The Hyundai Accent is an affordable subcompact car introduced to the U.S. market in 1995. Professional and consumer reviewers alike generally find it very reliable for the price, although it does have some shortcomings.
According to Kelley Blue Book, if you have an automatic transmission model, the 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine can have sluggish pickup, particularly at highway speeds. Zero-to-60 acceleration takes 13 seconds. Manual transmissions do slightly better, performing the same acceleration in 11 seconds.
If you purchase your Hyundai new and then resell it within a couple of years, its value drops more dramatically than other comparable models in its class, like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris. It tends to rank lower in quality assessments by consumers. If, however, you keep your new car for more than five years or buy it used, it can still be a reliable and economical purchase.
A common complaint among consumers is the noise the Accent's engine makes at high rpms. This is common among small inexpensive cars in its class.
The Accent is small and can be uncomfortable for tall drivers because there is not much leg room. The back seat and trunk also have limited space.
Some consumers report various problems with their transmissions, including difficulties with shifting, overdrive and reverse. These problems should be covered under the 100,000 mile/10-year manufacturer's warranty.
