2020 Hyundai Accent Review: Gets The Job Done

If an affordable, reliable commuter is your primary concern in a car, the Accent from Hyundai is aimed directly at you. The sub-compact doesn't offer much in the way of convenience and comfort features, with an equally sparse infotainment suite. What it does offer, however, is an interior that can comfortably seat four people of average size, or slightly above, while still providing a fair amount of cargo space and excellent fuel economy. True, rivals like the Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris can make similar claims, but the Hyundai Accent delivers eco-car-like performance and utility with no frills and no fuss. With a decent amount of power for a compact sedan and impressive handling dynamics, the Hyundai Accent deserves a spot on your shortlist.

What’s the Price of the 2020 Hyundai Accent?

Prices for Hyundai's Accent are very attractive and fitting for its purpose as an affordable compact 4-door sedan designed for daily errand running and commuting to and from work. However, for the low price of $15,195 for the Hyundai Accent SE model with the manual gearbox, you get very little more than a bare-bones vehicle that will get you from point A to point B. However, if you want the better fuel economy offered by the CVT transmission, you will have to pin an extra $1,100 to this price tag. The SEL adds a few comfort features that kick the cost up to $17,550, while the top-tier Limited, with its advanced safety features, will only set you back $19,300. These prices exclude tax, registration, licensing, and Hyundai's $930 handling charge.

2020 Accent Exterior

Dimensions

2020 Accent Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Affordable daily drivers aim to be reliable, safe, and durable. So don't expect them to tempt you to push their limits. The Accent follows this trend by delivering a truly middling driving experience.

The steering is perhaps its most lackluster characteristic, thanks to its nearly non-existent on-center feedback. At lower speeds around town, the wheels turn quickly and precisely, without any fuss, but the wheels won't tell you much about the road, even as they bounce over larger bumps. The brakes also fail to impress, with a firm, predictable response, but slightly longer than average stopping distance.

Nevertheless, the Accent handles well on the road, although it doesn't feel as cheeky as the Kia Rio. The Hyundai delivers adequate road grip, and it corners well thanks to its light and responsive steering, but there is almost no feedback from the wheels. None of this would appeal much to those who want to feel as one with their car, but if all you care about is getting to work without a fuss, then the compact sedan will meet your expectations.

2020 Accent Interior

2020 Accent Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the Hyundai Accent A Good car?

When you consider the purpose for which it was designed, it would be hard to fault the Hyundai Accent for being a boring sedan. It doesn't engage with the driver at all on the road, and it offers little in the way of conveniences or creature comforts. But for the price of a new Hyundai Accent, you can't really ask for more than what it delivers. But what it does deliver is worth every penny.

For a car priced under $20k, the Accent is a decent buy. It's a dependable daily driver that is perfect for running errands around town with its 13.7 cubic feet trunk, while the fold-down seats offer a level of flexibility. The interior is also spacious for passengers, comfortably seating four, while squeezing in a fifth person wouldn't be an unreasonable request. And if you spend an hour or two on the highway during your daily commute, the Accent has you covered with its very impressive fuel economy figures. So long as you temper your expectations, you can rest assured that the Hyundai Accent is an excellent buy. But if you can afford to shop in a slightly higher price bracket, there are certainly better sedans out there.

What Hyundai Accent Model Should I Buy?

Due to the Hyundai Accents low cost of ownership, there is little reason not to go for the top-most trim, which is for sale in the US at an MSRP of under $20k. And you get quite a lot for that low price, too. The Accent Limited comes from the dealership with the fuel-efficient Smartstream IVT as standard, along with some welcome comfort features like heated front seats, a smartphone-compatible infotainment suite, and a six-speaker sound system. The LED headlights and 17-inch wheels give the relatively bland sedan a bit of an edge, and the hands-free trunk release and proximity key with push-button start are designed to make your life easier. It is also the only model that offers a sunroof and the coveted forward collision avoidance system, making it the safest choice too. It's no wonder the Accent Limited won the IIHS's Top Safety Pick award.

2020 Hyundai Accent Comparisons

2020 Hyundai Accent vs Kia Rio

Not much differs between the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio, although the latter sports a more athletic profile. Both compact sedans are powered by the same engine, although the Rio combines its 120-hp inline-four with responsive steering and dextrous handling to deliver a more engaging driving experience, although it may tax the average driver a bit with the need for more manual input to keep the sedan on its best behavior. Much like the Hyundai sedan, the Rio comes equipped with only the most basic of features as standard, with modern conveniences like smartphone integration relegated to the upper trim. Trunk space is on par with the accent, but the Kia doesn't get any advanced driver assistance features unless you fork out extra for its packages. The Rio may seem pricier at first glance, but the base model boasts the more fuel-efficient CVT, which you have to pay extra for on the Accent, and the fully specced Accent will cost you more than the top-tier Rio. With all this in mind, there's not much reason to go for the Hyundai when the more playful Rio teases you with even better value for your hard-earned cash.

2020 Hyundai Accent vs Hyundai Elantra

With a starting price of a couple of thousand dollars above that of the Accent, the 4-door Hyundai Elantra is a slightly upper-scale compact sedan. But that's not to say it isn't still a bargain for the features you get. With a choice of three engines, ranging from the economical 128-hp turbo inline-four to a more potent 201-hp variant, you can choose to match the Accent's fuel economy figures or sacrifice a few mpg for a lot more power. The more advanced sedan also comes equipped with dual-zone climate control and forward collision avoidance as standard, while blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available for just $500 more on the second-tier trim. The Elantra doesn't beat the Accent by much in terms of cargo space, offering only 14.4 cubic feet, but it's the available creature comforts and tech features that may tempt you. While the Hyundai Elantra may be better value for money, especially if you aim for the reasonably priced mid-tier trims, it doesn't handle quite as well as its cheaper cousin.