2005 Accent
- Size: Subcompact
- Engine Size: 1.6L - 4 Cylinders
- Model: Accent
- Year: 2005
- Class: Coupe Sedan
- Seating Capacity: 5 Seats
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I'll have a Hyundai Accent, fries, and a Diet Coke.
Pros
Price, Warranty, Handling.
Cons
Exterior design, Engine/transmission, Standard amenities.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
The Accent GT isn't a bad car, but at $11,000, a more competent Honda Civic is only a couple grand away..
It's hard to review a Hyundai product without bringing up this company's past. Having owned a 1989 Excel GL, which needed two engine overhauls in less than 80,000 miles, it's difficult for me to be completely forgiving. Hyundai's claim to the auto industry is that their cars offer the quality of a Toyota or Honda, but for much less money. In the past I have found this to be a grandiose claim; the quality simply wasn't anything near that of a Honda or Toyota. So, what about the 2005 model year? Is the Accent, Hyundai's most inexpensive car, able to compete with cars like the Scion xA, the Toyota ECHO, or the Honda Civic?
Driving Impressions (Hyundai Accent GT: 5-Speed)
The Accent's "GT" designation may conjure up thoughts that there is something special under the hood, however Hyundai's version of the Accent GT comes with the same organs as the Accent's base trim levels; a 1.6 DOHC 4-banger, which produces a modest 104 horsepower. For the 2005 model year the Accent is available in two trim levels and 2 body styles; a GLS 2 door/4 door and the GT trim, which is only available as a 2 door hatch.
Although the Accent's DOHC 1.6 produces a measly 104 horsepower and 106 lb-ft of toque, acceleration isn't quite as bad as these numbers would normally suggest. Last year I drove the Kia Rio with the same engine, same horsepower rating, etc. and it felt horribly underpowered; unexplainably this was not the same case with the Accent GT. The Accent doesn't offer head snapping acceleration by any stretch of the imagination, however it does provide decent giddy-up that won't leave you too far in the dust at stoplights. If you are looking for engine refinement, however, you should take note that this engine is anything but refined. The Accent's little engine is overly buzzy, which is especially apparent at higher revs and at wide-open throttle. With such a small engine, noise is to be expected, though both the Toyota ECHO and the Scion xA (which have similar sized power plants) can pull off acceleration with much more finesse.
I have never been a fan of the Accent's 5-speed transmission; the 2005 Accent GT's 5-speed is no exception. While the Accent's 5-speed transmission offers good gear ratios for taking off at stop lights, it shifter feels rubbery and the throws are still too long for aggressive driving. Having driven an automatic equipped Accent last year, I would definitely recommend spending the $850 for the auto over the 5-speed. The Accent's engine, when coupled with the automatic, feels more refined than it does with the 5-speed. Unlike many automatic transmissions in economy cars, it doesn't do too much damage to performance or fuel economy in comparison to the 5-speed.
One of the Accent GT's most notable performance attributes is its ability to tackle twisty roads. Though the Accent won't be confused with sports car when it comes to handling, in GT trim, the Accent is one of the best handling cars in it's class; perhaps even the best. In GT trim, which offers a slightly stiffer suspension than the base models and larger 14" tires, the Accent exhibits minimal body roll and has no problem keeping itself composed on even the most demanding roads; the same can't be said about cars like the Kia Rio and the Toyota ECHO.
Cruising on the highway in the Accent GT is a mixed bag. The Accent cruises just fine at speeds below 70 MPH, however all this changes when this car is pushed beyond this 70-MPH limit. Beyond 70-MPH the ride quickly deteriorates; wind noise, engine noise, road noise, all become annoying factors. While in most States you will never need to push your Accent beyond 70 MPH, if you plan on driving 80-MPH to work everyday I highly suggest considering another vehicle or investing in a good set of earplugs. On a positive note, the GT does an excellent job absorbing bumps and road imperfections. There is a significant change, for the better, in GT trim versus GLS trim when it comes to ride quality.
The Accent's pwertrain shows its most notable underpinnings when it comes to climbing steep terrain at high speeds. Like the Chevy Aveo and Kia Rio, the Accent can only accomplish the slightest of inclines before the transmission needs downshifted into 4th gear. Having to shift into 4th gear on hills is usually not that big of a gripe, however the Accent's engine becomes much too fussy when the transmission is downshifted.
With the compromises you will have to make dealing with the Accent's powertrain woes, you will be rewarded at the gas pumps. With an EPA rating of 27 city and 35 on the highway (33 with the automatic) the Accent offers decent fuel economy. There are, however, many larger/more powerful cars out there that offer better EPA ratings, i.e. the Toyota ECHO, Scion xA, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla.
