Used 2022 Hyundai Accent

Subcompact cars have been dropping like flies in the last few years as SUVs grow in popularity. The Chevy Sonic, Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris have all been recently discontinued. One of the last subcompact sedans standing is the Hyundai Accent. The Accent is a humble small car that’s good on gas, super-affordable, and has that great Hyundai warranty.

The Accent is mechanically similar to the Kia Rio. One of the main differences is that the Rio is available as a sedan or a hatchback, while the Accent is sedan-only. Other than its Kia corporate cousin, the only direct competitor of the Accent is the Nissan Versa, which is similar in size and price.

Driving the Hyundai Accent is a pretty uninspiring experience. This is a small, affordable, entry-level car that prioritizes value and efficiency far above performance. That said, the humble 120-horsepower engine under the hood of the Accent is adequate for most drivers in the market for a small car like this.

The Accent also has handling, comfort, and ride quality commensurate with its price tag. A bigger compact car like the Hyundai Elantra or Kia Forte will be more comfortable and quieter on the highway. Still, the Accent is comfortable enough for urban commuting and short jaunts on the highway. If you’re planning on long, frequent road trips, you may want to consider a bigger used car.

The interior of the 2022 Hyundai Accent is roomier than you might expect. There’s plenty of space in the front seats, and the back seats are suitable for kids and accommodating for taller adults. The trunk, however, is pretty tiny, and you’ll get much more cargo space from a hatchback like the 5-door version of the Kia Rio.

Interior quality in the Accent is so-so, with hard plastics and simpler materials throughout. However, we can’t knock it because the interior quality is in line with the value pricing of the Accent. That said, the similarly priced Nissan Versa feels a little nicer inside.

The 2022 Hyundai Accent is stylish enough, but it’s not exactly a head-turner. If you like to fly under the radar with a subtle sedan, then you’ll be okay with the look of the Accent, and we certainly wouldn’t call it ugly.

The aesthetics are improved when upgrading to SEL trim, adding alloy wheels and front fog lights. It looks even better in the top Limited trim, which has bigger, 17-inch alloy wheels and LED exterior lighting.

ANDROID AUTO AND APPLE CARPLAY
The SEL and Limited models come standard with a user-friendly infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

HANDS-FREE SMART TRUNK RELEASE
This slick available feature allows the trunk to open automatically by simply standing behind it for three seconds or longer with the key in your pocket or purse.

The base SE trim of the Hyundai Accent is a bit sparsely appointed by modern standards, but it does have some nice features. Standard features include steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise control, 60/40 split-folding back seats, 15-inch steel wheels, an engine immobilizer anti-theft system, and a 6-speed manual transmission.

The standard infotainment system is a 5-inch color touchscreen with Bluetooth and a backup camera.

A CVT automatic transmission is optional on the SE trim and standard on the mid-range SEL and loaded Limited trims.

Additional features that become standard starting with the SEL trim include a 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual charging USB ports, 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and heated, body-color mirrors.

The top Limited trim comes with some impressive features that you might be surprised to find at this price point. It has heated front seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, a hands-free smart trunk release, forward-collision avoidance assist, and LED exterior lighting.

The sole engine option in the 2022 Hyundai Accent is a 1.6-liter inline-4. It produces 120 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. That isn’t a lot, but it’s good enough to move a car this small. It tends to run out of breath when trying to pass on the highway, but it’s perfectly adequate for around-town driving.

The standard transmission in the Accent is a 6-speed manual, which you can only have in the base SE trim. A CVT automatic, which gets better fuel economy than the manual, is standard on the SEL and Limited trims, and it’s optional on the SE model.

Every Accent comes with front-wheel drive. For a small vehicle with all-wheel drive, you may want to consider a subcompact crossover like the Hyundai Kona or Subaru Crosstrek.

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)