 Hyundai Used Car
Hyundai’s Accent is based around a very simple concept. That of providing a Ford Focus-sized car for Ford Fiesta-sized prices. All right, so it might not be the car you dreamed about owning but the South Koreans hope that it may well be the car you need. Just in case you’ve any doubt, a far-reaching package of revisions and more potent 1.6-litre engine all aim to increase this Far Eastern car’s family appeal. Saloons and five-door hatches are the main order of the day, the three-door bodystyle having been cut back to one entry-level 1.3-litre GSi in order to make way for the smaller Getz Supermini. At the same time, the shape benefits from a facelift which has brought larger headlamps and a deeper, more conventional front grille. As before, don’t expect class-leading handling or dynamics: just no-nonsense value motoring.The CDX models are the plushest in the current Accent line-up, supposedly as big on equipment as they are on value for money. Prices start from £10,495 for 1.3-litre power, rising to £10,995 for the 1.6-litre – both in the 5-door bodystyle. Go for the 1.6 and, for the first time, there’s also the option of a four-door saloon. True, for this kind of cash you could almost take your pick of Ford’s Fiesta range but the Accent is much more spacious for passengers and their luggage. Alternatively, you could just about scrape into a Focus but the CDX’s equipment quota would dwarf that of the bog-standard blue-oval model.
Here lies this Accent’s appeal. Even the entry-level GSi derivatives get front airbags, electric windows, a CD player and power steering - amongst other things. On top of that, the CDX models featured here add side-airbags, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and a trip computer. Where else can you pick up this kind of haul, in a car this size for this kind of money? There are a few alternatives with similarly tempting price tags and equally extensive specifications but by courting those, you’re venturing into the bargain basement of the UK market and the Hyundai Accent is a cut above all that.
The 1.6-litre powerplant that many Accent CDX customers will choose is also used in the lower echelons of Hyundai’s Coupe range. Don’t expect sportscar performance, as the unit isn’t renowned for earth-shattering levels of get-up or go but, equally, don’t expect sportscar economy – this is no gas-guzzler. It manages a creditable 29.7mpg around town, 52mpg on the motorway and 40.9mpg on the combined cycle, none of which should unduly lighten your wallet. The dash from 0-62mph occupies 10.3 seconds, which feels far from sluggish and the top speed of 118bhp will be more than enough for most. Max power of 103bhp arrives at 5,800rpm and there’s 143Nm/ft or torque at a usable 3,000rpm to ensure that the engine sounds relaxed and untroubled during normal use.
The 1.3-litre alternative is, predictably, more economical and less lively. It’ll return 34.4mpg on the urban run, 55.4mpg on longer trips and 45.6mpg combined. Meanwhile, budding boy-racers will have to console themselves with an under-whelming 12.9-second 0-62mph time and a 108mph top speed. There is also a 1.5-litre turbo diesel option but it’s restricted to the basic GSi trim level and does not feature in CDX trim.
Despite Hyundai’s success with the Accent in the World Rally Championships, there’s no sign of a pumped-up performance version for road use. In fact, the sporty version we did get – the MVi – has been dropped. In fairness, the marque may have taken a wise step in resisting demand for a motorsport derivative in the range. This is a functional car first and foremost, not a vehicle that would obviously benefit from the old alloys, bodykit and spoiler treatment. As regular patrons of the nation’s late-night fast-food outlets will confirm, when an Accent gets too fast, it’s sometimes difficult to understand it.
The Accent CDX’s speciality is bringing improved levels of comfort and convenience to everyday family motoring. We’ve already touched upon the raft of features included in this flagship model’s specification but if you’re picturing an overcomplicated dashboard swamped with mystery buttons and dials, think again. Hyundai have succeeded in keeping everything straightforward and although the fascia isn’t the last word in understated elegance, it does the job. The controls that are central to the car’s operation are similarly easy to manipulate. There’s a light, easy feel to clutch and gearbox, matched by sensibly weighted power-steering. The 5-door bodystyle offers more by way of versatile interior space than the 4-door saloon but both remain compact, at 4,200mm long by 1,670mm wide, and simple to manoeuvre about the place.
If you’re still undecided as to whether or not the Hyundai Accent CDX is the vehicle for you, get ready for Hyundai’s big hitter, the irresistible bargaining tool that sales staff will wheel out when all else fails and prospective buyers start edging towards the door. It’s the huge Hyundai 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty that’s available across the Accent range and beyond. Essentially a one-way ticket to half a decade of trouble-free motoring, the package set a new precedent in the industry when it was launched. What’s more, it’s fully transferable, so subsequent owners of your vehicle can reap the all the benefits until the cover expires. This should work wonders for residual values on Hyundai models as they come back onto the market with massive chunks of manufacturer-backed warranty still to run.
There’s no denying that, in the Accent, Hyundai have assembled a formidable family motoring package majoring on value and equipment in a big way. If your budget can stretch to it, the range-topping CDX trim level is a great one to go for as it adds still further to the Accent’s impressive gadgets/price ratio. If it’s class-leading aesthetics and an icy-cool image you’re after, you may have to look elsewhere but for sensible down-to-earth virtues and excellent warranty cover, it appears the Accent’s on Hyundai.
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