2014 Hyundai Accent Reviews | Car Reviews by AutosExpress.It's been a busy two years in the subcompact world. Newcomers like the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 have made it clear they intend to give models like the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and segment volume leader Nissan Versa a run for their small-displacement money. Even General Motors is getting into the fray with the upcoming 2012 Chevrolet Sonic after years of trying to pass off the Aveo as legitimate transportation.Versus most of its competition--including the Fiesta, the Fit, the Versa, the Chevy Sonic and the Toyota Yaris--the Accent has a styling advantage, provided we're talking about the five-door hatchback. While the four-door is fine--perhaps a little homely--the five-door nails it, mixing the usual hatchback profile with the cues and details that have become Hyundai's first real design statement. Cabin design is even better, with nice low-gloss plastics and streamlined controls that altogether give the Accent more presence than you'd expect for the price.
while the Hyundai brand was working hard to escape its value-priced image. Over the past decade, Hyundai has emerged to become a formidable competitor, with products that go head-to-head with the best Asian and U.S. products in most segments. While its price remains competitive, the Accent now offers quality and value to buyers seeking fuel-efficient transportation that's solid but low on frills. It offers features that include an available automatic transmission, air conditioning, and in newer models, advanced audio packages and sporty appearance upgrades. It’s hard to imagine that Hyundai can improve upon one of the best subcompacts on the market today. With its 1.6L GDI DOHC 4-cylinder engine having been selected as one of Ward’s Ten Best Engines of 2012, its spacious interior, and full range of high-tech and advanced safety features, there’s not much that they have to do to elevate a car that is already among the top of its class.
Hyundai has wrapped the 2012 Accent in the company's fluidic design styling, and while some feel the language can be a bit overwrought on models like the Sonata, it looks right at home on a canvas this small. Up front, designers have paired the corporate hexagonal grille with aggressive headlights and stylized fog lamps set low in the front fascia for an expressive face that flows easily into the hatchback's side. Lines pull from the headlights into the hood and up the A-pillar for a cohesive look. Similarly, an athletic crease originates at the front fog lights and runs upward all the way to the vehicle's tail lamps for a sense of motion. The Honda Fit has more space, and much more versatility, but even tall passengers will be able to find enough head and legroom in the front seats. Hatchbacks have about 8 cubic feet of storage space, but both Accents have big gloveboxes and bins and trays smartphones, energy drinks, and toll change. All the airbags and electronic assists are present in the Accent, though no official safety scores are in.In November 2012, the 2012-2013 Hyundai was found to have misstated gas mileage figures for the Accent and several other models due to what it termed "testing errors," for which it will compensate owners of the affected models. While the 2012 Accent was initially rated and promoted at 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, the EPA deemed its actual fuel efficiency to be 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway.
