2009 Hyundai Accent SE New Orleans LA
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2009 Hyundai Accent SE
December 7, 2009 By Zach Bowman, DriverSide Contributing Editor
2009 Hyundai Accent 
2009 Hyundai Accent
DriverSide Overview
While the streets of Europe may be flush with low-buck, fun-to-drive, eco-friendly transportation, small-displacement cars don’t enjoy much success here in the land of the free. Most buyers see economical cars as little more than throwaways destined to a long, tortuous life at the hands of the family teenager. The Hyundai Accent SE 3-Door is out to change that perception. A comfortable and attractive interior with gobs of standard features, snappy looks outside and a fuel-thrifty 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, make this Hyundai perfect for couples with limited parking or families looking for an inexpensive commuter. With an MSRP under $16,000 and an undeniable 100,000-mile warranty, the Hyundai Accent SE 3-Door is hard to beat. Though power from the tiny four-cylinder isn’t going to be winning drag races anytime soon, the car’s lightweight and sport-oriented suspension make it more entertaining to drive than you may expect.
What's to Like
Inside, the seats are both comfortable and good looking, and the dash layout is easy to navigate. Great brakes and a stout suspension make the car flingable through the apexes, and a 33 mpg EPA rating won’t hurt anyone’s feelings, either. A high level of standard equipment for the car’s price is also nice.
What's Not to Like
Despite producing 110 horsepower, the 1.6-liter four-cylinder on board runs out of steam toward the end of the tach. We wouldn’t mind having a few more ponies to play with, and the interior can be noisy at highway speeds.
The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Like most compact hatches, the Accent delivers a fairly high seating position – giving you great visibility from the cockpit. The comfy seats provide plenty support, a rare feature in a car of this price. While there’s very little power to be had, the Accent’s lightweight MacPherson strut front suspension keeps the car planted for sure-footed driving, and before long, you’ll be comfortable whipping this tiny hatch through corners at eye-widening speeds – at least for a car this size. Cabin noise can be a bother, especially on the highway, and the 1.6-liter four-cylinder makes more noise than it does power. Still for a daily commute, the cabin is cozy but not cramped, and the use of hard plastics has been kept to a surprising minimum.
Engine and Drivetrain
Under the hood, there’s an efficient 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 110 horsepower and 106 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed transmission is standard, though a four-speed automatic gearbox is also available. Our tester was equipped with a quick-shifting five-speed manual unit that made the best of the available power, though could be aggravating...