Interior:
Like the Kia Rio and the Chevy Aveo, when it comes to interior quality the Accent GT doesn't exactly provide first class accommodations, however it does have its notable features. Although the Accent GT has its fair share of cheap plastics tossed around the cabin, the Accent's interior feels more refined than it's equally priced Korean competition and equals that of some of its better known Japanese competition i.e. the Toyota ECHO. The Accent's interior is well organized with all switchgear logically placed. The GT adds white faced instrumentation and a leather wrapped steering wheel which helps give the Accent's interior just a touch of sporty spice.
Poor seating is one of my biggest rants with many economy cars these days. Auto manufacturers like to make these tall economy cars that pitch and wallow at every corner yet only provide little or no bolstering to their seats. The Accent GT doesn't have sport seats by any means, but they do an adequate job keeping you in once place while driving through sharp bends in the road.
The only major gripe I have with the Accent's interior is its scant amount of standard amenities. Standard comes manual windows, an AM/FM cassette player (why a CD player isn't standard is beyond me), tachometer, and a clock. Unfortunately, if you want any of the amenities that most civilized cars have, you will have to pay around $1,700 for the #4 package. This package adds power everything, a CD player, floor mats, and ABS brakes.
Though not as roomy as the Chevy Aveo or the Scion xA, the 2005 Accent provides adequate interior space. I imagine tall buyers will tell a different story, however being only 5'6" I had no gripes at all with either head or leg room throughout the cabin; including rear leg room. Stowage space is adequate, perhaps allowing for a few weeks worth of groceries. If you plan on hauling around more than just grocery bags then I highly suggest checking out the offerings from Scion or shelling out a bit more cash for the larger Hyundai Elantra.
Styling:
Instead of taking a leap for the better with it's reinvented design in 2003, the Hyundai Accent has become more dull and dated in appearance. In GT trim, the Accent gets dressed up in alloy rims, a modest spoiler, fog lights, and a GT badge. The GT package does add some much-needed panache to this hatchback, however it can't save it from looking every bit the part of your typical economy car.
Price/Warranty:
The base GLS Accent hatchback starts out at $9,999, so it's only around 500 bucks to upgrade to the GT package (highly recommend). If you are looking for a sedan, plan on shelling out around 700 dollars for the 4-door. My GT tester had an MSRP of less than 11,000 dollars. If you don't need any of the optional equipment, i.e. a CD player or air conditioning, you can easily drive off the lot with a GT for less than 12 grand; the same can also be said about a comparably equipped Toyota ECHO. If anything happens to your new Accent GT, Hyundai offers a 5 year/ 60,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty and a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Final Verdict:
Although the Accent has come a long way over the past 11 years, for the 2005 model year the Accent still falls short of the quality and craftsmanship offered from Honda, Toyota, and Scion. In conclusion, if you are in the market for an economical hatchback, I do recommend checking out the Accent GT, but don't make any final purchases before checking out the competition. I feel that spending a few more grand and going with a base Civic or Corolla may be in your best interest.
Upgrading from your Accent? You may want to check out the 2006 Honda Civic
-Thanks for reading!
Driving Impressions (Hyundai Accent GT: 5-Speed)
The Accent's "GT" designation may conjure up thoughts that there is something special under the hood, however Hyundai's version of the Accent GT comes with the same organs as the Accent's base trim levels; a 1.6 DOHC 4-banger, which produces a modest 104 horsepower. For the 2005 model year the Accent is available in two trim levels and 2 body styles; a GLS 2 door/4 door and the GT trim, which is only available as a 2 door hatch.
Although the Accent's DOHC 1.6 produces a measly 104 horsepower and 106 lb-ft of toque, acceleration isn't quite as bad as these numbers would normally suggest. Last year I drove the Kia Rio with the same engine, same horsepower rating, etc. and it felt horribly underpowered; unexplainably this was not the same case with the Accent GT. The Accent doesn't offer head snapping acceleration by any stretch of the imagination, however it does provide decent giddy-up that won't leave you too far in the dust at stoplights. If you are looking for engine refinement, however, you should take note that this engine is anything but refined. The Accent's little engine is overly buzzy, which is especially apparent at higher revs and at wide-open throttle. With such a small engine, noise is to be expected, though both the Toyota ECHO and the Scion xA (which have similar sized power plants) can pull off acceleration with much more finesse.
I have never been a fan of the Accent's 5-speed transmission; the 2005 Accent GT's 5-speed is no exception. While the Accent's 5-speed transmission offers good gear ratios for taking off at stop lights, it shifter feels rubbery and the throws are still too long for aggressive driving. Having driven an automatic equipped Accent last year, I would definitely recommend spending the $850 for the auto over the 5-speed. The Accent's engine, when coupled with the automatic, feels more refined than it does with the 5-speed. Unlike many automatic transmissions in economy cars, it doesn't do too much damage to performance or fuel economy in comparison to the 5-speed.
