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2007 Hyundai Accent v 2007 Toyota Yaris Lift
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Comments
But thanks for mentioning that you have looked at (driven?) the Accent--I think that's the first time you've said that here. Which one(s) did you look at or drive, and what about the car specifically did you hate?
So that leaves open the possibility that the Accent is actually a world-class car.
Maybe we could return now to the discussion about Yaris vs. Accent, and not about general musings about Korean and American vs. Japanese car quality?
Sure they can and do. Buick builds cars and has for a long time that are at least equal to the best Japanese cars. Some of the big 3's full size pickups are also at least as good.
"So that leaves open the possibility that the Accent is actually a world-class car."
There's always a possibility, but you know what they say; you can dress a turd in a sweater, but it's still a turd.....
Just a thought.
Ahh-ahh, not me, not this time.
Really, the only thing that a person can take away from post 395 that will stick is that you would like to see how Kia/Hyundai rigs will hold up for 20 years reliability/build wise. Well, best be watchin' close for another 20 years and then come back and commnent on how well they do hold up. Looking at how they're doing now I have no reason to believe that South Korean cars are not going to just keep getting better and better as the years roll by.
The Yaris can tout great gas mileage and great resale values, but, for those that don't like the Scion xD or an older Scion xA, and wanted a Toyota Yaris 5-door cross/hatch I guess they'll just have to look back to Kia and Hyundai. Unless for a 4-door Yaris they want the sedan. If looking at this class of cars to buy I would score myself a Kia Rio5 or Kia Rio sedan.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
That's where you and I are different. You assume Korean cars will just keep getting better, while I will be waiting to see if they actually do. I was part of the group of people who were sceptical about Japanese cars. When they first started showing up here in the states I thought they were nothing but cheap throw-aways. Fast forward 20 years. Now the Japanese have established themselves as the most reliable auto makers in the world. The Koreans are just starting out and their cars are atrocious nightmares. Fast forward to today. The Japanese have another couple of decades of building the world's most reliable vehicles under their belts, while the Koreans have proved they can improve. Notice I didn't say the Koreans have proven they can build cars just as good as the Japanese? That hasn't been proven yet. I realize Korean vehicles are constantly compared to that of the Japanese by not only people in this forum, but the also the magazines, and the marketing by the Koreans has almost exclusively compared their vehicles to the Japanese. The magazines even pick Koreans vehicles over Japanese vehicles in comparisons from time to time, but have you ever noticed you never see these comparisons done over a period of 100K or 200K miles? That is where the true measure of build quality lies. It isn't whether or not the battery case is lined, or if the hood has the little shocks or has to be propped open with a rod, it's about how good the car looks after 100K miles. It's about how many times the car had to be taken in for repairs over the course of that 100K miles. It's how well the car drives, are there any rattles or squeeks, are interior molding falling off, etc, at 100K or 200K miles. It's about how much the car is worth at 100K. These are the true measures of build quality and in these areas, the Koreans still fall short.
Will the Koreans ever catch the Japanese? It's certainly possible, but it hasn't happened yet and until they can match the Japanese in the areas I mentioned then they can't be considered an equal.
If I am not mistaken, you and ttai are Yaris owners, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the car during the time of the ownership. It's nice econ driver. I should mention, however, you're jumping on the gun about others, by generalizing: "avid Korean car fanatics in here and they will tout those cars until the bitter end" - just because others don't share the same opinions or views as you do? I've seen most giving their reports about these two cars, after their experience in them. Actually, I don't think anyone has said the Yaris is garbage and Accent is gold, the opposite has been posted, unfortunately...
Let's try and focus on the cars themselves instead of unsupported generalization.
For me, neither the Accent nor the Yaris is anything to tout about. FWIW, they are great econ daily drivers and both do good jobs from point A to point B. Yaris has its advantages and so does the Accent. Between the two, I'd give an edge to the Accent, the SE model, based on my drives, has the most fun factor for anything under 15K (MSRP).
In my case, both of my Kia's have been solid, dependable rigs and, as a bonus, I prefer the Korean styling to the Japanese(generally speaking). I think that Kia designers are spot on. In fact, the Sephia's body styling had it all over the Corolla and the Civic, so I checked out a Sephia and drove one. It was the infamous 1999 Kia Sephia that promoted me to tag it's name for my Edmunds nickname!
The '01 Kia Sportage 4X4 that followed the Sephia was a great little SUV. At 130,000 miles I traded it for my '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. Nope, I am not a Japanese car basher, I now own one! I think keeping an open mind is the way to go with cars.
When I make these pro-Kia/Hyundai comments it's because I believe what I am saying to be the truth and I have personal experience to prove it out. I would not hesitate to buy another Kia in the future.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Agreed with your point of view!!
I was falling hard for the Yaris sedan in 2006 while living in Pocatello, ID. I'd drive in to the Toyota lot where there was a red 2007 Yaris sedan selling for $14,995 for the longest time. One day I went in there and it was gone.
