Quick and Peppy for an Entry Level Sedan: 2014 Hyundai Accent

The 2014 Hyundai Accent is the entry level sedan offered by Hyundai, but don’t tell that to the Accent. Offering a very pleasant styling and an actually well-performing four-cylinder engine the Accent is anything but plain. To go along with the style and performance is the Hyundai warranty, making this one of the best entry level sedans on the market today.

Putting the pressure on the competition the Accent still offers a great look and is loaded with feature as well as carrying the 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. This car allows an owner to know they are getting a great vehicle for the price rather than feeling like they sacrificed car for budget.

To increase the Accent’s attraction this year, Hyundai added sliding sun-visor extensions, a driver’s side blind-spot mirror, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, projector-style headlights, and a driver’s –side auto- up window. The driving impression of the Accent. according to Kia Burlington NC, shows up as a nimble and quite powerful car that shows off with great fuel economy on the highway and in the city. Unfortunately the steering and suspension are not quite tuned enough for a super-smooth ride, but the ride is overall adequate and the steering is responsive enough to dart in and out of traffic very easily. The road noise does enter the cabin, but not in a way to make it impossible to enjoy music from the audio system. Overall the driving impression is a light and fun experience with only a small amount of annoyance.

The engine of the Accent at first glance seems very ho hum in nature as it is a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder that offers 138 horsepower and 123 lb.-ft. of torque. Upon further inspection the engine is found to be made of aluminum rather than cast iron making it lighter than a cast iron counterpart would be. Add to this the gasoline is direct injected and the nimble quickness of the car is explained with the lighter and more efficient engine. When paired with the six-speed manual transmission this impressive little engine offers a fuel economy of 27 city/38 hwy mpg and when set up with the six-speed automatic transmission the fuel economy comes in at 27 city/37 hwy mpg. In this case the automatic might be the best choice as the manual has been found to be a little slippery, not a desirable trait once on the road.

With a two-toned finish on the inside and backlit knobs and buttons the interior of the Accent is a great complement to the exterior. Adding some semi-metallic accents and interesting shapes the car offers a nice style for anyone to enjoy. Because this is an entry level sedan, meaning smaller than the mid-sized sedans, the legroom is questionable in the rear seat, but can fit children fairly easily.

On the outside the Accent does appear to be road ready and quickly agile. With a host of great lines and curves all over the car there is an interesting view from all angles some offering the look of speed, others giving the feeling of a bit of actual style. With wrap around head and tail lights as well as easy to please hood creases and a distinctly rising belt line the Accent shows off as sleek and stylish. To finish off the overall speedy appearance are ten-spoked wheels that come in either 14 or 16-inch sizes depending on the model chosen. The car simply begs to be driven and desires to show the driver just how much fun a small sedan can be.

The trim levels start out with a base four door GLS and five door GS as well as the SE as the base sporty trim. All trim levels start out with standard features that include the six-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, a six-speaker audio system with satellite radio and auxiliary ports, heated side mirrors, and 14-inch wheels with wheel covers. For the SE five door the features add steering wheel mounted audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity, a leather wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a roof spoiler. No matter which model is chosen the Accent offers a great list of features to enjoy.

The Accent is actually very short on optional features offering only two packages. The GLS Automatic Premium Package adds rear disc brakes, steering wheel mounted audio controls, premium cloth seats, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, piano black accents, driver’s window auto up, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, fog lights, and 16-inch alloy wheels as well as the six-speed automatic transmission. The SE model that is equipped with the automatic transmission also offers a power sunroof package adding to the options that can be had for the Accent.

With a starting price of just under $15,500 for the GLS model the Hyundai Accent is a very affordable car for anyone needing a nice and easy to love car for a daily commuter or running around town. Adding the automatic transmission increases the price by only $1,000, a very good buy and smart option to add for an easier drive. Moving into the five-door GS the price starts around $16,000 and adding automatic to this model increases the price by $1,200. A fully loaded SE model will still come in under $20,000 at around $19,500 keeping the Accent on the lower end of the price range in this class and making this car one of the most affordable cars on the market.

With quick and responsive handling as well as a nimble and surprisingly powerful engine the 2014 Hyundai Accent is a great buy for anyone in need of a nice entry level sedan. Adding to this the outstanding Hyundai warranty that still has not been matched across the board by any other manufacturer and it’s easy to see why the Accent has been so popular for so many years.