HYUNDAI Accent 2018

Body and cabin

Make no mistake: The Accent is all Hyundai. Its resemblance to the Elantra is more striking than ever, particularly from the side. The indented bumpers, wide grille and wrap-around stoplights avoid the overly high and narrow look common to many subcompact sedans.

The additional 3 cm of width certainly helps in this respect, as well as contributing to the increased volume in the cabin. Only headroom decreases slightly, though it should have been the other way around; in the back, a 1.78-m (5 ft. 10 in.) person’s head still touches the ceiling.

All the same, the Hyundai Accent can accommodate four average-sized people, or a couple with two young children, with little fuss. The seats prove relatively comfortable, but the soft padding suggests that support may be lacking for long trips. Lateral support is also less than ideal during turns, something that is not uncommon in an entry-level car with no sporty pretentions.

Centered in the redesigned dashboard is the first-ever touchscreen for the Hyundai Accent. The top-trim versions get a 17.8-cm (7 in.) display that is crisp and well organized, a Hyundai strongpoint. Unlike the Kia Rio, the Accent does not offer integrated navigation; in any event, that feature becomes superfluous with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which are standard on GL and GLS trims. L and LE level Accents have a smaller but equally well-designed screen (12.7 cm/5 in.). Good-size knobs and buttons are a welcome complement to the infotainment system while making it easy to adjust the ventilation.

All trims come with a 60/40-split/fold rear seat. The backrests are higher than the floor of the trunk when folded, a hindrance when loading long items. On the other hand, the full height of the trunk is always accessible when the seat is in place. Cargo volume is about the same as with the 2017 sedan, whereas there is an increase of 16 litres in the hatchback, lengthened by 7 cm. In both instances, interior volume is above average for the segment.à

Safety

Along with the central colour display, a backup camera finally appears on all trims. It is none too soon, with this important safety feature becoming mandatory in May 2018 in Canada. The addition of automatic emergency braking is just as commendable…but it is restricted to the GLS. We can understand Hyundai wanting to limit the production costs of its entry-level car, but certain competitors—Honda and Toyota, not to mention names—make this important feature much easier to obtain.

The 32-percent increase in torsional rigidity claimed by the automaker helped improve the rating (1 on a scale of 4) the former model received from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in its small overlap frontal crash test.

Crash test results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Overall score: Not tested
Frontal impact: Not tested
Side impact: Not tested
Rollover resistance: Not tested

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact:
- driver side: 4 / 4
- passenger side: 3 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: 4 / 4
Roof strength: 4 / 4

Mechanical overview

The mechanical engineers concentrated mainly on the Hyundai Accent platform for 2018. It is now comprised of 54.5 percent high-strength steel, compared to 41.5 percent for the 2017 model. The structure above the front wheels is particularly reinforced, and the rear suspension and steering are retuned.

L, LE and GL models now have 15-inch wheels (17-inch for the GLS). Gone are the tiny 14-inch wheels that the Accent was the last to offer, with the Mitsubishi Mirage.

The engine is the same 1.6-litre direct injection four-cylinder equipping the Hyundai Accent since 2012. Despite a decrease of 7 hp and 4 lb-ft, its power (130 hp) and torque (119 lb-ft) are among the highest of the segment. Thanks to more generous low-end torque than before, Hyundai claims that acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h is 1.3 second quicker than before. Few will notice the difference; the engine is still better adapted to smooth driving than high-revving performance.

Both available transmissions are six-speed. The automatic is irreproachable, as smooth as it is quick to downshift when necessary. Even so, Hyundai continues to offer a manual transmission on most versions, including the top-trim GLS hatchback. That is increasingly rare, with fewer than ten percent of buyers opting for a manual, even at the entry level. Bravo, especially with the Hyundai Accent’s manual gearbox quite fun to use since 2012.

Our complete evaluation of the 2018 Hyundai Accent confirms the impressions garnered during our first drive, in November 2017: the redesigned model really shows enhanced refinement. The cabin is quieter, directional stability is improved at highway speed and handling is predictable in normal driving.

The unnecessary rear-suspension rebound sometimes felt in the former model seems to have disappeared. Steering is more precise and the ride is firmer, at least with the 17-inch wheels of the GLS model. None of the models at the press launch were equipped with 15-inch wheels. However, a quick jaunt in a Kia Rio equipped with 15-inchers revealed a better balance of comfort and handling than with the 17-inch wheels. And mechanically, the Rio is a close copy of the redesigned Accent.