The Accent has been around for some time in the Indian market, and has become a tried and tested vehicle. Unlike its reputation in Europe and The Middle East, where it is a car for the lower income groups, Hyundai has successfully slotted it as a C-segment car in India. Unfortunately, while they seem to be certain of the quality of the cars they sell in USA (10-year or 100, 000 mile warranty), they seem to be very unsure of the quality of vehicles they sell in India!!
That said, the Accent is a very easy car to drive, despite the rather prominent nose (read engine compartment or bonnet). The engine is very quiet and sticks to the touted fuel efficiency levels. The gearing, though, leaves a lot to be desired, and you have to keep downshifting to third if you wish to overtake on the highway. The car accelerates well provided you keep working the gear shift continuously.
The suspension is squishy and the car develops a distinct side roll in some uneven road conditions. I had this checked out by the Hyundai dealer, suspecting a shock absorber problem, but was told that the shocks were fine. That obviously meant that the problem was with the suspension layout! On roads that are good to just moderately bad, however, the Accent is hard to beat in terms of riding comfort.
The air conditioner is better than most D-segment cars, and converts the insides of the Accent into a freezer in an amazingly short time. Leg space is fine in the front, but if you have a tall person occupying one of the front seats, the rear has to be designated to someone below 5.5 feet in height. The Accent also happens to be one of the lowest cars around, and you have to ’’climb down’’ to the seats.
The spares are not too expensive and the car does not let you down in the middle of nowhere provided you service it regularly. It is probably great as a second hand car right now, but if you are planning to buy a new one, I would advise you to wait till the NEW Accent hits the market.