2004 Hyundai Accent Review
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By Bob Plunkett

Overview

The Hyundai Accent offers exceptional value. It's a new car at a used-car price. And to eliminates worries about maintenance costs, Hyundai backs it with an aggressive warranty.

The Accent is roomy and comfortable, and surprisingly refined for such an inexpensive car. Its twin-cam 1.6-liter engine is gutsy, and zippy performance makes these cars fun to drive. The Accent offers surprisingly sophisticated ride and handling. The GT ratchets up the latter with a sports suspension and other goodies.

Model Lineup

Hyundai Accent is available in three-door hatchback and four-door sedan body styles. Accents come in three trim levels, but all are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with double overhead cams and four valves per cylinder rated 103 horsepower.

The base Accent ($9,999) is indeed basic, offering air conditioning as an option ($750). But the base Accent does comes standard with an AM/FM/cassette stereo, center console, vanity mirror, tilt steering, intermittent wipers and a 60/40 split folding rear seat. It only comes as a three-door hatchback and only with a five-speed manual transmission.

Accent GL hatchback ($10,899) and GL sedan ($11,299) add air conditioning, tinted glass, a tachometer, a digital quartz clock, and upgrades to the seats, console, and carpet. They come standard with a five-speed manual gearbox. A four-speed automatic transmission ($800) is optional.

The GT ($11,399) comes with all the GL upgrades, plus a firmer suspension, fog lamps, body-color sill moldings, a rear spoiler, white-faced gauges, its own unique cloth upholstery and leather wrappers for the steering wheel and shift knob. Wheels are upgraded from 13-inch steel to 14-inch aluminum, and tires from 175/70R13 to 185/60HR14. It is available only as a hatchback. Automatic transmission is optional ($800).

A Popular Equipment Package ($500) adds an upgraded stereo with CD player, plus power mirrors, locks, and front windows, to GL or GT.