Car Craziness

ASSOCIATE EDITOR, AUTOWEEK, GRAHAM KOZAK: What an odd little car. I’ll admit that I’m partial to the Hyundai Veloster, or at least the idea of it. I like the bold styling, I like the useful 2-plus-1 door configuration and I like the name. It sounds fast! I’ll even own up to digging the hipster-bait C3 Roll Top concept Hyundai rolled out a few years ago. I think with a little bit of refinement, it could be a really great car — certainly, it’s got a lot of character to play with.

As it is, it’s still a decent car that offers a great value. But it’s not exactly a modern incarnation of … a CRX, maybe? I’m not sure exactly what the Veloster is trying to be, except funky. Which might partially explain why it’s not quite the exceptionally awesome overall package it might have been.

The 1.6-liter turbo could be a defining feature here. But while it’s better than the naturally aspirated base motor, it really didn’t impress me much. In the era of anonymous 2.0-liter turbos, I don’t mind a bit of lag and bite — it’s what makes the WRX STI fun, after all. Power doesn’t come on fully until 6,000 rpm here, and it runs out of steam soon after. Technically, you could call it a peaky motor, but the peak itself isn’t so high in the first place. More like a hill, maybe.

A somewhat tricky clutch makes stop-and-go traffic a drag. Once you get going, and get some momentum into the car, it all strings together fairly well. It’s not particularly stiffly sprung, but it seems happy to rotate if you keep on the power.

There’s potential here — if this thing came out in the heyday of tuning, I feel like we’d see a lot of really cool builds with the Veloster at their core. At under R350 000, which includes the faux-center-lock wheels and matte blue paint, the Rally Edition Veloster Turbo might still serve as a perfect blank canvas. It’s less than 3,000 pounds, too! I’d really love to see what a genuine Hyundai geek (note: I don’t mean a SEMA-crazed tuning shop) could do with these oddball bones.

But again, as it is, it’s a surprisingly practical, high-feature hatch.

This Rally Edition means a paint job, wheels and tires, blue interior accents … you know the drill. Yeah, it looks goofy but it drives nicely and I suppose styling is up to the individual. I’m not feelin’ it personally. Some people might love it. It actually looks kind of cool from the back. It ain’t cookie cutter, that’s for sure, so at least you won’t see yourself coming and going much.

The 201 hp figure seems like less on the road until you get the tach swinging beyond 3,500-4,000 rpm, then things get fun. The turbo also makes this engine quite a bit more flexible than the normally aspirated version — you can basically stick it in third or fourth gear and do most of your around-town driving.

The ride/handling mix is good, neutral with a nice ride over all but the worst potholes, and the steering is nice and quick, if a bit too light at speed. Feels like Hyundai basically left the suspension alone instead of being tempted to sport it up. That’s good, in my opinion — it might have ruined the ride. The chassis could be stiffer — I felt some steering column shimmy. Not much, but some.

The price is fair, plus you get Hyundai’s gazillion-mile warranty. So there’s that.

Test drive the Hyundai Veloster at one of the reputable Hyundai dealerships across the country.

As Hyundai's least expensive offering, the stylish Accent offers value, economy and reliability at a sub-$16,000 price. No longer the flimsy and Spartan econobox of the past, the Accent looks and feels more substantial than the average subcompact and it comes standard with an amazing 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The 2016 Hyundai Accent subcompact comes as a sedan or 5-door hatchback, further expanding its versatility. Although competent, the new Accent isn't as fun to drive as the Ford Fiesta, Chevy Sonic or Honda Fit, and its fuel economy lags behind the Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. Then again, none of these competitors can match the Accent's standard 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're seeking economical transportation that is inexpensive but still playful, the 2016 Hyundai Accent sedan and hatchback hold strong appeal. Optional features, such as heated side mirrors and Bluetooth, don't add much to the bottom line.

What's New for 2016

Hyundai's subcompact 2016 Accent sedan and hatchback receive revised trim names, replacing GLS and GS with SE. The Sport trim's power sunroof option has been deleted.

Driving the Accent

Driving Impressions. The term "economy car" used to imply a small, cramped and Spartan device with few frills. But, in the 2016 Hyundai Accent sedan and hatchback, there is a new definition,...

... one that includes comfort, content and capability. While frugal on the fuel, the Accent's 4-cylinder engine isn't stingy when it comes to power, although we can't sing the same praise for the rubbery and vague 6-speed manual transmission. We'd go with the 6-speed automatic, which delivers better performance and only a 1-mpg reduction in fuel economy. The Accent's seats are comfortable and there's good head- and legroom up front, although the rear seat isn't as generous. As for driving dynamics, the Accent is a capable car, but nowhere near as dialed-in as the Ford Fiesta or Chevrolet Sonic. Not our first choice for twisting back roads, the Accent is much more comfortable in city and highway driving.

Favorite Features

GENEROUS WARRANTY

Although you hope you'll never have to use it, the peace of mind provided by the 2016 Hyundai Accent's generous standard warranty is priceless. The warranty includes 5-year/60,000-mile basic coverage and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty covering the engine and transmission.

STANDARD 172-WATT AUDIO SYSTEM

Some economy cars don't even offer a radio, let alone a 172-watt, 6-speaker system that comes standard in every Accent. SiriusXM satellite radio and USB/iPod connection are also standard, while Bluetooth for phone and music streaming remains an option.

2016 Hyundai Accent Details

Interior

The 2016 Hyundai Accent sub-compact's 5-passenger interior layout isn't all that exciting, but it is functional. Controls for audio, climate and phone connectivity are easy to locate and use. The backlit buttons and knobs are a nice touch and especially useful at night. Sedan versions of the Accent have a 13.7-cubic-foot trunk and 60/40-split-folding rear seats to accommodate larger items. But the real cargo-carrying hero in this lineup is the Accent hatchback, which offers 47.5 cubic feet of capacity with the seats folded – nearly as much as a small SUV.

Exterior

Using the same "fluidic sculpture" design language incorporated into other newer Hyundai models, the 2016 Accent hatchback and sedan stand out with dynamic and sculptural lines that give this subcompact an upscale look. A newly styled grille, headlights and taillights help keep Hyundai's subcompact looking fresh, especially in 5-door hatchback form. Accent Sport 5-door models look the most appealing with satin-chrome door handles, rear spoiler, fog lights and side mirrors with integrated turn signals. Speaking of mirrors, the driver's-side blind-spot mirror aids visibility.

Under the Hood

All 2016 Hyundai Accent models use a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with gasoline direct injection (GDI) that translates to satisfying throttle response. Offering 137 horsepower and up to 38 mpg, this little engine puts out a good blend of power and efficiency. All Accent models are front-wheel drive and use a standard 6-speed manual transmission or the more recommendable and popular 6-speed automatic transmission with Hyundai's Shiftronic manual control.

1.6-liter inline-4

137 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm

123 lb-ft of torque @ 4,850 rpm

EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/38 mpg (manual), 26/37 mpg (automatic)

Feel free to Contact Group 1 Hyundai or visit their website for even more detailed information.