2005 Hyundai Accent Review
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By New Car Test Drive staff

Overview

The Hyundai Accent is an exceptional value, with a long list of standard equipment and trim. At this price, buying a new car with up-to-date safety equipment may make more sense than buying an older used car. And to eliminate worries about maintenance costs, Hyundai backs the Accent with one of the best warranties in the business.

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.

Hyundai's 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection plan shields the owner against a variety of problems, while the powertrain is warranted for 100,000 miles. The plan even includes five years of roadside assistance with lockout and emergency towing service. If the car title is transferred, the powertrain is still protected for the first 50,000 miles or five years from dealer sale. That's peace of mind.

Model Lineup

Hyundai Accent is available in three-door hatchback and four-door sedan body styles. All Accent models are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with double overhead cams and four valves per cylinder rated 103 horsepower.

The three-door Accent GLS ($9,999) is the entry-level model, but nevertheless comes standard with five-speed manual transmission, power steering, tachometer and digital clock, cut-pile carpeting, multi-adjustable drivers seat with fold-down arm-rest, tinted glass with sunshade band, an AM/FM/cassette stereo, center console, vanity mirror, tilt steering, intermittent wipers, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, and rear windshield wiper/washer. Safety equipment includes dual front airbags and front-seat side airbags. The GLS three-door can also be ordered with four-speed automatic transmission ($10,799)

The GLS is also available as a four-door sedan with five-speed manual transmission ($10,499) or four-speed automatic ($11,299). The sedan comes standard with all the features of the hatchback GLS, except a remote trunk release is substituted for the rear windshield washer/wiper.

The sporty three-door Accent GT hatchback ($10,599) comes with all the same features as the GLS, plus sport-tuned suspension, 14-inch alloy wheels and 185/60 HR14 tires, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, white-face gauges, body-colored rocker moldings and rear spoiler, front fog lights and sport cloth seats. The GT is also available with four-speed automatic transmission ($11,399).

All Accent models can be upgraded by adding air conditioning ($795); the Popular Equipment Package ($1,290) which includes air conditioning, six-speaker stereo CD upgrade, power windows, mirrors and door locks; and a complete accessory group ($1,695) which includes anti-lock brakes as well as the Popular Equipment Package options.

Anti-lock brakes can only be purchased with the full accessory package, and we strongly recommending getting them.