2009 Hyundai Accent: 9,995 good reasons to get one…
When they saw the car that I was test driving, several colleagues said: "Wow, Antoine, you’re really going all out this week, aren’t you!" I told them all the same thing: “If people only knew how interesting this little car is, there would be twice as many on the road. But since way too many people are still fixated on Toyotas, the Yaris remains more popular."
And frankly, it’s just a question of reputation – which I think is unjustified – that the Yaris outsells the Accent in Canada by some 30%. Sure, the little Hyundai is winning more of the market over time, but nevertheless Toyota remains the leader in the category.
However, after some 200 kilometres in a Yaris followed by the same trip with an Accent, I can say with certainty that the Korean would be my first choice, purchase price notwithstanding.
It’s true that both are very nice. The Accent and the Yaris are charming little cars, especially when they’re enhanced by a few accessories. Despite its pretty face, this isn’t where the Accent scores points. Instead, you have to get on board an Accent to understand that the level of comfort is a step above. First of all, the driving position is more like that of a compact than a sub-compact. Next, I must admit that the driver’s seat is much more comfortable. It’s also height adjustable, which is a major advantage, and there’s a very nice fold-down arm-rest to make the ride extra sophisticated at no additional cost. In fact, only the slightly old-fashioned look of the dash and the night lighting prove disappointing.
A lot more for a lot less
Obviously, you shouldn’t expect a lot from a car with a $9,995 price tag. The CD radio with auxiliary input jack, rear wiper, 60/40 split folding rear seats and floors mats are all factory standard features with Hyundai and options with Toyota. But at this price, you can’t expect very much luxury. However, for not much more, you can get a complete power package and air conditioning. Not too shabby at all, eh?
Another major advantage compared to the Yaris is the Accent’s impressive trunk space. In fact, its cargo volume is easily twice as big as that of the Toyota. And that doesn’t take into account that with the Hyundai, the trunk can be enlarged in several ways thanks to the split rear seatback.
Mechanically, there’s no denying that the little Hyundai lags behind somewhat. Nothing major, except that at equal power, the Yaris is slightly more fuel efficient. In fact, the difference is around ¾ of a litre per 100 kilometres with the manual models, which means around 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres for the Accent. As for the rest, Hyundai comes out on top. There’s better torque distribution and no reaction time with the accelerator, unlike with the Toyota. And the engine’s equipped with the latest technology and requires only minimal mechanical maintenance.
Except the tires…
The Accent has always dealt with the problem of very poor tire quality, which affects its performance. If it has appropriate tires, you’ll find a side of the car that you didn’t suspect was there. Obviously, it’s more agile when fitted with 16-inch tires, but it also features good balance and excellent handling on the road. And of course by now you have guessed that it’s a first-rate city car, just like the Yaris. However, the Accent surpasses its rival when it comes to highway driving. It’s less sensitive to crosswinds, more stable and has better soundproofing, and is quite simply a more comfortable and pleasant car for long trips. A Montréal-Québec round trip is tough in a Yaris; not so with an Accent.
The very solid Accent has also managed to demonstrate excellent reliability over the years. Many businesses count on this sub-compact for deliveries, and generally speaking, all claim to be very satisfied with the this car’s durability and low maintenance costs. In other words, for an individual, there is nothing to worry about where this is concerned, and nowadays it’s much better protected against corrosion, which, in turn, will protect its resale value.
As for the price, it’s quite simply unbeatable. GM will do what they can with the Aveo, but Hyundai’s financing and lease terms and purchase price will be out of reach.
Basically, it’s no accident that the Accent is becoming more and more popular. By offering more equipment than the competition at a lower price and creating just a good product covered by an even better warranty, they can only attract more and more clients with every passing day.