Hyundai Accent 2003 Review

What we liked
>> Hyundai's standard-fit list
>> Better looks and styling
>> Uprated mechanicals

Not so much
>> Poorer fuel economy
>> So-so ride and handling
>> Crowded by Getz and Elantra

OVERVIEW
Hyundai Australia had a bad year in 2002. Despite finishing a new model flurry that saw its portfolio go from four to 10 in two years, Hyundai's sales continued a five year trend, dropping 15 percent to 34,176 (Hyundai's all-time record was 59,798 in 1997). The Getz wasn't getting anywhere -- Hyundai's expected 2000 sales a month for the chic and cheap Euro-hatch missed by more than half. And the backbone of the company, the Excel/Accent, went missing in action as stocks of the old model ran out months before the new one was due.

The first Accent was launched in Australia in 2000, winning the country's 'Best Small Car Award' for that and the following year, and taking runner-up -- to Hyundai's Getz -- in '02 and '03. In those years the Accent was left wanting an extra set of doors for rear passengers and the less-expensive, five-door Getz was duly rewarded with Best Car Award gongs for being more user-friendly.

Back then Hyundai Automotive Distributors Australia (HADA) tried to convince CarPoint that young families wanted the three-door Accent; that they needed its extra room in the rear over the Getz. We didn't buy it then, and obviously customers didn't buy Accent. Enter the new Accent five-door.

Hyundai claims that demand from rental and fleet car companies and some retail customers for a five-door Accent encouraged the reinstatement of the model to Australia, after an 18-month absence. Accent (1.6-litre) is now a viable option for those sub-$20,000 buyers looking for a vehicle in between 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre Getz and the 2.0-litre Elantra, that offers five doors

FEATURES
So, what difference does the re-model of Accent make? Most obvious is the look. The 15mm longer, new-style front-end includes changed bonnet, headlights and bumpers, which take a cue from the Tiburon coupe. The grille has been simplified, along with the bumper's lower air intake. At the rear there's more, umm, accent on the bootlid, the taillights are more angular and the bumper looks less fidgety without the underside ribs of the old model.

Interior changes to the facelifted Accent include new dash finish and seat trim. A tachometer now sits in the instrument binnacle; there's three headrests in the rear, and the previously Siamese-twinned cupholders can now operate independently. Yay!

Hyundai is pricing the Accent line-up (August 2004) at $14,990 (for manual) for the three-door or $16,490 for the five-door. Add $1863 for the automatic gearbox. A Safety Pack, which includes anti-lock brakes and six-spoke alloy wheels, is available for an extra $2400. Air-conditioning is included as standard.

COMFORT
Accent comes equipped with air conditioning as standard, an engine immobiliser, CD/MP3 stereo and 60/40 split fold rear seats. It also offers power windows and mirrors, and remote central locking with alarm. The driver’s seat can be adjusted for tilt and height, and power steering is included. Ride is assisted by four-wheel independent suspension. The spare wheel is full-sized.

SAFETY
Accent includes dual airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters, and incorporates anti-submarining front seat steel pans and rear seat ramps. An Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution is an extra cost option on the Safety Pack.

MECHANICAL
Under the bonnet resides Hyundai's old faithful 1.5-litre, 16-valve, four-cylinder block, enlarged to 1.6 litres. Power is up 2kW to 78kW; torque is up 10Nm to 143Nm. Gear ratios are shorter in the four-speed automatic thanks to a lower final drive ratio, while the five-speed manual gets a shorter fourth and fifth gear.

Extra power doesn't come free, and the Accent's fuel economy has suffered accordingly. Hyundai claims fuel economy for the bigger 1.6lt engine is 7.8lt/100km in town and 5.2lt/100km on the highway. The automatic version is 8.0 and 5.4 respectively. By comparison, the old 1.5lt engine achieved 7.4 and 5.0.

Other mechanical changes include beefed-up rear suspension, mods to the engine management, the standard fitment of 14in wheels and tyres all round, and modifications to the power steering which gives greater assistance at parking speeds and less assistance at highway speeds.

COMPETITORS
Accent’s main market rivals are in Toyota’s Echo (from $16,490 for the four-door) and Honda’s Jazz, but Accent is substantially cheaper than Jazz’s 1.5-litre equivalent which starts at $19,990. Kia’s five-door 16-valve Rio hatch may also pose competition, and even though it has a smaller engine it’s cheaper and also includes air conditioning as standard.

ON THE ROAD
CarPoint.com.au is yet to test the three- or five-door Hyundai Accent. We have a request in to Hyundai Australia for a road test vehicle and will update this review once a vehicle is supplied.