Hyundai puts Accent on confidence

• Reprints

What do you call a vehicle that competes in a segment with the likes of the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Chevrolet Sonic? Confident comes to mind.

The real answer is the 2012 Hyundai Accent. As it did with the earlier release of its new Sonata and Elantra, the new Accent takes on the familial appearance that Hyundai refers to as a “fluidic sculpture” design.

Driving the 2012 Accent reinforces my impression of the quality and ride that Korean vehicles have strived so hard to achieve. It loves the road and is loath to loosen its grip on it while cornering or taking curves at higher speeds. Hyundai executives specifically mention the quiet aspect of the passenger cabin and they aren’t exaggerating.

Furthermore, for being a subcompact, Accent has enough front-seat legroom to comfortably seat Shaquille O’Neal and Dirk Nowitzki. Though classified as a subcompact on the outside, it’s labeled a compact on the inside. It is 3.5 inches longer and its wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than its predecessor.

I liked the layout of the instrument panel and center stack. A combination of blue and bright are used to illuminate the dials. Handsome brushed aluminum highlights the front-door armrests and better outlines the power window and door lock buttons. Same thing with the center of the three-point steering wheel, floor-mounted shifter and climate controls.

The 2012 Accent is powered by Hyundai’s new 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve dual continuously variable valve timing Gamma GDI engine. It’s more powerful and 40 pounds lighter than the outgoing Alpha engine. It pumps out 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with Shiftronic manual shift mode.

Truth be told I am not a fan of manual-shift-mode automatics. As I’ve often said, if you want to shift gears so darned bad, order your vehicle with a manual transmission and the manufacturer will give you a free clutch. I haven’t driven the manual – just the automatic – in drive mode.

The 2012 Accent is a member of the “40+ Club.” Whether automatic or manual, it achieves a highway average of 40 mpg – a phenomenal 18 percent increase over last year’s manual transmission model that achieved 34 mpg and 11 percent over its automatic-transmission predecessor. City numbers are equally impressive at 30 mpg.

The new engine performs extremely well on high-speed highways and local roads. This isn’t surprising considering the curb weight of Accent is less than 2,700 pounds. It comes in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a more functional five-door that offers segment-leading cargo volume (21.2 cubic feet).

The only annoying thing I found was the active head restraints. Sure they’re adjustable, but until they are adjusted it’s like having a baseball bat pushed against the nape of your neck. I’m sure they prevent head injuries during a rear-end collision, but they can’t cure the pain in your butt until they’re raised.

Both 2012 Accent models come in three trim levels: GLS, GS and SE. Pricing for the 2012 Hyundai Accent is a competitive vehicle’s nightmare. It starts at $12,445 for an Accent GLS four-door with a manual transmission and runs up to $16,795 for an Accent SE five-door when equipped with an automatic (freight charge is an additional $760). Accent is not just a great budget vehicle, it’s practical as well.