2007 Hyundai Accent Road Test
August 5, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
How it goes
Powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, the Accent manages a respectable 82kW of power and 142Nm of torque. This is enough to get the car going but nothing to brag about. Here is the thing, if you’re considering the Accent, do yourself a favour and buy the manual, no, don’t whinge, yes it’s a manual, and yes you will have to use the left side of your body, can’t drive stick? Learn.
Why do I wholeheartedly recommend the manual over the auto? Because the auto gearbox really bogs this car down. The manual variant gets from 0-100 in about 10 seconds while the auto, well, when we tested it, it was a good 1.5 seconds slower.
Paul, Tony and I had a big argument over this, Tony likes the autobox. Noting its subtle nature and the need for a comfortable drive, Paul and I on the other hand, decided that when it comes to downshifts, it is slower than a pack of angry grandmas on a hot summer day.
My test model was the automatic sedan and after driving around for a few days I decided to take the manual for a quick spin, the difference? Well it’s as if you’re in a different car altogether, with 30 more kilowatts! Buy the manual. Not only is it $2,000 cheaper, but it’s the better car.
If you have to go for the auto gearbox, it’s not actually too bad, although evidently slow dropping gears, if you’re going for the auto, you are not looking for speed.
Both models have a 45 litre fuel tank with the Accent Hatch manual consuming 7 litres of fuel per 100kms (7.3 for the auto) while the manual Accent Sedan uses 6.8 litres /100kms (7.1 Litres /100kms for the auto sedan).
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UGLY!!!
Yeah I have to agree, the older version was nicer looking. My grandma has the older 2003 model (she bought it new 3-4 years ago) and it really is a great car. It doesn’t have much power, but for A-B it is not bad. She’s never had a thing go wrong with it, and you would mistake it for new on the inside and out.
My parents want me to buy it from her but for the reasons you stated above about the new model (cornering/handling) I’m not interested. But for people who don’t want to “drive” their car, it’s very good.
Wow talk about going down hill… that looks very Korean in its styling
It’s korean isn’t it!?
That gearstick is a throwback to 1968.
Bought one simply because it is affordable and we were working on a tight budget. The radio is horrific (at times it sounds like Rice Krispies when you pour milk on it) and we met another owner at a filling station the other day who had the same complaints.
Rex & Reggie
bought one this week. base model which was quite good. standard with electric mirrors, windows etc. sold a 2006 holden omega because of gas guzzling concerns and so far I love it. Nippy,very economical which is the big bonus and looks arent everything. Off tomorrow for 17in alloys. should look good. so far I am very pleased.
^^^You sold a VE Commodre Omega for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gas mileage and just 3 miles distance commute to work was the reason I bought one. It’s a cute car and going from a V-8 engine to this with gas going past $4.21 this week, it makes sense.
Its shaped like a watermelon, the Kia Rio version looks far better.
Do they make washing machines and cement mixers as well.
man i bought this car n had it for a year. it is great, faster than alot of cars that think they r good on gas, n cornering, come on i can go on a ramp going almost 75mph n still have control, n wit the mods that came out it is awesome, btw beats a mustang in both acceleration n top speed n gas!
I have a 2003 5 door Hatch auto. I have to say it does handle well and is quite perky to drive. I am now going for a Yaris however this time around. Had one problem with the accent and it was a crank timing chip on the last day of the warrantee. Waiting to see if Hyundai honors it or it will cost me 240.00 to fix it.
Duck Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
^^^You sold a VE Commodre Omega for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
……Sounds smart to me.
Is Accent just discontinued by Hyundai in Australia?