Clearly a small, inexpensive car requires some compromises; it simply can't be as roomy, powerful, or refined as a larger car and or one costing more money. But with the Accent, Hyundai has kept the compromise to a minimum.Unexpected is the gutsy performance from the base-level engine. The 1.5-liter single-overhead-cam engine delivers surprisingly lively acceleration through the lower gears, thanks to an abundance of flexible torque. Although you must shift quickly out of first gear, second and third invite a long run up to higher rpms, scooting the Accent into the fast lane. Sophisticated hydraulic motor mounts filter out the harsh vibrations that plagued the first generation of Hyundai products.
The Accent easily keeps pace in heavy commuter traffic, such as I-5 in San Diego during morning rush hour.
We have not driven the Accent with the newer, 1.6-liter twin-cam engine, but we have every reason to expect that it would perform even better. Compared to the 1.5-liter's 92 horsepower at 5500 rpm, the bigger engine produces 105 horsepower at 5800. More important, the 1.6-liter generates 106 pounds-feet of torque, instead of 97 pounds-feet of torque for the 1.5-liter, but at the same usefully low 3000 rpm. That means a faster launch into traffic.
Our little 1.5-liter Accent was also relatively quiet inside, as the stiff structure of the body, plenty of sound-deadening insulation, and double door seals all worked to block out noise from the motor and surrounding traffic.
Of course, the whole package weighs only 2255 pounds, which explains in part why the Accent feels zippy. Cars are getting heavier and heavier these days, but apparently Hyundai didn't get the memo. That's a good thing, as weight is bad for acceleration performance, stopping distances, handling, and fuel economy. The Accent's favorable power-to-weight ratio is combined with slippery aerodynamics and well-selected gear ratios that make the most of the engine's torque. Like we said: zippy.
The Accent handles mountain switchbacks with a poise and agility unexpected from such a low-rung economy car. The experience led to the realization that Hyundai's smallest product can actually be quite fun to drive, which is not an attribute of most of the other machines in this class.
Accent's relatively long-wheelbase chassis and all-independent suspension provide a smooth-riding platform that nonetheless responds quickly to the driver's demands. Steering geometry is optimized with a high caster angle, to reduce front-end lift when accelerating, or nose-dive during braking. A front stabilizer (anti-roll) bar reduces body lean when cornering. To isolate noise and vibration, all of the front end's mechanical parts are attached via a sub-frame. That kind of sophisticated engineering is rarely found in this price-conscious class, and it helps to temper the road noise.
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