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2009 Hyundai Accent
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2009 Hyundai Accent, Hyundai photo
When you get to drive a lot of different cars as I do, the majority are higher end cars, loaded with options intended to impress. It makes it a challenge then to review cars that make up the lower priced spectrum.
So rather than compare the 2009 Hyundai Accent with the power of a Mustang GT or the ride of a Nissan Maxima or the handling prowess of a BMW 3 series, lets compare the Accent with economy cars of a few years ago. In that regard, the new Hyundai rocks the world. It was not long ago that the Volkswagen Beetle (the original one, not the modern, repackaged Rabbit), the Toyota Corolla and the Datsun (Nissan) B-210 were the top of the subcompact economy world. American companies offered the Chevrolet Vega, Ford Pinto and AMC Gremlin. Compared to the foreign cars of the era, the Accent feels much more substantial, displays far better road handling, and out-accelerates even performance modified versions of the old cars. Much the same can be said in one-on-one comparisons with the American cars, except they feel heavy and sluggardly when driven against the Hyundai. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that American manufacturers figured out how to make strong, yet lightweight body structures.
How many times have you overheard someone spouting off about how they “used to get 42 miles per gallon with their 1975 Honda Civic and why can’t all new cars do the same?” Simple, it’s the weight folks! New cars carry significantly more weight in safety systems, more robust body structure, emission control systems and comfort and convenience equipment. How many of those Civics had air conditioning? Power windows? 6-disc CD changer with 150-watt sub-woofer? The good news is, even with all of the added weight, new cars like the Hyundai Accent can offer great fuel mileage and come with the safety, performance and comfort today’s buyers require. Thanks in a large part go to the electronic controls that significantly increase engine efficiency, granting more power while giving better fuel mileage. The Accent is a good compromise of power vs. economy. There is enough power to get out on the highway (albeit you will find yourself flooring it to really get up to speed), and yet return 35 mpg on the EPA highway cycle. (City mileage is 26 mpg) The Accent gets the job done in a quiet, comfortable cabin with a decent ride. Push it on an on-ramp and the tires will start complaining pretty quickly. But once on the highway, turn on the cruise control, find something nice on the XM radio and relax. With almost a 12 gallon gas tank, you will need a break before the Accent will.
This Accent was equipped nicely with the Premium package which includes an AM/FM/CD/XM satellite radio, air conditioning, power windows and remote entry among others. Even with this equipment, the MSRP is only $15,570. With inflation, the price is about the same as a 1971 Pinto or Vega. The Accent starts at $9,970.
For more information: see www.hyundai.com or these other Examiner articles;
2009 Cheap car shootout
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