Hyundai Accent - Pros & cons

The Hyundai Accent is not a new name in the Philippines automobile circuit. It has been around for a while now and has only become better with time. In the subcompact segment, it gets squared off against the likes of the Honda City, Suzuki Ciaz, Toyota Vios, and Volkswagen Santana which is definitely not the class of vehicles you want to be competing against. The competition levels are high while the margins for error are at the minimum.

Despite being challenged by some of the best contenders of the market, the Accent has worked out its way to an appreciable point if not to the top, thanks to its sleek edgy style, proportionate profile, reliable power mill, and of course its fuel efficiency.

However, is Hyundai Accent a good bet? Let’s find out in the following section as we can’t wait to list down the pros and cons of the subcompact sedan.

Hyundai Accent Pros

Fuel efficiency

We’d keep the economy factor at the top as it is one of the main reasons the Accent has been sold in the Philippines market. Considering its diesel counterpart, it returns an eye-catchy figure of 27 kmpl while manoeuvring around the city streets and up to 37 kmpl if you plan to take it to long, relaxed highways. If you are one of those who takes frequent outstation trips or loves to go on drives then you’ll reap larger benefit from the efficiency than anything else.

Affordable pricing

Isn’t it perfect to buy a lesser expensive car that hosts features of your likings, comes with incredible looks, space to fit in a nuclear family, and enhanced cargo for everything extra? The Hyundai Accent is for the taking then. Considering the features, looks, efficiency, space, style, comfort, and performance, it is an ideal choice for a couple just starting out. At the base price of Php 695,000, it is definitely a worthy model to pick.

Riding comfort

It is one of the subcompact sedans you’d love to ride. Available in 1.4-litre gasoline and 1.6-litre diesel engines, you only have a better choice to make. Mated to either 6-speed manual or 7-speed CVT or DCT, the 100 PS gasoline engine is good for your daily commutes while the powerful 136 PS diesel mill grants you immense expressway pleasure. The automaker is said to have worked on the NVH levels which make it even more considerable.

Best-in-class warranty

We wonder if any other car even comes near to the remarkable warranty numbers offered by the Accent. It comes with 5 years or 60,000 miles of limited warranty and a powertrain warranty of 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Spacious and comfortable

Although it lacks premium features like leather seats it offers valuable comfort. Unlike most subcompact sedans where adults feel a little too cramped at the back, the Accent offers immense room to be comfortable. For luggage and bigger items, you get a boot space of 396 litres.

Reliability

J.D. Power Cars rate vehicles on their reliability front based on data analytics and feedback from real verified new- and used-car owners. It is, however, just an estimate to let you know about the car even before you sit behind its steering wheel. The Accent received 4 out of 5 stars, which is higher than most of its expensive competitors.

Audio system

Though nothing too fancy but enough to satisfy your entertainment desires. It comes equipped with a 1-DIN 4 speaker audio system with USB/AUX compatibility. It also has Bluetooth so that you can pair your smartphone to play your favourite tracks while on the move. The radio tuner is an added advantage to listen to local stations and shows.

Hyundai Accent Cons

Limited set of features

The standard features offered with the Accent are very limited. On top of it, the higher-spec models aren’t fully loaded either. Due to a fewer number of trims, the optional packages are not very popular with the Hyundai Accent. Like with most sedans, the new set of features, safety or interior, give you a choice to pick to a high-end variant at higher prices but you don’t get that liberty with the Accent.

Outdated as compared to rivals

The outgoing Accent is not as flamboyant as some others in the market. It looks like an aged player that is bound to retire. We are literally tired of seeing that dull fascia. The excitement is missing. However, the all-new Hyundai Accent is what will change the fortunes. It looks sharp, aggressive and up-to-date with modern aesthetic rules. We are eagerly looking forward to its launch, hope someone from the company reads this.

Advanced safety features are missing

The Accent misses out on advanced safety features that its rivals either have on their optional or standard offering charts. It comes with basic safety features like ABS with EBD, SRS airbags, Hill Start Assist, and keyless entry which is also not standard across the range. Among the subcompacts, the Accent has worse IIHS safety ratings especially on the Small Overlap Front: Driver-side test, which is an eye-opener for all of us, as customers.