Hyundai used to be the black horse at a King Arthur white knight convention. A donkey on a carousel. The chubby girl at a dodgeball game. Their cars were leftovers, last resorts, I-can't-afford-any-other kind of vehicles.
Boy, just look at how that girl has grown up.
Hyundai has the mojo moving forward now, and truly, the sky is the limit – is this really the Accent? Yes, sir – the new
. This is the Korean automaker's entry-level car – the one that arguably put them on the map, and the one that appeals to a steady demographic of young buyers who want as much as they can get for as little money as possible.
The new 2006 Hyundai Accent looks like it will give ‘em everything they want – and maybe a bit more. Redesigned from the ground up, the Accent combines traditional Hyundai strengths of value and warranty coverage with top-shelf safety equipment, an improved design and more room on the inside.
OverviewIf you're looking for an inexpensive small car that offers a great warranty and a solid array of safety features, the 2006 Hyundai Accent should be at the top of your list. Though the Hyundai lineup is quickly going mainstream, the entry-level 2006 Accent remains a core vehicle. Often the first car someone will buy with a Hyundai logo on the front will have the Accent logo on the back. Young people – and their parents – who are shopping for an Accent need its safety equipment most of all, and they will also appreciate Hyundai's bumper-to-bumper warranty of five years/60,000 miles and the ten-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.
FeaturesAvailable for purchase in the fall of 2005, the 2006 Hyundai Accent will be available as a single model – the GLS sedan.
Pricing has not been announced, but expect the
new Hyundai Accent to stay within close range of its existing sticker price. Standard equipment includes an AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers, a convenient tilt steering wheel, an eight-way driver's seat with adjustable armrest, driver and passenger vanity mirrors, front seatback pockets, and a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat that has a folding center armrest with dual cupholders. Air conditioning and a Convenience Package are available as options. The Convenience Package includes power windows with driver’s auto-down, illuminated switches on all four doors and the driver’s side power window reserve, power heated mirrors, and power door locks.
PerformanceUnder the hood, the 2006 Hyundai Accent has what the company claims is the most powerful engine in its class, a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces an estimated 110 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 107 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. The engine is mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic. The 2006 Hyundai Accent rides on a MacPherson strut suspension up front, and a coupled torsion beam suspension in back, controlling standard 14-inch or optional 15-inch wheels. Front disc, rear drum brakes bring the Accent to a halt.
The real performance question, however, is safety – and the Accent enjoys a huge bump in standard safety equipment, including dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and outboard rear seat occupants. All Accents come equipped with front seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters, which are designed to tighten the seatbelt in the event of a collision. All seating positions have adjustable headrests that can assist in the event of a rear accident.
DesignAs a lucky recipient of a complete makeover, the 2006 Hyundai Accent gets high marks for simplicity and low marks for excitement, Overall, it looks to be a clear improvement over the
2005 Hyundai Accent, with the possible exception of the thin molding that runs halfway up along the sides. Exterior features include distinctive halogen headlights; larger wheels; and body-color door handles, mirrors, bodyside molding, and rear tailgate garnish.
Inside, the interior design has also improved with a new two-tone color scheme. Room-wise, the Accent is bigger than the outgoing model – 1.8 inches longer, 1 inch wider, and 3 inches taller, delivering 0.7 inch of greater front headroom and 1.5 inches more rear legroom. The wheelbase has also been stretched by 2.3 inches. Hyundai claims that these dimensions are class-leading.
Wrap UpValue. It boils down to the most important aspect of a new, entry-level car. But just because you want a good value for a low price doesn't mean you have to suffer a poor ride or cramped interior. For 2006, the Hyundai Accent offers all of the things a young buyer needs: nice style, a new and improved engine, side curtain airbags, a great warranty, and plenty of room.
Photos courtesy of Hyundai
