2016 Hyundai Accent review

What We Like:

Performance: The Accent lacks the pizzazz of its turbocharged Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic competitors, but it’s still plenty quick even with its non-turbo 1.6-liter engine. The four-cylinder makes just 137 horsepower, but responds quickly to the accelerator and sprints steadily from zero to 60 mph in about nine seconds. A well-calibrated six-speed automatic transmission helps, and there’s always the option to gain a little extra zip with the manual transmission. The Accent’s composure and steady grip in corners is equally endearing, with confident, direct steering that makes fun work of a winding road.

Comfort: Tall doors and a low floor make for easy entry and exit, and once inside, there’s ample space in all four seats (the rear middle seat is best left unoccupied). Front seats also offer plenty of support for long drives. With its dash angled slightly away from the front seats, the Accent feels refreshingly open inside. Ride quality is better than most subcompacts, and while the Accent isn’t quite Mercedes-like quiet, the hushed cabin keeps outside noise at bay.

Value: The 2016 Accent reinforces Hyundai’s excellent value proposition, with key standard features like keyless entry, heated side mirrors, and a six-speaker sound system with USB jack for basic smartphone media control. Moving up to the Sport trim adds 16-inch wheels, rear disc brakes (many subcompacts at the time had rear drum brakes) and Bluetooth^®, among other features. We would've liked to see a few available driver safety aids, but at the Accent's bargain price, it's hard to argue.

What Needs Improvement

Fuel Economy: If there’s one thing we’d change about the Accent, it would be to get its real-world fuel economy numbers closer to its EPA ratings. In Edmunds testing, the Accent fell short of its EPA-estimated 31 mpg combined with the automatic transmission (32 mpg combined with the manual).