Monday, August 29, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Hyundai Accent is 'the people's car'
Apologies and all due respect are in order to a certain German automaker, but it seems the term "the people's car" has been appropriated by the 2012 Hyundai Accent.
The new bearer of the people's torch takes all the metrics that the auto-buying denizens of the world actually need and rolls them into one not-so-giant ball of pragmatism.
The car is affordable and efficient with both space and gas, and it manages to sprinkle in a bit of fun, though it could use a little more.
Aside from that, and some minor ergonomic issues, this sub-compact ride for the masses is a good one.
Available in both sedan and hatchback versions, the Accent is the latest model to come from a company experiencing a white-hot 2011 in terms of sales, and Hyundai says its cynosure is its cars' fuel economy.
The Accent continues that trend with its potent and clever 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine. Vastly outmuscling competitors including the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris, the Accent puts out 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque.
And it does so while getting the best gas mileage of its class — no small feat for this fuel-averse crowd.
The Accent is able to do this by being lighter and more aerodynamic than most. But it also wrings more miles per gallon out of its engine by using something called direct injection. Though it may sound like a Jose Canseco workout regimen, it's actually a nifty technological update that makes fuel injection more precise and efficient.
It does this by introducing the gasoline directly to the cylinder at the exact moment and in the exact amount that the engine needs to burn it, then mixing it with air. Normal gas engines combine the fuel and air beforehand, and that mix then goes into the cylinder.
The difference in effectiveness is like throwing a bucket of water on a match to put it out, versus using a well-aimed squirt gun.
The effect is noticeable at the pump. Whether Accent buyers choose the standard six-speed manual transmission or the six-speed automatic, the Accent's fuel economy stands at 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, according to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Over almost 300 miles of testing a $17,685 Accent SE, I averaged 26 mpg.
That chunk of change nets you a loaded Accent hatchback (or five-door in car-speak) for at least $1,000 less than a similar Ford Fiesta or Honda Fit. This includes the automatic transmission that's a $1,000 option, a flaccid six-speaker stereo system with MP3 playback, XM satellite radio and steering-wheel mounted controls, Bluetooth, alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
One rung below is the Accent GS, also a five-door, that starts at $15,355 with the manual transmission. At the basement level is the Accent GLS, a sedan that starts at $14,995.
All Accents come with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a host of safety features including four-wheel disc brakes with ABS (unique for this segment), electronic stability control, six air bags and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Although Hyundai deserves credit for the Accent's value proposition, it's in how they put it all together that the automaker really earns the people's respect.
The inside of the Accent is wonderful because of its simplicity. The dashboard layout is straightforward; Hyundai deliberately avoided the design flourishes seen in their Elantra sedan after critics (though not this one) chided it for being overkill.
Some might call it boring, but after one drives a Ford Fiesta or Honda Fit, which have interiors that push style over substance, the Accent is a welcome reprieve.
The construction and materials are also impressive; inexpensive cars are the raison d'etre for hard plastics, yet they're largely banished from this Hyundai. Think Chipotle assemblage on a Taco Bell budget.
Also noteworthy is how quiet the cabin is; road noise is appreciably low for a car of this size and weight, and the doors close with a solid thud.
Legroom and headroom will fit the people's tallest passengers, and cargo capacity on both the sedan and hatchback Accents is on the higher end of the segment.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
KBB.Com Names 2012 Hyundai Accent a Top Back-to-School Car
Kelley Blue Book’s www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new- and used-vehicle information, named the 2012 Hyundai Accent to its list of 2011 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars. Changing up this annual list for 2011, the kbb.com editors chose five new cars and five used cars for the Top 10 list, and ranked their top choices from five to one in each category. Accent took the number one spot on the new cars list, ranking above Honda Fit, Ford Focus, Fiat 500 and Chevrolet Cruze.
“Like its bigger brothers the Sonata and Elantra, the 2012 Hyundai Accent appeals to a finely-tuned sense of value, putting a lot of equipment into a stylish, roomy package that competes more than favorably with competitors like the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Honda Fit,” said the kbb.com experts. “While not pavement-ripping, the 138-horsepower engine will deliver 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the open road. And at a price that’s a bargain, the 2012 Accent demands to be on your back-to-school shopping list.”
Vehicles on kbb.com’s 2011 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars list were chosen with the following criteria in mind: safety, affordability, versatility, reliability, cost of ownership and fuel efficiency, along with the ever-subjective ‘fun-to-drive’ and ‘good-looking’ factors. Each new car on the list is available for $18,000 or less, using Kelley Blue Book’s exclusive Fair Purchase Price as the yardstick.
“The 2012 Hyundai Accent is tapping into the consumer demand for high-content, fuel efficient cars,” said Brandon Ramirez, product planning manager, Hyundai Motor America. “Like the Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, Accent achieves 40 mpg highway without any additional cost for a high fuel economy package, making it a very attractive car to both students and their parents.”
Accent reinvigorates the subcompact segment, offering the company’s distinctive and upscale “Fluidic Sculpture” design, best-in-class standard fuel economy, exceptional roominess and a full complement of standard safety features. Accent’s class-leading standard fuel economy is yet another example of Hyundai’s dedication to improving fuel efficiency and is the fourth nameplate in Hyundai’s lineup delivering 40 mpg on the highway.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Dominick, thank you for your kind words. We are honored to have you as a customer.
"Hyundai was great thanks to James Wiseman."
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
All-New 2012 Hyundai Accent Off to Roaring Start
The Hyundai Accent was America's best-selling sub-compact car in July.
"The all-new Accent outsold two great small cars we really respect in July – the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "In fact, it was the best-selling sub-compact in the industry last month, its first full month of sales. It's a good indication that consumers are connecting with our new design, 40-mpg fuel economy, and the Assurance Trade-In Value Guarantee. It's a great recipe for this economy."
The 2012 Accent's all-aluminum 1.6-liter Gamma four-cylinder engine uses the latest engine technology to deliver a class-leading 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of
torque and a best-in-class standard 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway fuel economy rating. The engine's most notable feature is its use of Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), a first for the sub-compact category. By precisely controlling the injection of fuel, GDI allows for better fuel economy, increased power and reduced emissions.
The 2012 Hyundai Accent will be the fourth nameplate in the Hyundai lineup delivering 40 MPG on the highway, including the Sonata Hybrid, Elantra and Veloster,
due to arrive in dealerships in a few weeks. Accent's class-leading standard fuel economy is an example of Hyundai's dedication to improving fuel efficiency with
advancements to traditional gasoline powered vehicles.
Kudos to our staff for providing outstanding customer service.
"Parkway Hyundai gave me a great deal. I love my Tucson."
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Kudos to James W. for providing outstanding customer service. Your hard work is greatly appreciated.
"I initially went to Parkway because of my friends terrible experience at Key's Hyundai. My friend got his 2011 3.8 Genesis Coupe from Parkway. James Weisman was the best salesmen I have ever had. He was easy to talk to and didn't BS. I would definitely do business again. Ask for James, tell him Dominick sent you =). I love my 2012 3.8 Genesis Coupe R-Spec!"
Monday, August 1, 2011
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