Bland but Good Hyundai Accent Top 10 in Reliability

The 2013 Hyundai Accent SE has been named one of the 10 most reliable cars under $25,000 according to Consumer Reports. This good but reliable sub-compact is the only Korean car to make the list.

In my opinion, it's a good little car but it's not a great one. But what can you expect for a starting price of $16,695?

Liza Barth of ConsumerReports.org, wrote in an article via Yahoo Autos, "There's nothing fancy about the Accent, but it hits the mark well for basic, sensible transportation. The well-constructed cabin offers plenty of room up front and the engine provides adequate power and responsive handling. It is also inexpensive to buy and own." Accent’s EPA fuel economy rating is 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway, with the six-speed automatic transmission or manual transmission.

Selected as one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines, the Accent’s all-aluminum 1.6-liter Gamma four-cylinder engine features the latest innovations in engine technology to deliver an unsurpassed 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque and a standard 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway EPA fuel economy rating.

Accent offers the best power-to-weight ratio in its class by far, providing drivers with both low fuel consumption and responsive performance. Highlights that contribute to a low curb weight include the 1.6-liter Gamma GDI engine with an aluminum block, monotube shock absorbers, integrated parking brake, and a super flat torque converter.

Hyundai Accent Recommended Overall
The 2013 Hyundai Accent GLS is also pegged as a recommended small car by Consumer Reports.

In its writeup, the consumer watchdog says of the $16,050 sedan, "The redesigned Accent now scores near the top of our subcompact Ratings in both sedan and hatchback versions. There's nothing fancy about this car but it hits the mark well for basic, sensible transportation. It's economical to buy and run -- we got 31 mpg with the GLS sedan with an automatic and 32 mpg for the stick-shift SE hatchback.

"The 138-hp four-cylinder engine provides adequate power and handling is responsive, somewhat more so in the sportier SE model. The well-constructed cabin offers plenty of room upfront. As is normal for this class, the ride is jittery and the rear seats are somewhat cramped. The cabin is fairly noisy, but not offensively so," the report concluded.

Hyundai Accent Technically a Compact
All Accents ride on a 101.2-inch wheelbase, 2.8-inches longer than the previous generation. The Accent 4-door’s overall length has increased by 3.5 inches to 172 inches. The total length of the new five-door version is 162 inches. As a result, Accent enjoys superior interior volume and passenger space. While the car’s exterior dimensions are consistent with those of traditional subcompacts, Accent is classified by the EPA as a compact sedan thanks to its interior volume.

Keith Griffin has been writing continuously about new cars since 2002. He used to be the guide to used cars at former About.com as well as a contributor to The Boston Globe and Automotive Traveler. He is the founder and president of The Internet Car and Truck of the Year, where "Internet Pros and Average Joes" pick the car and truck of the year. Currently, Keith is the managing editor for American Business Media. Follow Keith at @indepthauto on Twitter.