2022 Hyundai Accent

The Hyundai Accent is a car that often flies under the radar in the subcompact segment. Quietly rolling into 2022 without any changes, this means you get a subcompact sedan that still comes in with an asking price well under $20k and enough features and ability to keep most commuters more than happy. The Accent won't turn any heads or thrill in the bends, but it does everything relatively well, from using small amounts of fuel to keeping its occupants safe in the event of a crash. This little Korean sedan is a well-rounded piece of equipment. Under the hood lies a 1.6-liter engine producing 120 horsepower. All that power is not sent to a 4WD system, but rather the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic. The Accent's specs don't read like a Mercedes-Benz's, but there's enough to keep most happy against rivals like the Kia Rio and Nissan Versa.

The Hyundai Accent 4-door is a handsome looking thing but will fly under most radars, making it the perfect car to avoid the interests of just about anyone when driving around. The base model features 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, a chrome grille and power-adjustable wing mirrors. The SEL adds 15-inch alloys, fog lights, auto headlight control, heated exterior mirrors, and chrome window belt moldings. The top of the range Limited four-door vehicle includes 17-inch alloys, a hands-free trunk, LED headlights and taillights, and a power tilt and slide sunroof, amongst others.

The Accent is classified as a subcompact sedan, and its dimensions measure up to those of competitors such as the Nissan Versa. All three Accent trim levels share the same exterior dimensions, which means a wheelbase of 101.6 inches and a total length of 172.6 inches - 4.4 inches shorter than the Versa Sedan. The full width is 68.1 inches, it is 57.1 inches tall, and its curb weight is 2,679 pounds.

Hyundai offers the Accent in your choice of six different colors. Considering its low asking price, it doesn't come as a surprise that Hyundai only provides a limited number of colors, but thankfully, its mature yet handsome exterior styling makes any of the available colors look good. The choices on offer are Olympus Silver, Absolute Black, Admiral Blue, Pomegranate Red, Frost White Pearl, and Forge Gray. If we had a say in the matter, we would go with the striking Forge Gray, which adds a bit of sporting appeal to an otherwise restrained body design.

It should be noted from the start that the 2022 Hyundai Accent has not been built for performance driving, not by a long shot. Hyundai has bestowed just enough power for the Accent to competently complete all the basics expected from a car in this price bracket and class. With a small capacity four-cylinder engine under the hood, things don't seem too promising, and stomping on the gas pedal reveals the car's lack of power. Still, if you're only after a daily commuter that will do the A to B run without complaint while using a sliver of fuel, then this will work perfectly for you. All trim levels share the same powertrain, which levels the playing field. Hyundai doesn't provide a 0 to 60 time or top speed figure but independent testing suggests that it should reach 60 mph in around 9.6 seconds. You won't find any AWD option here; the Accent is strictly an FWD car and offers similar performance to the Kia Rio and Nissan Versa.

Those looking for strong performance should look elsewhere. The Hyundai Accent sedan comes fitted with a small 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that delivers the bare necessities. You won't find the low down torque of a diesel or turbo car here. All three trim levels share the same engine, which develops 120 hp and 113 lb-ft of torque high up in the rev range, which means that this car will have to live high up in the rev range to get anywhere with convincing urgency. The Accent does well in the city and feels nippy enough to keep up with traffic, but it is on the highway where things fall apart. Accelerating up to highway cruising speeds takes longer than we would like, and once up to speed, it becomes difficult to perform any sort of brisk overtaking maneuver. You'll have to push the little engine, which in turn creates an unrefined and coarse protestation. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a CVT automatic.

There's no mistaking the Accent for anything other than a budget sedan, which usually means safe and predictable handling, and the majority of drivers will never push this little sedan to its limits or hear the tires squeal around a set of track corners. The Accent delivers a predictable and comfortable driving experience that fits in with the rest of the car's mature and responsible feel. It is clear from the word go that comfort takes priority over dynamic driving capability. The Accent is a comfortable and compliant car to drive and soaks up bumps with ease around town. The steering is light and precise, making city maneuvers as easy as pie. What is noticeable from the start is the lack of steering feedback and a lack of communication from the tires. This shouldn't pose a problem for most, but it is worth noting the numbness and general lack of feel. Pushing the Accent reveals a car with a surprising amount of grip. You'll be surprised at how far you can push the little sedan, but once again, a lack of feel limits the fun factor. The brake pedal feel is firm and predictable but fails to impress in terms of stopping distance.

With a small capacity four-cylinder engine and a low curb weight, the commuter vehicle known as the Accent is the perfect candidate for low gas mileage figures. This lightweight Korean impresses with best mpg figures of 33/41/36 mpg city/highway/combined. The Nissan Versa CVT, by comparison, will achieve best figures of 32/40/35 mpg. The 2022 Hyundai Accent is fitted with an 11.9-gallon fuel tank, which should give it a maximum range of 428.4 miles.