But our Sportage 4X4 was running like a champ and I just didn't feel completely right about getting that Yaris. I also test drove a 2006 Polar White Scion xA in 5-speed form up in Idaho Falls, ID. Ya know that little monster was loaded to the gills for $14,495, also a decent deal. What is cool about Toyota products is they hold their value like no other common man's car.
The xA was also just not a good fit for us as well and I just stopped looking with any serious intent. That was until we moved to Arizona and Mitsubishi started releasing photos of their new Lancer. Oh, before that I was drooling over the 2007 Suzuki SX4, which I think would be a good little rig, too. I am glad I waited for the new world order Lancer, though.
Right now I can tell you with complete honesty that there is no other rig on the market that interests me. That is not changing as I enjoy my Lancer GTS, so I think I made a great choice for us.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Accent: 3 stars = "Right on the money"
Yaris: 2.5 stars = somewhere between "For your neighbors" (2 stars) and "Right on the money"
To put that in perspective, they ranked most cars between 2 and 3.5, with cars they regard highly like the Accord and Camry (2007 COTY) as 3.5. Not many 5s, or even 4s, there.
They also mentioned Accent is getting standard XM radio and TPMS for 2008, and revised gauges on the GLS and SE. Yaris is getting an S trim level for the hatch.
To me it's not a horrible look, kind of impish and clown-ish in a non-offensive sort of way. Just like Toyota and another shady reason why I just can't seem to dig actually spending real pesos on a Toyota product.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
van
I don't have the problem of convincing my spouse of anything. She has her MPV and is happy; I have my small car and am happy with that, and will continue to buy no more car than I need. At least, until my kids have all flown the coop and I get my (used) Bimmer.
Since this thread is about the 2007 Toyota Yaris liftback vs. the 2007 Hyundai Accent I will say that I would probably lean towards the Yaris LB if it was just between these two cars. I like the Yaris' styling better. I would need to test drive these two in a back-to-back manner, though, because I would have some concerns that the Yaris LB might get blown around more in the heavy winds and by semi-trucks on the freeways. I'd want to take both on an extensive freeway trip before I bought either one. I'm a 4-door guy though I do like both of these cars and small cars in general.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
An Accent or Yaris would be way too small for my wife's use. But one large vehicle in the family is enough. All I need is something for commuting with room for 5 in a pinch.
Got a Dodge Caliber too with a CVT transmission. If you needed anything considerably bigger than the Yaris or Accent, I recommend the Caliber. The CVT gives a true magic carpet ride. It really is a magic carpet ride, very fine in stop & go traffic. Lets you kick back. Even if you don't enjoy stop & go, it really eases your way in traffic. Also, the CVT is wondrous in the mountains, letting you flow thru the mountains....yes, that magic carpet again...truly an elegant motion. The Caliber is cutting itself a very reliable & durable path too. Truedelta.com is showing v. good repair statistics for the Caliber. Also, feather footing the CVT, I'm averaging 31.4 MPG with a mountain average of 32.7MPG over 4000 foot passes.
Sorry for barging in, but just thought anyone entertaining an alternative to Yaris or Accent might like to know.
When I saw that Kia made the Festiva for Ford I was off to research this fine South Korean manufacturer of automobiles. I bought my first Kia in May of 1999 when I traded my 1997 Ford Escort sedan in on one. The rest is history and they just keep improving year over year. Now they are ultra-competitive and making excellent cars and SUV's for the masses.
I had my eye on a 2007 Toyota Yaris sedan for over 4 months in Idaho and decided to hang on to my '01 Kia Sportage 4X4. I eventually traded that Sportage 4X4 in on a '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS in March of '07. I'm glad I waited but a possible return to Kia is a possibility.
I have read of more than one Edmunds poster saying that their Ford Festiva had 175,000-225,000 miles and they were still counting the miles up. That says a lot.
A also have the CVT transmission in my Lancer GTS and like it a lot. I have the option of just putting the car in drive or putting it in CVT paddle-shift mode and playing. It's a blast to have and really gathers up the car's 152 horses into quicker blasts off from start and on up to 30-35 mph, quicker than the standard automatic 'D' mode.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Do you have any feelings for Electric Vehicles(EVs)....not hybrids? My northwest produces electric power, kilowatt to HP with only 4% of the pollution of an internal combustion engine(ICE). & EVs are 3 times more efficient than ICE.So if battery technology keeps advancing, someday I will own an EV. If you get into EVs, then our parallel course would continue. Actually, I own an Electric Bike(EB) which produces 1/700th the pollution of an ICE. Even with my bad back & arthritic body, I feel like I'm a kid cycling around the valley that I used to pedal thru 50 years ago.
My fairly lethargic opinion of Accent has blossomed fully, specially with its continued easy functioning. The short-shift dealer installed 5 speed shifter combined with an nice engaging clutch is the 2nd best combo I've ever used.
The moral of the story: when looking for wild animals, make sure to look right in front of yourself, too! :surprise: