2015 Hyundai Accent Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Overcoming a value-conscious debut era that also included the ill-starred Yugo, Hyundai has evolved into star-studded respectability. The...

Overcoming a value-conscious debut era that also included the ill-starred Yugo, Hyundai has evolved into star-studded respectability. The Korean automaker’s 2015 Accent is a case in point. Aimed directly at the frugal commuter, this 5-seat subcompact was introduced in the mid-'90s and even then came delivered in sedan or 5-door hatchback form. While the basic premise hasn’t changed, with 4-door and 5-door choices still offered, the latest version is emphatically not your father’s Accent.

Although still on the small side, the 2015 Accent is nonetheless roomy, not to mention stylish, peppy and practical, with the sedan, available only in the GLS trim, accepting up to 13.7 cubic feet of luggage, groceries or whatever. The 5-door hatchback, meantime, offered in GS or Sport trim variations, returns to tote up to 47.5 cubic feet of home-improvement stuff, furniture, whatever with the rear seatbacks folded.

Furthermore, the 2015 model year reveals a few style tweaks to the Accent’s grille, wheels, headlights and taillights, as well as updated fabric choices and a shuffling of standard and available equipment. Furthermore, as you may have noted, the 5-door Accent SE is now labeled the Sport.

Once again, this value-laden commuter car totes a surprisingly peppy 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder powerplant that puts out 137 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque under the management of the standard 6-speed manual transmission. Expect 27 mpg city/38 highway and a respectable 0-60 time of 9.3 seconds from the stick-shift variants, but for those who deplore the idea of working too hard before they get to work, all versions of the 2015 Accent can be delivered with an available 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission with a slight drop in both acceleration and fuel efficiency. Look for a 0-60 time climbing to 9.8 seconds in the automatic-equipped versions, while EPA-estimated fuel efficiency drops to 26/37. And by the way, this capable commuter scooter is available only with front-wheel drive (FWD).

Although a tad short on plush, the 2015 Accent carries at least those basic creature comforts the modern man or woman desires. The GLS sedan, for instance, features 14-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, full power accessories and air conditioning, standard, as well as tilt-wheel steering and a single-CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers and auxiliary audio input.

The GS Hatchback, meanwhile, adds rear wipers, upgraded interior accents and, in the automatic-equipped edition, standard cruise control, while the flagship 5-door Sport tacks standard 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, center-console storage, upgraded cloth upholstery and Bluetooth hands-free calling to all of the above.

A comparatively abbreviated options list includes a power sunroof available only to the Sport Hatchback variant, with a leather-wrapped shift knob optional in all stick-shift versions and carpeted floor mats available lineup-wide.

Safety-wise, each edition of the 2015 Accent boasts standard 4-wheel antilock brakes, with lower trims sporting rear drum brakes and the Sport toting rear disc brakes. Front side-mounted airbags, front and rear head airbags, active front headrests and a remote antitheft alarm, meantime, are each standard aboard all trims, while the 5-door Accent Sport additionally boasts standard front fog/driving lights and LED projector headlights.