2015 Hyundai Accent

NEW FOR 2015:

- New colours: Coffee Bean, Pacific Blue, Vitamin C

A nip here and a tuck there keeps Hyundai’s most affordable model current in the competitive subcompact class. The restyled grille and lights give the Accent a more prominent look, especially the primo trim levels which features 16-inch alloy wheels with black painted pockets and LED accented daytime running lights. Inside, there’s new fabric upholstery. There’s also a new intermediate SE trim level that adds some of the nicer visuals of the GLS and an automatic to the lesser GL for $1,000.

The Accent offers drivers a comfortable and quiet ride, and a cabin that’s cleanly styled and chock full of equipment. The Accent also has surprisingly peppy performance. All models use a direct-injected 1.6-litre engine that develops 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque, which is strong for the segment. That the Accent weighs as much as 300 lbs less than certain rivals helps both performance and fuel economy. Both six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are offered.

The Accent is available in L, GL, SE and GLS trims.

In L trim, features include 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, body colour door handles and mirrors, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with USB/iPod input, sliding sun visors with dual vanity mirrors, six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, four-way manually adjustable passenger’s seat, Eco Shift indicator, power door locks, and a trip computer. 5-Door adds rear spoiler, rear wiper, and cargo shelf.

GL trim adds heated exterior mirrors, 60/40 split folding rear seats, satellite radio, Bluetooth with voice recognition, 172-watt six-speaker sound system, cloth interior door trim, deluxe console with armrest, keyless entry with panic function, power heated exterior mirrors, air conditioning, heated seats, power windows with driver’s side auto-up, steering wheel mounted audio controls, cruise control, sunglass holder, telescoping steering column. The Sedan GL adds the six-speed automatic transmission; it is an option on the 5-Door. 5-Door adds rear spoiler, rear wiper, and cargo shelf.

SE trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, a power sliding sunroof, and a six-speed automatic transmission. 5-Door adds rear spoiler, rear wiper, and cargo shelf.

GLS trim adds premium cloth upholstery, automatic climate control, automatic projector beam headlamps with LED daytime running lights, chrome-plated interior door handles and parking brake button, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift-knob, and side mirrors with integrated turn signals. The Sedan GLS adds the six-speed automatic transmission; it is an option on the 5-Door. 5-Door adds rear spoiler, rear wiper, and cargo shelf.