The 2012 Hyundai Accent has a beautiful exterior, outstanding fuel economy rating, adequate cargo space, and a spacious cabin.
Almost everything in the new Accent is truly amiable, leaving its forerunner, the 2011 Hyundai Accent, behind.
With all the competitive features, the new Accent is truly a better choice.
Specifications
| Vehicle Type: Compact | Base Price: $12,545.00 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity: 11.4 gallons(43L) | MPG: 30 city / 40 hwy |
| Length: 172 in. (436.8 cm) | Wheel Base: 101.2 in. (257 cm) |
| Height: 57.1 in. (145 cm) | Width: 66.9 in. (169.9 cm) |
| Curb Weight: 2396 lbs (1086 kg) | Ground Clearance: NA |
| Luggage Capacity: 13.7 cu ft | Maximum Seating: 5 people |
| Engine: 1.6L Inline-4 DOHC | Compression Ratio: 11.0: 1 |
| Horsepower: 138 HP | Max RPM: 6300 RPM |
| Torque: 123 lb-ft @ 4850 rpm | Transmission: 6-Speed Manual |
| Option:GS | MSRP: $14,795; MPG: 30 city / 40 hwy |
| Option:SE | MSRP: $16,095; MPG: 30 city / 40 hwy |
| Option:GS Hatchback | MSRP: $14,695; MPG: 30 city / 40 hwy |
| Option:SE Hatchback | MSRP: $15,895; MPG: 30 city / 40 hwy |
Engine
The 2012 Accent has a 4-cylinder 1.6 liter engine that delivers 138 horsepower and 123 lbs/ft of torque. The engine can be paired either with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
It is interesting to note that these apply to all trims including the fuel efficiency rating of 40 highway/31 city mpg. No matter which model you choose, you are guaranteed to get all the goods.
Performance
As should be expected, the new Accent is not the strongest car in its class. But we’d like to stress that it is one of the strongest and most fuel efficient in its class. You must also take into consideration that the new Accent is no hybrid at all.
You will be surprised at how smooth the shifting is. We give credit to Hyundai for making the manual transmission as good as its automatic counterpart. But since it does not have much muscle, you should not expect the Accent to be stellar in passing maneuvers.
Nevertheless, the Hyundai is no doubt a good city cruiser. It is quiet and comfortable although not as sporty as other cars.
Exterior
The exterior for the new Accent is fresh and sporty. The fine lines and organic curves indeed make the Accent one of the most stylish cars of this year.
Interior
Give credit to Hyundai for putting a lot of thought in its cabin design. Although the car is not as sporty as others, it has an interior design that can be described as upscale. It has a good quality that you will not usually find in other cars in its class.
The console for temperature and radio control is simple and easy to use unlike the technology used by its competitors that we often find as complicated and somewhat confusing. There is enough legroom and headroom that even 6-feet tall passengers can sit comfortably.
There are minor issues about comfort in the cabin though even if there is much passenger and driver space, because Hyundai did not put padding to the center console arm rest. We wish that Hyundai improves this aspect in its future editions.
Safety
The 2012 Accent has four wheel anti-lock brakes, 6 airbags, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and vehicle stability management system.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave a “good” score to the new Accent for the rear crash test, roof strength, and front offset. The Accent received an “acceptable” score in side impact tests. On the other hand, the federal government gave the car 4 out of 5 stars. It was also given 4 out of 5 stars in rear, front, side tests and rollover risk by the same institution.
Reliability
It is interesting to mention that the new Accent is covered by a program that predicts the value of your car after two years from the date of purchase. It is the Hyundai Assurance Trade-in Value Guarantee.
When you trade your car that is covered by this program between 48 and 24 months after the date of purchase, you will get the predicted value or more for your trade. The Hyundai Accent comes with the standard 10-year warranty, a 7-year corrosion warranty, and a 5-year 24-hour roadside assistance.
Pros & Cons
The new Hyundai Accent has a long warranty, good fuel economy and an exciting style. The new Accent has poor rear visibility.
Overall, the 2012 Hyundai Accent brings the best qualities in its class, making it a good choice for budget conscious car owners.
Competition
There are many other manufacturers that can be compared to the Accent, these include the Nissan Versa (MSRP $10,990; 27 city / 36 hwy), Toyota Yaris (MSRP $14,115; 30 city / 38 hwy), the Ford Fiesta Sedan (MSRP $16,600; 29 city / 38 hwy), and the Chevrolet Sonic (MSRP $13,865; 26 city / 35 hwy).
Overall Rating
68 out of 100
What others say:
“With the company’s brand-new 1.6-liter four-cylinder under its hood, and a beefed-up suspension, the 2012 Hyundai Accent hits a few benchmarks all at once. It bests the subcompact class in fuel economy, and takes out most of the compact class as well, while it dials up better straight-line performance and handling than it had before.”Car Connection
“All versions display a modicum of body lean in fast turns, and steering feel isn’t sports-car sharp. Still, it feels nimble enough to be mildly entertaining to drive. It’s a small tradeoff for Accent’s good ride quality.”Consumer Guide
“The sedan with an automatic attained 31 mpg overall, and 32 mpg for the stick-shift hatchback in our tests.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports
“The 2012 Hyundai Accent is completely updated from the model it replaces, boasting a new look, new engine and a host of standard and available features.”KBB
“Larger, sharper and more fuel-efficient, the redesigned 2012 Hyundai Accent deserves buyer consideration as an affordable, stylish new car.”Edmunds
