If you think it's impossible to be frugal and also park a nicely equipped new car in your driveway, you need to test-drive the 2020 Hyundai Accent. Offered in three distinct trims—from the price leader SE to the loaded Limited—the Accent provides something for everyone's budget. Its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is as efficient as the car's base price would suggest. We've found the lightweight Accent fun to drive and easy to pitch into corners with enough speed to make the tires squeal. In this case, the old saying is true: It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow. If you just need a no-frills commuter mobile, the Accent's cabin is spacious and utilitarian; higher-spec SEL and Limited come models with more gear than the base car, but all three come with touchscreen infotainment.

The smallest Hyundai receives a new four-cylinder engine and an optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) replaces last year's six-speed automatic; these changes improve the Accent's EPA combined fuel economy rating by 4 mpg. The new engine makes 10 fewer horsepower than the engine in the 2019 Accent, but we expect performance to be about the same. A six-speed manual transmission remains standard, and it's the one we'd pick.

The Accent's 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine makes 120 horsepower and drives the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The four-cylinder is new for 2020 and we've not tested one, but we expect performance similar to last year's model which offered 130 horsepower. It's clear that ride comfort takes priority over deft handling. Still, the Accent feels lively, its small body is easily tossed into corners, and it's even rewarding when pushed. Rough roads are smoothed out adequately by the suspension. Test drive the new Hyundai Accent to get a feel for it yourself.

Small cars are expected to deliver good fuel-economy numbers, and the Accent does just that. The new four-cylinder engine has improved fuel economy across the lineup: manual-transmission models are rated at 33 mpg combined and automatic models claim a 36 mpg combined rating. We haven't had the chance to put the Accent's new powertrain through our real-world highway fuel-economy testing, but last year's less efficient model impressed us with a 41 mpg result when equipped with the standard six-speed manual transmission.

The Accent's grown-up interior seems well built. Sporting a frill-free interior design, the Accent is uncomplicated and honest. Both of our test cars had a black interior. The optional beige interior imparts a richer feeling, with two-tone tan and black seats and a similar treatment for the dash and door panels. Despite its sedan body and a smaller amount of cargo space with the rear seats in use, the Accent had room for more of our carry-on cases than did its more practically shaped hatchback Rio.

A 5.0-inch touchscreen radio is standard and provides USB and auxiliary ports for connecting devices to the interface, but the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes on SEL and Limited trims is higher-tech. The larger display also boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as a second USB port located on the back of the centre console. Both systems offer Bluetooth phone connectivity, but the 7.0-inch touchscreen also comes with SiriusXM satellite radio.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn't released crash-test results for the Accent, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick. Automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning are optional driver-assistance features not offered on many of the Accent's rivals. Key safety features include:

At 10 years or 160,000 km, Hyundai and sister company Kia have the best powertrain warranties available, and the Accent is the latest in Hyundai's lineup at Group 1 Hyundai to carry this class-leading coverage. The company also now offers complimentary scheduled maintenance that bests mainstream rivals such as Toyota.

Article from https://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/accent