On the inside, the Accent offers a very business-like cabin that features a simple but refined interior design and quality materials, but it can't match the funky and fun design of its cousin, the Kia Rio. The dark trim lends itself to the serious nature of the rest of the car, but beige is offered with some paint colors. The front seats are comfortable if not a tad unsupportive, and the overall space is acceptable, although competitors such as the now-extinct-in-the-US Honda Fit offered miles more space in the rear. We appreciate the infotainment system's easy-to-use nature, but standard features on the base model are scarce. The base models feature manually adjustable cloth seats, air conditioning, cruise control, an immobilizer, and push-button start, amongst others, but higher grade derivatives introduce more niceties.

This subcompact 4-door will fit five smaller adults in relative comfort. Seating in the front is comfortable, and access is easy. Once inside, the driving position feels good, and visibility out the front is sufficient. Those in the rear also have an easy time getting in and out of the car. When it comes to interior space, those in the front will have the best time. Hyundai has provided ample front legroom, more than enough for six-footers and above, but those in the rear will struggle with only 33.5 inches of legroom. The headroom is ample both in the front and in the rear. All trim levels come with six-way manually-adjustable cloth seats that offer middling support but should prove comfortable on longer journeys.

You won't find any fancy interior options here: Hyundai has kept things as simple as possible, and at the cost of the Hyundai Accent, it feels of good quality. All three trim levels come equipped with a black interior, including the seats, which feature a two-tone black and dark gray upholstery, although certain paint colors avail beige upholstery. The rest of the cabin is filled with dark plastics that feel impressively premium, but you're still able to find hard plastics scattered around the cabin. The dash, gear-knob surround, and air vents feature brushed aluminum-feel trimmings. When all is said and done, the Accent offers impressive build quality, despite its dark and somewhat business-like appearance, but leatherette upholstery would have been a welcome addition on higher trim levels.

People interested in the Accent won't be expecting SUV-levels of storage space; after all, this is a subcompact sedan, which puts it at a disadvantage to everything from small SUVs to hatchbacks - the latter no longer offered by the Accent. Still, the Accent offers a respectable amount of trunk and overall cargo space, but the competition offers more. Behind the rear seats, the Accent provides 13.7 cubic feet of space. That is enough for a couple of large items of luggage, or a decent run to the grocery store. Hyundai has thought it good to include a 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, which adds even more space.

Small items can be stored in the front glovebox, front and rear door pockets, and front cupholders. There's also a little storage nook in front of the gear lever. SEL and Limited trims get a driver's sliding armrest storage box and passenger-side seatback pockets. An optional cargo package adds a rear cargo tray, cargo net, and cargo blocks for $190.

Being a budget-friendly car means you get budget-friendly features, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but don't expect the world from the 2022 Hyundai Accent. All models feature standard manually adjustable cloth seats, single-zone air conditioning, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, an anti-theft immobilizer, and remote keyless entry. A rearview camera rounds out the base model features. Going with the mid-range SEL will bag you features such as a passenger-side seatback pocket, a driver's side auto-up window, and dual USB charging. The top-of-the-range Limited trim adds LED headlights and tail lights, a power sunroof, heated front seats, single-zone automatic climate control, and a proximity key with push-button start. The Limited also adds forward-collision avoidance.

Hyundai has kept things simple regarding the infotainment system on the 2022 Hyundai Accent Sedan, which is not a bad thing by any means. The base model is equipped with a Bluetooth hands-free system, an AM/FM/CD/MP3-capable audio system with a five-inch color screen, and a four-speaker sound system. You also get a USB and auxiliary input jack. The interface of the display is easy to navigate and responsive enough to the surrounding buttons. Unfortunately, the base model does not come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Stepping up to the SEL and Limited bags you a larger seven-inch touchscreen display with SiriusXM satellite radio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and an improved six-speaker audio system. The upper two trims also get dual USB charging ports.

You will struggle to find a car more reliable than the Hyundai Accent in its class. This vehicle has suffered no recalls for the 2021 and 2022 model years, the last one having been for the 2020 model for an emergency trunk release that may fail. J.D. Power's review has awarded the 2022 model with an excellent quality and reliability rating of 90 out of a possible 100. The basic four-pot motor and minimal features surely contribute to this. To top it all off, Hyundai offers the Accent with an excellent five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, as well as a ten-year/unlimited-mile drivetrain warranty, and five years of roadside assistance.

In the 2021 review of the Hyundai Accent, the IIHS awarded five top scores of Good, but the small front overlap on the passenger side yielded only an Acceptable score. The NHTSA granted the 2022 Accent an overall score of four stars in its review, but warned that rear passengers may be exerted to excess forces in a side impact.

Each and every 2022 Hyundai Accent comes equipped with stability and traction management, four airbags, including side-impact bags, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a LATCH anchor system for the rear seats. There are no standard driver-assistance features on the base model besides a rearview camera, cruise control, and hill-start assist. SEL and Limited models get a driver's blind spot mirror, and Limited models add forward-collision avoidance assist.

