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Phil1, while I too am disappointed that Hyundai did not include some of the things that will be in the Kia Rio, I feel that I can upgrade later when those features become available thanks to Hyundai's Guaranteed Trade-In Value Program .
You can get a nice feel for what the 2012 Accent is like from this video. Specifically:
1. Good acceleration
2. Relatively Quiet
3. Good Suspension Damping
4. Good handling taking corners / turns
5. Stable over bumps in the road
6. Nice exhaust note (non-obtrusive)
7. Engine only tach's 2K at 60 mph
So far, so good. SE's are supposed to have an even "sportier" tuned suspension. Car is starting to grow on me
First Drive - Autoblog
First Drive - Motortrend
This is really a bad time to buy a car too, which I keep telling her. Might be worth it to just replace the two most worn tires & fix the a/c when it goes out. But it'll be her decision on when to buy.
The Sandman :confuse: :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
They seem to like it ("what's not to like"). Big difference in 0-60 mph estimate from Motortrend.
Autoweek: 9.0 sec (est)
Motortrend: 10.5 sec (est)
My estimate is closer to 9.0 seconds and no slower that the Elantra. ">link title
Autoweek's and Autoblog's overall assessment is very positive, Motortrend's is "lukewarm:.
M Karesh 2012 Accent Review
As for resale value, it is a huge mistake to base a new model's resale value on a prior model's, especially when the new model represents a quantum leap over the prior model and is already receiving accolades with some reviewers touting it as being at the top of its class. I believe if a car moves to top in class in a class that is growing, it will hold its value very nicely.
So unless your cognitive powers and opinion carry more weight than others, picking the Elantra over the Accent is not a "no brainer". It depends on what you are interested in and as the saying goes "different strokes for different folks".
the other key difference? The elantra only comes in a 4 door. If you want your small car to have some utility, you are OOL at least until they come out with a new touring.
Me, the Rio is more interesting then either of the Hyundais, if for no other reason than I want some features (and require a moonroof) even on a small car with good MPG.
will have to test sit an Accent this week. Need to pick up a bag of dog food, and the pet store happens to be right next to the hyundai dealer.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My dilemma is that I waited for the Elantra, waited to see what Honda would do with the 2012 Civic (ok but disappointing), waited for the Accent (I haven't driven one yet), and am now debating whether to wait for the Rio5. My 6 year old 2006 Honda Civic is running fine so I am in no hurry but just getting anxious. If the Rio 5 is just as good as the Accent with more content options, it might be an easy choice. The Rio5 is 3 inches shorter in length in already a small car so I'll have to see how that translates (I prefer a small car that looks "big" versus one that looks "small"). The other negatives for me would be not having the guaranteed trade-in value that Hyundai offers and that the nearest Kia dealer is 25 miles away.
On the other hand, if I get the Accent now, I have the option to trade it in in 2 years when something better comes along. Just got to figure Hyundai will stay busy as they relentlessly pursue protecting their advantage over the competition. I think I just talked myself into getting the Accent (if my wife likes it ;-)).
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Of course, the Corolla is also not a good comparo to the Accent. The Yaris is. Just based on interior quality and room alone, also fuel economy and power, I'd go for the Accent over the Yaris.
Declining Quality in New Models
So you should be comparing the base Accent GLS to the Civic DX then. The base Accent GLS lists at $13,205 including destination, without AC or audio. So you're looking at around $2500 less than the Civic, comparing apples to apples, with the discount you mentioned on the Civic, assuming a small discount on the Accent.
If you must compare the Accent GLS with AC and audio (including satellite radio, also power package) to the Civic, you really should compare the Civic LX, which lists at $18,625 compared to $14,955 for the Accent... over $3600 more for the Civic.
As for more power, the Civic has all of 2 hp over the lighter Accent. Also the Accent has a 6-speed tranny vs. the Civic's 5 speeds. Although the Civic does have more interior room (including rear leg room), the Accent actually has the larger trunk--14 cubic feet vs. 12.5. And of course the Accent hatch has tons of cargo room--something the Civic doesn't offer at any price.
