My return home after the first few months in Dubai was nothing short of a revelation in terms of dimensional dynamics. How everything is relative, even with icons that etched their shapes into your motoring canvas. The Ambassador seemed a meek and mild version of what I remembered of it. The Fiat looked emaciated. With time and place, expectations change – and sometimes realty lives up to it. Like the Hyundai Accent, which has grown in space, safety standards and comfort too.
THE SPECS: Gamma 1.6L Mpi, 121 hp @6300 rpm, 151 Nm @4850 rpm, 6-speed automatic gearbox, Front Wheel Drive
THE DIMENSIONS: L x W x H 4,440 x 1729 (incl mirrors) x 1460 mm, Wheelbase: 2600 mm, Fuel tank 45 L,
Wheels: 15” and 16”
THE PERFORMANCE: Top speed: 192 kmph / 0 – 100 kmph in 11.3 sec / Fuel economy: 10km+/L mixed
THE PRICE: AED 48,700 and AED 56,070
UPSIDE: Smooth power, ample space, Standard safety features, Confident drive
FLIPSIDE: Some visible cost-saving, Unimpressive fuel economy
The Design
The Accent is in its fifth generation and features Hyundai’s new design language. Now, that almost makes it difficult to recognize the new Sonata from the Accent. Good for the Accent owner and not that great for the Sonata.
Geometrically speaking, the Accent’s signature grille isn’t a hexagon. It is an octagon with a smooth flower-vase curve towards the bottom. The headlights and taillights are the wraparound kind while the LED daytime running lights are optional. In true Hyundai style, character lines run the whole length of the sides.
The all-new Hyundai Accent has visibly grown – 6.5 cm longer, 3 cm wider and 3 cm longer in wheelbase. It is a bigger car with more headroom, legroom and boot space. Even as it stands less tall by a centimeter, a hint of a feline arch lends a sportier touch to the sweeping profile.
Cabin and Controls
Hyundai Accent hasn’t waited for you to ask; technically belonging to the sub-compact segment, the car has overwhelmed you with options unexpected – like a power sunroof, a touchscreen LCD with a backup camera, auto dimming headlamps, radio controls and cruise control buttons on the steering, push button start and even that feature which spells premium comfort in a budget cabin – armrest with storage beneath! While these are available in the upper trim, both trim levels are fitted with rear parking sensors, keyless entry and power windows.
The Accent has even adorned its hard plastic with a touch of textured skin and its fabric seats with a dotted pattern. The anomaly is in the AC controls that are manual and basic in both trims. The convenience is completed by dual USB charging, and auxiliary input jacks. Under the 5” touch screen of my test car, everything you would consider as essential in a car cabin was listed as buttons – radio, media, phone, tuning and set up. Seriously what more do you need in an Accent – or in any car for that matter? May be a bit of padding inside the boot lid? Ahem…
The Drive
The all-new Hyundai Accent seems to have trimmed down the output from the 1.6 L multi-point fuel injection engine. But with 121 hp and 151 Nm torque, the Accent still remains one of the more powerful cars in its category. The other engine available is a 1.4 L good for 99 hp and 132 Nm, which we can safely overlook as Hyundai isn’t bringing it to the UAE. The longer wheelbase is helping a steady drive on highways with top speed boldly claimed at 190 kmph. There is a pinch of under-steer, but the Accent rides steady on its wheels of confidence.
The transmission is smooth and comfortable compared with most others – not many enjoy a 6-speed auto – but surprisingly this doesn’t enhance the fuel economy, which lags behind the segment leaders. The full tank promised a 620 km range but seemed to be finish off around 10 km per litre.
The pacifier could well be: “Just as the power, features and convenience, even the efficiency figures of the Hyundai Accent belong to a segment above!”
Family drive
The all-new Accent woos first-time families with its sedan version – with more space and comfort comes a generously laid out safety package. The cabin has grown in size but no additional air vent has been provided in the rear. So in a reasonably quiet cabin, you might hear the lots of blower on a hot day.
Many safety features come as standard in both trim levels of the model. The safety package is standard in both the versions – two front airbags are standard while 6 airbags are available. Anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Traction Control and Tyre pressure monitor are standard, too. The all-new Hyundai Accent has thoughtfully programmed the hazard lamp to automatically flash to warn those behind, when an obstacle forces unexpected braking.
Structural safety improvements:
The body has been made stronger through the increased use of advanced high strength steel and structural adhesives. Many front side elements and inner side sill have been improved for improved collision protection. The front crumple zones have been increased, front side airbags have been upgraded, and reinforcements have been added to improve the car’s collision energy management performance, especially in small overlap crashes.
Safety Options: six-airbag system, static bending headlights to provide better illumination of the road through corners
The difference between the lower and upper trims start with the black and chrome grilles.
The essential Hyundai Accent 2018
Hyunda Accent offers enough value for money to forget nitpicking about the fuel economy. With a zealous pick up, continuous power and ride comfort that stands above the segment, the entry-level car gives you reasons to stick with it. Especially, if you choose to go for the upper trim by paying AED 7,000 extra, you won’t miss much from a larger sedan for years to come.
