Hyundai has worked hard developing owner loyalty, along with expanding its reputation for building high-quality, high-value vehicles.
The
2006 Hyundai Accent, now in its third generation, is proof that you can get a lot for a little. And of course, there's also that peace of mind offered by the best warranty in the business.
The 2006 Accent is a significantly larger vehicle than its predecessor. Offered in a four-door sedan (a three-door version has been introduced as a 2007 model) the new Accent now has a longer wheelbase, wider track, and rolls on larger wheels and tires.
I'm not a huge fan of Accent's jellybean-like shape, which, by the way is how most of the cars in this class look. But we do appreciate Accent's more refined appearance.
Still, you're likely to confuse the Accent with other subcompacts when you see it on the road. Looking similar to other subcompacts, I actually had a difficult time locating our Accent tester in a crowded Orland Mall parking lot.
I like the new Accent's larger dimensions. The total interior volume has increased from 100.9 cubic feet to a segment-leading 104.6 cubic feet, giving the Accent an unexpectedly spacious feel and besting the all-new 2006 Honda Civic sedan by 1.7 cubic feet.
The driver's seating position has been raised two inches for better comfort and to provide a commanding view of the road. Surprisingly, my Accent tester easily accommodated myself and three other full-size adults.
I like the convenient storage areas that are placed throughout the interior, including the front center console, driver storage tray, front seatback pockets, and door storage pockets in all four doors. Each door pocket can also accommodate a beverage bottle, plus there are two more cupholders in front and another pair in the fold-down rear center armrest.
Cargo space has increased as well, from 11.6 cubic feet to 12.4 cubic feet. A 60/40-split fold-down rear seatback makes it easy to load large objects, or to mix cargo and passengers for maximum effectiveness.
Hyundai has traditionally delivered high feature content for the money, and the Accent builds on that history. Standard features are comprehensive, including intermittent wipers, driver and passenger illuminated vanity mirrors, cabin air filtration, rear window defroster, tachometer, digital clock, two 12-volt outlets, and remote hood, trunk and fuel filler-door releases.
A powerful 172-watt AM/FM/CD audio system is standard, and features a built-in equalizer and large-format head unit with easy-to-use controls.
Hyundai provides a Premium-Sport Package ($1,500) for those wanting air conditioning and several power accessories; however, we found cruise control to be lacking from the list of add-ons.
For the safety conscience, the Accent includes standard front airbags, plus front seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear roof-mounted side-curtain airbags.
Powering the 2006 Accent is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that features variable valve timing, making 110 horsepower. Mated to the engine are either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Power is adequate but I noticed the engine working hard in the automatic-equipped tester when loaded with passengers. I also noted that the engine, while smooth, was a bit noisy during startup and while accelerating hard.
On the road, Hyundai's Accent feels much more refined than its predecessor and Hyundai includes 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution as standard.
All things considered, the Hyundai Accent offers exceptional value in this segment. The Accent is tough to beat.
2006 Hyundai Accent GLS
Engine 1.6-liter (110 hp) I4
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Drive Type FWD
Fuel Economy 28 city/36 highway
Base Price $13,305
As Tested $14,870 (includes $0 for destination)
Website http://www.hyundaiusa.com