If you want a car that's good on gas, the Civic or Accent is a better bet than the Fiesta S. You'd need to get the extra-cost fuel economy package on the Fiesta to get comparable mpg to the Civic or Accent. Also, you said you like the room in the back seat of the Civic. So you would probably not like the rear seat of the Fiesta, which is a LOT tighter than that of the Accent. Have you checked out the rear seat of a Fiesta yet? It's Cruel & Unusual Punishment for all but small children. Also, the Fiesta is an all-new design, with unproven reliability.
If you want a no-frills car, the base Accent GLS with 40 mpg, 6MT, big trunk, no AC or audio, and roomier back seat than the Fiesta might fit the bill. Not to mention that nice warranty.
I have no "hate affair" with Ford. The FACT is, the EPA fuel economy rating on the Fiesta S with the manual transmission (which the OP is talking about getting) is 28 / 37.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2011_Ford_Fiesta.shtml
So don't bash me over the head for stating FACTS. Maybe the EPA will adjust the FE ratings for the Fiesta S upwards for 2012. They haven't yet. I am stating the FACTS as they are today, not some premonition for the future.
Also, the tight rear leg room of the Fiesta is a FACT. May not be important for some people, like you. But seems to be important to the OP, who mentioned that it was a plus that the Civic has more rear seat room than the Accent.
Funny you talk about biased, though, with your 357 posts (or thereabouts) on the door handles of the Accent.
Both the new Accent and Fiesta are unproven for reliability. The Fusion is a different car than the Fiesta. But if you want claim that the Fiesta will be reliable because the Fusion has been reliable, I could say the same about the Accent wrt the Sonata or Elantra or some other Hyundai model.
P.S. It's an easy matter to buy a spare tire and jack for the Accent, if you are uncomfortable with not having one. That's what I'd do if I bought one of these new cars ala Accent or Elantra or Cruze that doesn't have a standard spare tire. A dumb idea to save a little weight/money, IMO. But easily remedied. Not so easy to add a bigger trunk or more rear leg room to the Fiesta.
I'll bet some do, just by the Law of Averages. But many people get worse than the EPA ratings. And many get better mpg than the EPA ratings. So for sake of comparison, I choose to use a published spec that is calculated in the same way on all vehicles, and is easily available to all. Not a "Holy Grail", but one way to compare on a standardized measure. I suppose instead we could use "Phill's Fuel Economy Ratings", but then you'd have to drive every car offered for sale, in exactly the same way--a big job.
BTW, Hyundai decontents EVERY vehicle it sells here compared to other markets, especially the ROK. That is likely a plus for the OP who says he wants a basic car. If it offends you somehow, well, there's many other cars to choose from. The Accent has plenty of equipment for me. If the GS hatch 6MT had cruise, it would be just about perfect.
No, that's not what I think. It's also not true. There's options on Hyundais, including some Accent trims. But consider Honda has not offered factory options on most of its vehicles for a long time. They've done OK with that approach. On the opposite side is Ford, which offers lots of option packages, and allows a car to be ordered from the factory equipped a certain way. I can see that would be attractive to many buyers. It would be attractive to me, if Ford offered a small car here with a roomy back seat. That's a "blocker" requirement for me with my next car.
Anyway, I do have the choice of cruise or not with the Accent, still in a reasonably priced car. It's not like, for example, the Cruze, where not only do I need to move to at least the LT to get cruise, I have to pay extra for it. At least on the SE hatch, cruise is standard. I'm still trying to decide if I really need cruise, since I have another car in the family that has it, and is more comfortable for long trips.
If I get an Accent, it will likely be a 2013... maybe it'll offer a backup camera and factory nav and a panoramic sunroof and 18" wheels and leather and gosh knows what else by then. I know I won't buy one like that, however.
These days I don't know how I lived without AC and power windows and power mirrors. But my first 3 cars didn't have any of those, and I didn't have power windows/mirrors until my 7th vehicle. Heck, the first car I drove didn't even have a radio, power steering, power brakes, or carpets. But it got me around.