2018 Hyundai Accent GLS
The subcompact sedan market is still very popular here in Quebec, and with new vehicles like the 2018 Hyundai Accent GLS, it gives buyers some new choice in a relatively small market. Few manufacturers offer a subcompact car, and companies like Ford who just announced their plans to end sedan production for the US-Market means fewer choice for buyers looking at the ultra-affordable new car.
We had the chance to feature the 2018 Kia Rio 5 EX Sport earlier this year, and the Hyundai Accent shares a lot of the basic DNA, but offers a unique design throughout. Also the Kia Rio we featured was a hatchback, so this gives us an opportunity to see what a sedan has to offer from the South-Korean manufacturer.
We mention during our episode of TestDrive Spotlight on this car that there really isn't a lot to surprise with a car like this, a lot is to be expected, such as the projector-based halogen headlights and lower fog lights being the only option for this car. The keyless door access is nice at this price, and the trunk actually had a lot more space than we anticipated, making the sedan a better family vehicle than the hatchback given how much you can fit in the trunk.
The inside of the Hyundai Accent is also in-line with what we've come to expect from Hyundai, especially around this price point. While Canadian pricing hasn't been officially finalized, the entry level Accent is expected around $14,999.00 and this fully-loaded GLS closer to the $20,000 price-point. We did prefer the layout and ergonomics on the Kia Rio, but the features and comfort are about the same between the two subcompacts.
The 7" infotainment system is still one of our top picks in the consumer segment, providing quick and responsive feedback with the radio and media controls, and navigation through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. We certainly have no complaints about Hyundai's infotainment system, and love the simple-to-use functionality that comes with it.
Seat comfort was also pretty good for a subcompact vehicle. Driving around provided us with a good position overall without any leg fatigue on longer drives. Our drive in and our of Montreal takes about an hour and a half and we were comfortable throughout. We found the space up front to be good, and our 4 year old daughter had plenty of leg room behind the passenger seat. I did jump in the back during our filming and found the space to be adequate, but overall headroom was a little short for me.
While performance really isn't top-of-mind for a car like this, the 1.6L gasoline engine worked well for the size of the car. We definitely needed to put the petal to the metal getting on to the highways, but for city driving we found moderate acceleration to be good. We averaged 7.0L/100km during our week with the 2018 Hyundai Accent GLS, which falls in line with the 2018 Kia Rio 5 EX Sport featured earlier.
Hyundai has a great product for a segment that still is dominant here in the province of Quebec. We think that buyers looking at a new car and wanting peace-of-mind with a warranty will be pleased with the Hyundai Accent, at any trim, especially considering things like heated front seats and heated steering wheel are included at the base price, and forward collision mitigation on the top GLS trim.
You can watch our full episode of TestDrive Spotlight on the 2018 Hyundai Accent GLS here:
