The Hyundai Accent falls under the EPA compact car class, but has always been marketed and priced as a subcompact car. As a result, the Accent has one of the largest interiors in the segment of subcompacts. Ever since its introduction in 1995, the Accent has been a great choice as a low-cost car that offers great build and great performance, along with a generous amount of standard interior features.
The fourth generation of the car was rolled out in 2010 with a completely new exterior design, and it has since become one of the top-selling models in a highly competitive segment. The 2013 Hyundai Accent has the same design elements and features people love.
New For 2013
Many features are now standard in the base model, which means they’re standard in all Accents: air-conditioning, power windows, a six-speaker stereo with a USB input, body-colored mirrors and door handles, and keyless entry. (The car’s base price accordingly rises by about $2,000.) The SE now comes standard with turn-signal repeaters in the side view mirrors and is newly available with a power sunroof. Standard heated side mirrors are also new this year.
Exterior
The exterior of the 2013 Hyundai Accent is based on the Korean manufacturer’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design philosophy and looks very similar to the Hyundai Elantra, with the teardrop-shaped fog lights and headlights.
The 2013 Hyundai Accent is 3.5 inches longer than the previous generation, and the hatchback model is 10 inches shorter than the sedan. The wheelbase remains the same for both models at 101.2 inches. The car gets 14-inch steel wheels as standard, along with body-colored door handles. Optional exterior features include 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and a rear spoiler for the hatchback.
The 2013 Hyundai Accent sedan is available in the base GLS model, but the hatchback is available with two additional trims- GS and the top-end SE. The GS hatchback has body-colored mirrors and a rear windshield wiper, while the SE has the rear spoiler.
Interior & Cargo
As mentioned earlier, the 2013 Hyundai Accent is practically a compact car despite the fact that it is marketed as a subcompact. It offers a very spacious cabin with the base GLS trim getting air conditioning, full power accessories, a trip computer, tilt steering wheel, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, a six-speaker audio system with CD player, and iPod, USB, and auxiliary input jacks.
The interior features in the higher end models include keyless entry, improved interior trim, a center storage console with a sliding armrest, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and cruise control. The top-end model has all these features, along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The rear seats of the 2013 Hyundai Accent deserve special mention for the enormous space they offer. There is enough legroom and headroom for tall passengers to sit comfortably. Of course, the middle seat is still a little cramped, which is a common disadvantage of subcompact cars.
The seats up front have been designed very well, with lots of room for the average heighted passenger and driver. Taller drivers, however, may find the lack of telescoping steering wheel disappointing. Nevertheless, the 2013 Hyundai Accent offers a very upscale overall feel, which is impressive for an economic subcompact car. This can be attributed to the solid build quality, stylish dash and console, nicely patterned upholstery, and additional accents.
The 2013 Hyundai Accent also has abundant cargo space. The sedan’s trunk has 13.7 cubic feet of space, while the hatchback gets 21.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, and a whopping 47.5 cubic feet with the seats folded down.
Safety
The safety features of the 2013 Hyundai Accent include anti-lock brakes with brake assist, traction control and electronic stability system, side-impact airbags up front, full-length side curtain airbags, and active front head restraints. It has a stopping distance of 123 feet from 60 mph, which is just good enough for a car in this class.
Driving Experience
The 2013 Hyundai Accent is powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder, direct-injection engine that delivers 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. The engine is combined with a six-speed manual transmission as standard and a six-speed automatic as an option, which comes with a fuel-efficient Eco mode.
The Accent is pretty quick for a subcompact car. It goes from zero to 60 mph in around 9.8 seconds, and offers an estimated fuel economy of 30/40 mpg city/highway. In real life, however, the Accent struggles to deliver these fuel economy figures, offering a little bit less in practical city and highway driving.
The small, 138-hp engine of the 2013 Hyundai Accent may not seem like much as compared to the 300-500 horsepower delivered by other cars in the market, but it does a very impressive job with the limited power it has. The direct-injection engine has been designed very well, pulling significantly more power than other engines used in its competitors.
Both the automatic and manual transmissions capably deliver the power generated by the engine to the front wheels. The engine remains smooth, responsive, and peppy under hard acceleration, even though it can get a little too noisy. The combination of steering and suspension in the Accent translate to a comfortable ride and average handling.
The 2013 Hyundai Accent is not a very sporty car to drive because of its soft suspension and mellowed steering, but it does offer a smooth and balanced ride, which is what most customers would be looking for in a subcompact car.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Hyundai Accent
- Chevrolet Sonic
- Ford Fiesta
- Kia Rio
- Nissan Versa