Used 2017 Hyundai Accent

Available as a sedan or hatchback, the 2017 Hyundai Accent is the Korean automaker’s least expensive vehicle. But don’t let its sub-$16,000 starting price fool you: Today’s Accent is positively surprising, and a recommendable choice for students or city dwellers with shorter commutes. No longer the "econobox" of yore, the 2017 Accent is efficient, reliable, economical and even somewhat stylish — especially in the more versatile hatchback form. The Accent subcompact car doesn’t have the robust safety features of the Toyota Yaris or Chevrolet Sonic, nor the contortionist interior flexibility, fuel efficiency or resale value of the Honda Fit, but it does come with something its rivals can’t touch: a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

If your last recollection of driving an economy car involved a jittery ride, incessant wind noise and the need to put the pedal to the floor to outpace the semi truck in your rearview mirror, we have good news: The 2017 Accent is none of those things. Its 4-cylinder engine is efficient and capable, and its ride quality is more refined than this car’s size may lead you to believe. As much as some of our editors love a manual transmission, there’s not much reward beyond cost savings for the one here; opt for the automatic if you can. The Accent’s seats are comfortable, and even our taller editors found good head- and legroom up front. The Accent isn’t all that dynamic or a barn-burner, but for running errands and moderate highway hops, this Hyundai more than serves its purpose.

The 2017 Hyundai Accent subcompact’s 5-passenger interior layout isn’t all that exciting, but it is functional. Controls for audio, climate and phone connectivity are easy to locate and use. The blue-hued backlit buttons and knobs are a nice touch and especially useful at night. Sedan versions of the Accent have a 13.7-cubic-foot trunk and 60/40-split-folding rear seats to accommodate larger items. But the real cargo-carrying hero in this lineup is the Accent hatchback, which offers 47.5 cubic feet of capacity with the seats folded — nearly as much as a small SUV.

The 2017 Hyundai Accent isn’t flashy, but it’s polite and functional. Now one of the older models in the Hyundai lineup, the Accent lacks the gaping, hexagonal grille that distinguishes most of its kin. In addition to its more practical nature and added cargo capacity, we think the hatchback makes a bigger statement than the sedan. At 162 inches in length, the hatchback is a significant 10 inches shorter than the Accent sedan, which makes it even easier to park in small garages or tight places.

GENEROUS WARRANTY
Although you hope you’ll never have to use it, the peace of mind provided by the 2017 Hyundai Accent’s warranty is priceless — and a further testament to Hyundai’s belief in the quality of its products. The warranty includes 5-year/60,000-mile basic coverage and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty covering the engine and transmission.

HATCHBACK MODEL
You never know when you’ll need extra room for gear. That’s just one of the reasons we like hatchbacks. Beyond offering more cargo space behind the rear seats than a sedan’s trunk, with seats folded the Accent hatchback opens up 47.5 cubic feet of volume.

With the addition of the new Value Edition, the 2017 Accent sedan and hatchback are available in two trims each. Base SE sedans and hatchbacks have air conditioning, power windows/door locks, a 6-way-adjustable driver’s seat and 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with USB and auxiliary inputs, but no Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control or steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. If you go with the sedan, we recommend spending the extra $705 for the Value Edition, which brings those MIA amenities and more. All 2017 Accents include Hyundai’s excellent warranty that backs the powertrain for 10 years/100,000 miles. You’ll also get five years/unlimited miles of roadside assistance.

Accent SE sedan and hatchback trims can be had with a 6-speed automatic transmission instead of the standard 6-speed manual. Most buyers will prefer an automatic, which adds an extra $1,000 (sedan) or $1,200 (hatchback) to the bottom line. The Accent Sport Hatchback is the best equipped of the models, and the only one to offer a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel for an optimal driving position, heated side mirrors, projector headlights with automatic on/off, fog lights and driver’s window with auto-up feature. That top model also has premium cloth seating, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and piano-black interior accents.

All 2017 Hyundai Accent models use a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with gasoline direct injection (GDI) that translates to satisfying throttle response. Offering 137 horsepower and up to 37 mpg, this little engine puts out a good blend of power and efficiency, though it still can’t quite match the fuel-economy figures of the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa Note or Toyota Yaris iA. All Accent models are front-wheel drive and use a standard 6-speed manual transmission or the more recommendable and popular 6-speed automatic transmission with Hyundai’s Shiftronic manual control.

1.6-liter inline-4
137 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
123 lb-ft of torque @ 4,850 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/37 mpg (manual), 26/36 mpg (automatic)

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.