The First Review for Summer 2011 is here!
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Good grades: The 2011 Hyundai Accent GLS Sedan is not your 1980's, 1990's, or early 2000's Hyundai (I'll post my review of the latest Sonata soon)--this Korean subcompact car is light years ahead of what it used to be in every way. While it isn't perfect, the 2011 Hyundai Accent GLS Sedan is worthy of some praise. The build quality is very good, the interior looks nice, and it has options you probably wouldn't have found on a car in this class five years ago(an XM Satellite radio, lighted vanity mirrors, mp3, and USB auxiliary jacks, anti-lock brakes and more). Once you get it up to speed, the car has decent power. It pulls well up mountain grades, which says a lot for it--not great, but well.
The exterior styling is also commendable--but the styling of the 2012 Accent blows it away, looking more like its larger Elantra and Sonata siblings, as the "Fluidic Sculpture" design makes its way to the 2012 model. The seats are also relatively comfortable, but could use some extra lumbar support or adjustments. It also has adequate interior room for a subcompact car. Braking on the outgoing 2011 Accent is adequate, as well, as is the trunk space. Fuel economy is decent, but could be better--and will be for 2012--it will jump from 27 city/36 mpg highway to 30 city/40 mpg highway: That's an impressive leap in fuel economy.
Bad Grades: Even though once the car gets up to speed it will go, take offs with the four-speed automatic transmission are slow, and the best 0 to 60 mph time I could muster was a rather slow 12 seconds--to me, is still inexcusable for such a small, light car. It needs more horsepower or a better or a five to six speed automatic (I'd like both, actually--and yes, the 2012 Accent will get that, too: the 1.6 liter four will gain boast a horsepower rating of 138 and 123 ft. pounds of torque, plus a six-speed automatic transmission, which should help make the 2012 Accent a game-changer in the U.S. subcompact market).
Emergency manuvers at high speeds are just plain scary in the 2011 Hyundai Accent Sedan, as I found during my test. The interior plastics could be better, and as I said earlier, the seats need more lumbar support. The engine also starts to get buzzy at higher speeds, something I hope has been addressed in the all-new 2012 Accent.
Final Grade: While not perfect the 2011 Hyundai Accent GLS Sedan has a lot going for it--but if you want a better Accent, you should just buy the 2012 model--on paper, it would seem to annihilate the outgoing 2011 Accent. Still, the 2011 Hyundai Accent gets worthy grade for what it is...basic transportation with some nice extras added for good measure to make even the most routine driving somewhat more pleasant for budget-minded car buyers.
The Car Exam Grade: B/B-
MSRP Base Price: $13,695
By P. Scott
