, better crumple-zone technology, dual front airbags, etc.  So, I'd buy the Hyundai ahead of most used cars, and at that price, that is the prime competition for the Hyundai.

Not singling you out, but those that think "I need a safe car" I encourage you to look to your driving.  The majority of SUV driving soccer moms I see that bought their giant pigmobile 'cause they needed something safe are the ones tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, pushing amber/red lights and speeding.  They might not need a tank if they began to exercise a little more safety in terms of their own driving...

[Rupert]

Everything is relative. The Accent competition is seemingly no better and it is impossible to provide large crush zones in a small car when weight is the first consideration for energy saving. Certainly a small car is more likely to come off worse in an accident with a larger vehicle. It's not rocket science to realize that. This is not a reason though, to perpetuate the existance of gas guzzleing tanks in my opinion.