2022 Hyundai Accent car, All you want to know & watch about a Great Car
2022 Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Accent Expert Review
As Hyundai’s entry-level vehicle, the Accent offers few frills. It’s available only as a sedan; the hatchback was discontinued after the 2017 model year. The Accent competes against other subcompacts including the Nissan Versa and Kia Rio.
For the 2022 model year, the Accent receives only one change: An immobilizer is now standard on all trims.
What We Think
“Forgettable” is a word we’d choose to sum up the Hyundai Accent. It doesn’t excite, but it doesn’t disappoint in any one area from performance to design.
The exterior sports Hyundai’s older design language, but at least it’s a pleasing look. The cabin is simple and unexciting, although generally well built. The available 7.0-inch touchscreen responds well to inputs.
We don’t expect swift acceleration in this segment, but we hoped the Accent would be a little quicker. It features the same powertrain as the Kia Rio but takes nearly a second longer to reach 60 mph. The engine makes a coarse sound, and steering lacks feedback. As we noted in our First Test, we found ourselves making slight steering corrections more often than we expected. Fuel economy is a bright spot, with the Accent delivering 41 mpg on the highway.
For basic transportation needs, the Accent fits the bill. It’ll get you from point A to point B relatively frugally, and many drivers will find that’s all they need. Still, we’re more tempted by the Kia Rio, which boasts more tech and a superior driving experience.
Performance and Fuel Economy
A 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine provides 120 hp and 113 lb-ft of torque on the 2022 Hyundai Accent. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission and a CVT automatic. All models are FWD. The last time we tested an Accent, the Hyundai went from 0 to60 mph in a leisurely 9.6 seconds.
The 2022 Hyundai Accent is rated 33/41 mpg city/highway.
Safety Ratings and Features
The 2022 Hyundai Accent car receives a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in the front crash and rollover tests and five stars in the side crash test. The agency cites what it calls a safety concern, however. In the side crash test, the interior door panel hit the torso of the rear passenger dummy, signaling a higher likelihood of thoracic injury.
In IIHS tests, the 2021 Accent received Good scores in all crash tests, except the passenger-side small overlap front test, in which it got an Acceptable rating. This test replicates what happens when a vehicle’s right corner hits an object at 40 mph. Headlights received Acceptable and Poor ratings, depending on configuration.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The Hyundai Accent surpasses the Nissan Versa in rear legroom, but not in front legroom or cargo space.
Cargo space:
- Hyundai Accent:Â 13.7 cubic feet
- Nissan Versa:Â 15.0 cubic feet
Legroom (first/second rows):
- Hyundai Accent:Â 42.1/33.5 inches
- Nissan Versa:Â 44.5/31.0 inches
Technology
Base models receive a tiny 5.0-inch central touchscreen and a four-speaker sound system. Other trims, however, come standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as six speakers. Dual USB charge ports are also available.
Recommended Trim
The 2022 Hyundai Accent is available in three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Limited. The base model is a bit too spartan for our tastes, with a dated infotainment setup and no automatic headlights.
We’d probably go for the SEL, which gets the more modern screen, automatic headlights, foglights, dual USB ports, and driver’s blind-spot mirror. For heated front seats, you’ll have to move up to the Limited.
Should I Get a Hyundai Elantra Instead?
Starting at just under $21,000, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra is considerably more expensive than the Accent. But if that price tag fits your budget, it’s worth the extra cost. Unlike the Accent, the Elantra has a refined powertrain and confident handling. As a compact sedan, it’s larger than the Accent, allowing for more cabin space. Elantras feature upgraded technologies, too, including larger touchscreens, an available fully digital instrument cluster, and available digital key to unlock the car with your smartphone.
Score
Although very basic, the Accent avoids major pitfalls. Exterior styling is mature and interior layout is sensible, even if the design is nothing special. Performance is also unremarkable, but it delivers good fuel economy.