One of the Accent GT's most notable performance attributes is its ability to tackle twisty roads. Though the Accent won't be confused with sports car when it comes to handling, in GT trim, the Accent is one of the best handling cars in it's class; perhaps even the best. In GT trim, which offers a slightly stiffer suspension than the base models and larger 14" tires, the Accent exhibits minimal body roll and has no problem keeping itself composed on even the most demanding roads; the same can't be said about cars like the Kia Rio and the Toyota ECHO.
Cruising on the highway in the Accent GT is a mixed bag. The Accent cruises just fine at speeds below 70 MPH, however all this changes when this car is pushed beyond this 70-MPH limit. Beyond 70-MPH the ride quickly deteriorates; wind noise, engine noise, road noise, all become annoying factors. While in most States you will never need to push your Accent beyond 70 MPH, if you plan on driving 80-MPH to work everyday I highly suggest considering another vehicle or investing in a good set of earplugs. On a positive note, the GT does an excellent job absorbing bumps and road imperfections. There is a significant change, for the better, in GT trim versus GLS trim when it comes to ride quality.
The Accent's pwertrain shows its most notable underpinnings when it comes to climbing steep terrain at high speeds. Like the Chevy Aveo and Kia Rio, the Accent can only accomplish the slightest of inclines before the transmission needs downshifted into 4th gear. Having to shift into 4th gear on hills is usually not that big of a gripe, however the Accent's engine becomes much too fussy when the transmission is downshifted.
With the compromises you will have to make dealing with the Accent's powertrain woes, you will be rewarded at the gas pumps. With an EPA rating of 27 city and 35 on the highway (33 with the automatic) the Accent offers decent fuel economy. There are, however, many larger/more powerful cars out there that offer better EPA ratings, i.e. the Toyota ECHO, Scion xA, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla.
Interior:
Like the Kia Rio and the Chevy Aveo, when it comes to interior quality the Accent GT doesn't exactly provide first class accommodations, however it does have its notable features. Although the Accent GT has its fair share of cheap plastics tossed around the cabin, the Accent's interior feels more refined than it's equally priced Korean competition and equals that of some of its better known Japanese competition i.e. the Toyota ECHO. The Accent's interior is well organized with all switchgear logically placed. The GT adds white faced instrumentation and a leather wrapped steering wheel which helps give the Accent's interior just a touch of sporty spice.
Poor seating is one of my biggest rants with many economy cars these days. Auto manufacturers like to make these tall economy cars that pitch and wallow at every corner yet only provide little or no bolstering to their seats. The Accent GT doesn't have sport seats by any means, but they do an adequate job keeping you in once place while driving through sharp bends in the road.
The only major gripe I have with the Accent's interior is its scant amount of standard amenities. Standard comes manual windows, an AM/FM cassette player (why a CD player isn't standard is beyond me), tachometer, and a clock. Unfortunately, if you want any of the amenities that most civilized cars have, you will have to pay around $1,700 for the #4 package. This package adds power everything, a CD player, floor mats, and ABS brakes.
Though not as roomy as the Chevy Aveo or the Scion xA, the 2005 Accent provides adequate interior space. I imagine tall buyers will tell a different story, however being only 5'6" I had no gripes at all with either head or leg room throughout the cabin; including rear leg room. Stowage space is adequate, perhaps allowing for a few weeks worth of groceries. If you plan on hauling around more than just grocery bags then I highly suggest checking out the offerings from Scion or shelling out a bit more cash for the larger Hyundai Elantra.
Styling:
Instead of taking a leap for the better with it's reinvented design in 2003, the Hyundai Accent has become more dull and dated in appearance. In GT trim, the Accent gets dressed up in alloy rims, a modest spoiler, fog lights, and a GT badge. The GT package does add some much-needed panache to this hatchback, however it can't save it from looking every bit the part of your typical economy car.
Price/Warranty:
The base GLS Accent hatchback starts out at $9,999, so it's only around 500 bucks to upgrade to the GT package (highly recommend). If you are looking for a sedan, plan on shelling out around 700 dollars for the 4-door. My GT tester had an MSRP of less than 11,000 dollars. If you don't need any of the optional equipment, i.e. a CD player or air conditioning, you can easily drive off the lot with a GT for less than 12 grand; the same can also be said about a comparably equipped Toyota ECHO. If anything happens to your new Accent GT, Hyundai offers a 5 year/ 60,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty and a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Final Verdict:
Although the Accent has come a long way over the past 11 years, for the 2005 model year the Accent still falls short of the quality and craftsmanship offered from Honda, Toyota, and Scion. In conclusion, if you are in the market for an economical hatchback, I do recommend checking out the Accent GT, but don't make any final purchases before checking out the competition. I feel that spending a few more grand and going with a base Civic or Corolla may be in your best interest.
Upgrading from your Accent? You may want to check out the 2006 Honda Civic
-Thanks for reading!
