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13/08/2011
REVIEW By EWAN KENNEDY
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Hyundai’s model lineup is becoming rather crowded in the lower priced end of the spectrum. The Hyundai i30 has received well-deserved praise from many reviewers. The i30’s smaller brother, the i20, hasn’t done quite as well, but may be proving a bit of a sleeper. The all-new Elantra, launched in July, has already grabbed a lot of attention from buyers. The mainstay of the Hyundai range, the budget priced Getz continues to sell in large numbers, though it’s nearly at the end of its life.
Now an all-new Hyundai Accent has been introduced to Australia, meaning that the South Korean marque has, for the time being at least, five models spanning the $14,000 to $20,000 price bracket.
Hyundai has made its name on bargain pricing, but is keen to lift its image from being a maker of cut-price machines to that of a serious player in the global automotive market.
Our first review of the new Accent showed the company is on the right track. The small Hyundai has levels of in-cabin refinement that normally require a larger, more expensive car. In particular, the engine is so quiet at idle that it might almost have stopped altogether. Combine that with materials of a high quality and a good level of finish and you get a lot of car for your money.
Mind you, with a starting price of $16,990 - plus on road costs that will bring it close to $20,000 - Accent is no longer a bargain basement model. Which is smart marketing, because it doesn’t make sense to try an upmarket push while offering cars at rock bottom prices.
The $16,990 Hyundai Accent Active is a five-door hatch or sedan with a five-speed manual gearbox, a four-speed automatic transmission adds $2000. The range peaks at $22,990 for the topline Accent Premium auto.
All models have Bluetooth connectivity, USB and Aux in the audio system, with steering wheel controls to minimise the loss of attention for the driver.
Safety is taken care of by a sophisticated stability system similar to that seen in many upmarket cars. Accent has a five-star safety rating, with six airbags helping it achieve this.
Accent Elite is likely to be the biggest seller thanks to having 16-inch alloy wheels rather than the 14-inch steel units on the Active. Elite also gains a fancier interior design, six speakers in the stereo (the Active has four) and front foglights.
The Accent Premium tops off the lineup with climate-controlled air, simulated leather trim, parking assist that includes a reversing camera, and a different design of 16-inch alloy wheels to the Elite.
Styling is a huge feature of the latest Hyundai designs and the new Accent follows the same Fluidic Sculpture (to use Hyundai’s name) design that we just love in big brother Hyundai i45. From the big radiator grille and huge headlights, over the domed roof and into the neat tail it all works brilliantly from a visual point of view.
Despite the domed roof, there’s good headroom in the back of the hatch, and even more in the sedan. Legroom in the back seat depends on the amount of space the front travellers are willing to give up, but Accent can carry four adults with little compromise. The centre-rear seat is rather cramped and poorly shaped as this Hyundai is set up for four rather than five.
Visibility for drivers is good as they sit reasonably well forward so there’s little masking by the wide windscreen pillars.
The test drive program at the launch of the new Hyundai Accent was run out of central Sydney and involved suburban driving, with a little bit of low-speed motorway running. We have yet to drive new Hyundai Accent on country roads or on serious stretches of coarse-chip bitumen. So we have yet to try the suspension system to see whether it has been correctly tuned for Australian roads. Hyundai has responded to criticism that its i45 is aimed at those who prefer comfort to sportiness and has modified the Accent’s suspension accordingly. We will publish our findings once we have tested a car for a week in our home area.
The complete Hyundai Accent range, with prices (excluding government and dealer charges) is:
Active 1.6-litre four-door sedan: $16,990 (manual), $18,990 (automatic)
Active 1.6-litre five-door hatch: $16,990 (manual), $18,990 (automatic)
Elite 1.6-litre four-door sedan: $18,490 (manual), $20,490 (automatic)
Elite 1.6-litre five-door hatch: $18,490 (manual), $20,490 (automatic)
Premium 1.6-litre five-door hatch: $20,990 (manual), $22,990 (automatic) |
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