Used 2021 Hyundai Accent

The 2021 Hyundai Accent is the cheapest new Hyundai. It’s a subcompact sedan, so it competes with cars like the Nissan Versa and Kia Rio. How the Accent makes its case is with relatively generous passenger space and a refined ride quality. It also makes smartphone integration and automatic emergency braking available.

This low entry price is dependent on being able to work a manual transmission, since a 6-speed stick shift is standard; it’s around $1,100 for the automatic option. The Accent is supposedly aimed at younger drivers, whose ability to learn is (fortunately) greater than the more mature among us. It’s no bad thing getting to grips with a manual and finding out what gears do. But for the commuting grind, an automatic means one less thing to think about.

A Sport mode enlivens responses of the throttle, transmission, and steering, but don’t get your hopes up. There’s only so much excitement 120 horsepower can muster. For something more dynamic and engaging, consider a pre-owned Mazda3. However, as a cheap-to-run commuter car or a college student’s first set of wheels, the Accent will provide sterling service.

The engine has a passable amount of zip for the class. The main complaint is that it will drone under hard acceleration. And with such modest power, the accelerator tends to get used more than in a gutsier car.

With seating for five (well, four and a bit), the 2021 Accent enjoys a cabin that’s well laid out and comes across at first glance as classier than its value-oriented price might imply.

There are hard plastics, though, and the seats are far from over-cushioned. We’d prefer to see more bolstering up front and a center armrest for the rear seats. Also, stretch to at least the SEL trim because its steering wheel adjusts for height and reach, as opposed to the SE’s tilt-only setup.

Speaking of stretching, there won’t be much of that in the rear seats. Subcompact sedans can’t help being a little cramped somewhere. Even so, easily reachable climate controls, plus a touchscreen in the center console to control audio and phone functions, are definite positives.

Trunk area is 13.7 cubic feet, which is pretty good, and the rear seats split and fold in a 60/40 manner for extra versatility.

Even the base 2021 Accent has the ornate chrome grille of the higher trims. Upscale items like LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, chromed door handles, and a hands-free trunk lid operation, however, require spending extra for the Limited trim.

Overall, the Accent has an arguably pleasant look. The Audi influence (imagine that grille with a 4-ring badge) can only be a good thing.

ANDROID AUTO AND APPLE CARPLAY
These two smartphone systems are quickly moving from “nice to have” to “absolutely essential” in cars. Once their seamless integration has been experienced, it’s a chore to be without them.

AMERICA’S BEST WARRANTY
A headline like that might come across as marketing bluster, but Hyundai is serious, offering five years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, with the powertrain covered for 10 years/100,000 miles. That’s reassuring, and not just for the budget-conscious.

When buying a new Accent, trim choices are SE, SEL, or Limited. The trickiest aspect is probably deciding how much to spend, since everything else is kept simple.

The SE comes with air conditioning, power windows/locks, cruise control, dynamic guidelines for the rearview camera, manual transmission, 5-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, USB port, auxiliary audio input, AM/FM radio, and a 4-speaker audio system.

Like all new Hyundais, the Accent has an excellent warranty: a 5-year/60,000-mile transferable new-vehicle warranty, plus a powertrain guaranteed for 10 years/100,000 miles.

The main way to spend more money on a new Hyundai Accent SE is to order the automatic transmission. But if that’s financially possible, it would be better to consider the SEL.

This mid-level trim comes with the automatic as standard, along with several things that make the Accent a better car. Such as rear disc brakes (the SE has drums), heated side mirrors, alloy wheels, 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, voice recognition, smartphone integration, fully adjustable steering column, and automatic on/off headlights.

The range-topping Limited model adds a sunroof, LED daytime running lights and taillights, automatic climate control, heated front seats, keyless entry/ignition, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. It also has forward collision mitigation with automatic braking, and the Blue Link smartphone-enabled connected services system (a 3-year subscription is standard).

The 2021 Hyundai Accent comes with mixed engine blessings. On the plus side, fuel economy is great, able to average around 36 mpg with the continuously variable transmission. Even with the standard 6-speed manual transmission in the entry-level SE trim, it’s still about 33 mpg.

The downside is that the output of this 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine is a lowly 120 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque.

The Accent is front-wheel-drive (FWD) only.

1.6-liter inline-4
120 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
113 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 29/39 mpg (manual), 33/41 mpg (automatic)