The Hyundai Accent in the USA enters 2022 with no significant changes, which means you still get a no-nonsense car that offers good value for money, decent levels of safety, and excellent fuel economy. Starting from only $15,395, the Accent is a no-nonsense subcompact sedan that will impress, rather than disappoint. The exterior styling looks as good as ever and now comes with a tasty new color named Forge Gray. The interior might be dark, but it is definitely not dreary and offers an impressive level of build quality and solid materials for the price of the Accent. The rear could provide more space, but the overall experience inside the cabin is a positive one. On the road, the Accent isn't the most exhilarating to drive with its 1.6-liter engine barely providing enough power, but it is still a capable handling car and is comfortable on the open road. It comes with minimal features in base form, but that is to be expected in this price range. The overall experience here is a "cheap and cheerful" one, and we would recommend the Accent to anyone looking for a budget-friendly sedan.

Hyundai has struck a good balance between affordability and quality here, and what impresses most is the Accent's build quality and comfortable ride quality, which is hard to beat at its price point. The price of the new Hyundai Accent starts at an MSRP of $16,645 for the base model SE. The mid-range SEL costs $17,900, and the range-topping Limited will still come in under $20k at $19,600. These prices exclude tax, registration, and a handling fee of $1,025. Looking or something even cheaper? A low-mileage used model could be a great deal, with a number to be found for sale across the USA.

There are three trims in the 2022 Hyundai Accent range: SE, SEL, and Limited. Mechanically, they are all identical, sharing the same 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 120 hp and 113 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheel via a CVT automatic transmission.

The SE has 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, a chrome grille, and body-color exterior mirrors. Standard interior equipment includes cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, cruise control, air-conditioning, remote keyless entry, an anti-theft immobilizer, and 60/40-split rear seats. The infotainment system has a five-inch touchscreen and incorporates a radio, MP3 player, Bluetooth, and four-speaker audio system, but no smartphone integration. Standard safety features include four airbags, stability control, ABS, a backup camera, and tire-pressure monitoring.

The SEL trim adds 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, heated exterior mirrors, extra chrome exterior trim, a sliding armrest / storage box for the driver, a passenger-side seatback pocket, automatic headlight control, and an auto-up driver's-side window. The infotainment system gets a seven-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, dual USB charging, and a driver's-side blind-spot mirror.

The flagship Limited trim is distinguished on the outside by its 17-inch alloy wheels, LEDs for its headlights, tail lights, and daytime running lights, turn signals in its exterior mirrors, hands-free trunk release, and power tilting/sliding sunroof. Inside, it gets heated front seats, automatic single-zone climate control, a proximity key with push-button start, and forward-collision avoidance.

The Accent comes as an all-inclusive package, and no major optional packages are available for this vehicle. If you're looking for added features, you'll have to look higher up in the trim range. The base model is offered with accessories such as a Cargo Package for $190 with a net and cargo tray, carpeted floor mats for $155, and dual USB chargers for $70.

You don't get much better in the budget four-door class than the Hyundai Accent. This little Korean grocery-getter is easy to live with and will certainly not break the bank, which is largely the point of this car: it is meant to be affordable yet capable. Seeing as all three trim levels come with the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, it makes it easier to choose which one will suit your needs best. Starting at $16,645, the SE offers the most basic ownership experience, which might be a little too basic for some, but you still get a five-inch infotainment display and air-conditioning. We would suggest opting for the mid-range SEL, which comes standard with alloy wheels, a much-appreciated seven-inch infotainment system with SiriusXM, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All this can be yours for only $17,900.

The Versa is Nissan's smallest vehicle and has been credited as being one of America's cheapest new cars. This little sedan screams "rental" from any angle, but is it really that bad? The 2020 model saw a complete revamp which stepped things up dramatically with more power and better looks. We still think the Accent looks better, though. Under the hood lies a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with outputs of 122 hp and 114 lb-ft, which is right in the Accent's ballpark. The Versa will manage 32/40/35 mpg city/highway/combined. On the road, the Versa is surprisingly capable as a city car and highway cruiser, and while we found the Accent to be more refined, the Versa comes in a close second. The interior of the Versa features contemporary styling and quality materials, which is equal to that of the Accent. In terms of features, both cars get a similar spread of tech. The Versa does offer more trunk space but suffers with small-item storage. At only $14,980 for the S, the Versa would be our budget sedan choice.

The Kia Rio shares most of its bits with the Hyundai Accent, which means these two cars offer a near-identical driving experience, but there are some noteworthy differences, mainly in the looks and features department. The Kia Rio is arguably the fresher-looking car with a nose resembling the bigger Kia Stinger, particularly with the recent 2021 update. Under the hood lies the same 1.6-liter engine and CVT transmission pairing, which means the Rio will perform similarly to the Accent. Gas mileage figures come in at 33/41/36 mpg, identical to that of the Accent. The Rio's cabin has a slightly more upmarket feel than the Accent, and an eight-inch touchscreen elevates it above the Accent. All panels feel well-fitted, and material quality is up to the same standards. Interior space is also similar, with both cars getting tight rear legroom space. The amount of features is also on par with the Hyundai with little separating the two. The Rio asks slightly less at $16,150 for the base model, and your choice will have to boil down to cost and looks. We would go with the Kia as it's the fresher model, has better infotainment, and is cheaper.