by Aiden Eksteen
The 2021 Hyundai Accent is a rather discreet and unassuming subcompact sedan that's put forward by the Korean automaker as a pragmatic and affordable daily runabout. It's a suave-looking sedan, drives pleasantly, and is quite entertaining, but its main intent is to offer just the essentials for the savvy professional or student. Under its hood is a sound and methodical 120-horsepower 4-cylinder engine that powers the front wheels. So while the Accent sedan isn't the most thrilling car to drive, it offers competent and honest performance ideal for urban driving. It comes with a good number of creature comforts, conveniences, and safety features, too, and a really comprehensive infotainment suite. There are a lot of cars on the market that offer such qualities, however - the Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, and the Toyota Yaris Sedan just to name a few. But does the 2021 Accent have anything that will capture your appeal and set it apart?
Hyundai carries the fifth-generation Accent sedan over into the 2021 model year with no new enhancements or changes. There is, however, a new exterior color called Forge Gray, which replaces last year's colors, Urban Gray. The Linen Beige color option has been discontinued completely.
See trim levels and configurations:
Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
---|---|---|---|---|
SE |
1.6L Inline-4 Gas
|
6-Speed Manual
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$15,395 |
SEL |
1.6L Inline-4 Gas
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$17,750 |
Limited |
1.6L Inline-4 Gas
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$19,500 |
The 2021 Hyundai Accent remains a straightforward, unpretentious, and affordable vehicle that oozes value. It's really pleasant to drive for an entry-level vehicle; it's brisk off the line and peppy around town, but it fails to bring any such charm to the highway. Nevertheless, it's quite serene and comfortable wherever you are, and very fuel-efficient, too. In our opinion, it's one of the better-looking subcompact sedans out there and bestows its driver and passengers with plenty of comforts and conveniences to enjoy. The base model doesn't come with a very extensive array of features, but it still offers a lot of value at its price. The rear seats are a little cramped and the trunk rather small, but most vehicles in the segment suffer the same troubles. In their crashworthiness review of the 2021 Hyundai Accent, both the NHTSA and the IIHS scored it with good results. All in all, for anyone searching for a high-value and budget-friendly 4-door sedan, the Accent does its best to appease.
With the 2021 Hyundai Accent sedan's price ranging between $15,395 and $19,500 in the USA, there's clearly no difference in performance and specifications, but there is a fair amount of choice in the features that are included with each model. We'd suggest opting for the mid-tier SEL model, which we feel hits the value mark just right. It comes equipped with the CVT to augment the straightforward driving experience and is more efficient than the manual gearbox in the SE. It also gets a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, which replaces the five-inch screen in the SE, and comes installed with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality. It also gets automatic headlight control, fog lights, and some chrome exterior accents that enhance its modernistic aesthetic.
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