Hyundai Accent 5-Year Cost to Own
Good
Cost Breakdown
2022 Hyundai Accent Starting at $17,740
- HIGHS: Dignified styling, spry driving demeanor, straight-forward interior design.
- LOWS: Unrefined four-cylinder engine, snug rear seat, not very quick.
- VERDICT: Accessibly priced, frugal on fuel, and nicely equipped, the Accent is a nice small car you won’t be ashamed to drive.
Overview
Just because a car is cheap doesn’t mean it needs to look cheap, and the 2022 Hyundai Accent offers dignified styling despite its bargain-basement price tag. We like it enough that we named it to our Editors’ Choice list. All models come with a 120-hp four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It’s not exciting, but it gets the job done and does so while sipping fuel.
The interior, which is also unexciting but functional, offers modern conveniences and even some luxuries. The loaded Limited model costs less than $21,000 and offers heated seats, touchscreen infotainment, and push-button start. No matter which trim you choose, the Accent’s appearance is mature and contemporary, saving you from the embarrassment of being outed as a penny pincher.
What’s New for 2022?
Both the base SE and midrange SEL models of the Accent receive a new anti-theft immobilizer as standard for 2022. Sadly, the six-speed manual transmission has been dropped from the Accent’s lineup for 2022; Hyundai also has announced that this will be the final model year for its smallest sedan.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The base-level SE trim comes stripped down and lacking many of the features many car buyers might call essential, so we’d spring for the mid-range SEL which adds a host of convenience items such as fog lamps, automatic headlamps, aluminum wheels, heated exterior mirrors, a larger 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, and more.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Accent’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine makes 120 horsepower and drives the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The four-cylinder was new for 2020, and we’ve not tested one, but we expect performance similar to the 2018 and 2019 models, which offered 130 horsepower. It’s clear that ride comfort takes priority over deft handling.
Still, the Accent feels lively, its small body is easily tossed into corners, and it’s even rewarding when pushed. Rough roads are smoothed out adequately by the suspension, but harsh impacts will generate vibrations through the cabin.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Small cars are expected to deliver good fuel-economy numbers, and the Accent does just that. The new four-cylinder engine has improved fuel economy to a 36 mpg combined rating. We haven’t had the chance to put the Accent’s new powertrain through our real-world highway fuel-economy testing, but when we do, we’ll take it on our 75-mph highway fuel economy test route and update this story with test results. For more information about the Accent’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Accent’s grown-up interior seems well built, but it lacks the cheeky style of the Kia Rio or the rear-seat spaciousness of the Honda Fit—which provides nearly six inches of additional rear legroom. Sporting a frill-free interior design, the Accent is uncomplicated and honest. Both of our test cars had a black interior, which, although well built, provided a somber, businesslike appearance.
The optional beige interior imparts a richer feeling, with two-tone tan and black seats and a similar treatment for the dash and door panels. Despite its sedan body and a smaller amount of cargo space with the rear seats in use, the Accent had room for more of our carry-on cases than did its more practically shaped hatchback Rio. In fact, with its rear seats folded, the Accent held just two fewer cases than the especially spacious Fit.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A 5.0-inch touchscreen radio is standard and provides USB and auxiliary ports for connecting devices to the interface, but the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes on SEL and Limited trims is higher tech. The larger display also boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as a second USB port located on the back of the center console. Both systems offer Bluetooth phone connectivity, but the 7.0-inch touchscreen also comes with SiriusXM satellite radio.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
View Crash Test Results
Automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning are optional driver-assistance features not offered on many of the Accent’s rivals. For more information about the Accent’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Available forward-collision warning
- Available automated emergency braking
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
At 10 years or 100,000 miles, Hyundai and sister company Kia have the best powertrain warranties available, and the Accent is the latest in Hyundai’s lineup to carry this class-leading coverage. The company also now offers complimentary scheduled maintenance that bests mainstream rivals such as Toyota.
- Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
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