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2012 Hyundai Accent Replacement "Verna"?

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Comments

  • nucarshoprnucarshopr Member Posts: 13
    I'm definitely buying new.I take real good care of my vehicles so they last a LONG time to absorb all the added new car costs and depreciation as is the case with my 91 PU.It has some rust so she wont win any beauty contests but I've more than got my moneys worth.It was a leftover with the extra cab,6 cyl and though I didn't want the auto tran but at 15k it was a good deal.That works out to 750 a year and she aint done yet :) .
  • lightfootfllightfootfl Member Posts: 442
    edited July 2011
    Phill1, is there a Hyundai dealer in KW, or where is the closest (good) one?
    I am presently in the panhandle, but thinking......hmmm.
    van
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    Sorry Bubba, There is (no) Hyundai Dealership in the Florida Keys including Key West. You`ll have to drive about 120 miles (north) to either Homestead, Florida City, or Kendall to find a Hyundai Dealership. Key West however, (does) have a fine stand alone Kia Dealership so if you want almost the identical vehicle with a Kia Badge instead of a Hyundai Badge, you`ll be ok. Before you permanently decide to relocate to KW, better spend a few weeks or a month down there cause its not for everyone. I`m getting ready to get out myself. High cost of living and way too many homeless. I`m heading for Naples/Bonita Springs area. Folks there are polite, civilized, well mannered, and the illegal influx of hundreds of thousands of Haitians have not found there way there yet. They are still filling up Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County and beginning to travel south to Monroe County now too. Better practice up on Creole, forget about Spanish.
  • lightfootfllightfootfl Member Posts: 442
    Gottcha on all that, appreciated the input. Daughter lives in the keys now so I know some of that stuff.
    thanks again,
    van
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I saw one today. Stopped by my local Hyundai dealer to see if they had any Accent hatches yet (no--not until August or September they said). But they had a base GLS sedan out front, no options except mats, $13,300 MSRP. It was red, with two-tone back/tan interior--a nice-looking combination I think. And for that money it was jam-packed with features ;) including:

    * Six-speed manual transmission (shifter looked big and meaty, with a short throw)
    * "4x65" air conditioning with continuously variable airflow (i.e., roll-down windows and the airflow depends on your speed)
    * Handy place in the middle of the dash to place reminder post-it notes or your favorite photo (i.e., a black plastic cover over the hole where the audio system would normally be)
    * Tasteful plastic wheel covers that almost look like alloys (almost...)

    Seriously, it does have all the key safety equipment and the two-tone interior doesn't scream "low rent" (not after you pop an aftermarket radio into the dash, anyway).

    I also was a bit surprised at how good the black plastic mirrors and door handles looked on this car. It was a medium red, and the mirrors and even the door handles looked just fine to me, as they blended in with the black trim around the windows. Another advantage of unpainted mirrors is, if they accidentally get scuffed (which they invariably do at some point), it's easy to make them look good again with a little Armor-All. Now, on a white car, the black door handles would stand out like a sore thumb. But on a darker color such as red or blue or black or grey, not bad at all.

    Surprised that the hatches won't be here for a month or two, since others have reporting sightings at dealerships already.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I finally got to check out the new Accent hatch while at my local dealership for a (free) oil change on my 2004 Elantra GT. It was a grey SE with AT, mats, cargo mat. Overall a nice package: good-looking alloys, enough room in back for me to sit behind myself in some comfort (5'10"), very nice dash with piano black trim. However, I think Hyundai messed up in some small things that could affect the overall ownership experience:

    * While the interior is nicely trimmed overall, the armrests on the doors are HARD PLASTIC! No padding whatsoever. And this is a $17,500 car. Really needs a little padding to protect the elbows.
    * The cargo area is roomy, but there's a step-up at the back of the seats--like on the Versa, although not as high. I can see that being a pain when trying to slide big boxes and other long cargo in back.
    * The cargo floor is not flat. That's not uncommon these days, except Hyundai knows how to fix it: my 2004 Elantra has seat bottoms that fold forward to create a flat load floor when needed. (My 2010 Sentra has that feature too, fwiw.) It would add a few bucks and maybe a few pounds for the mechanism, but why not make cargo hauling as easy as possible in a hatchback?
    * There's no center armrest in back. Which is odd because the previous-gen Accent had one, at least the sedan does. Again, maybe a few bucks to add that, but this is a $17,500 car now, not a $13,000 car.
    * Vanity mirrors are not illuminated. OK for the base car, but this is a $17,500... ok, I already said that, didn't I.

    I'll have to drive the car (probably shoot for the GS stick) before I make a final judgement, but it's little things like that which would have me gravitating to something else for that much money.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    backy, Glad to read about (your) favorable first impression of the new 2012 Hyundai Accent SE Hatchback, despite the considerable list of shortcomings that followed even though the vehicle tips over the $17.500. mark. Did you really thing that those desirable & missing features would have been included when Hyundai , that is (HMA) decided to also eliminate the emergency spare tire and jack from the truck and replaced it with a mini air-compressor and a $3.00 can of Tire Sealant instead to cut cost. As I posted earlier, since Canadian Hyundai`s have different trim level, options, and prices, they felt (compelled) to include the emergency spare tire and jack in their cars. Maybe Canadian law required it along with the Daytime Running Lights which the Accent (DID NOT) get while the Elantra and Sonata did. I few more pennies saved I guess. Launch date in Canada for the upcoming 2012 Kia Rio5 Hatchback is set for Sept 25, 2011.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I've had one flat tire in nearly 40 years of driving, and it was my own stupid fault for hitting an island in a parking lot. I'd have roadside assistance for 5 years from Hyundai, and the family's AAA membership after that if I do have a flat tire. So the lack of a spare isn't a deal breaker--I can always add one if I want.

    It's harder to redesign the rear seats and cargo area. I am wondering if the Rio5 will have the same problem, since I expect it will share the platform with the Accent hatch. Does the current Rio5 have a flat load floor? It's been nearly 6 years since I drove one, so I forgot.
  • nucarshoprnucarshopr Member Posts: 13
    A Ford dealer called yesterday to let me know they finally got a Fiesta sedan in I can drive.I'm heading there in a few minutes.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Wrong discussion.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    backy, If you have gone 40 years without experiencing a flat tire from picking up a nail or screw, I would suggest you submit that feat to the Guinness Book of World Records! I don`t doubt you, but even driving (brand new) tires one can experience a flat tire without a major incident like blowing a tires sidewall on a curb or pot hole. Don`t loose that "lucky penny" you probably don`t even know you have in your pocket. I too have always had AAA as well as both Ford, Hyundai and Kia Roadside assistance, but please explain to me how they can change a (flat tire) when you don`t have a emergency tire to put on? Perhaps even the new 2012 Kia Rio5 will also eliminate the spare tire and jack to save a few dollars which again, although not a necessary deal breaker, would require me to immediately purchase an emergency tire & jack that would work if needed. What brand of Tires have you owned that gave you such good fortune? If your willing to part with that lucky penny or Rabbits Foot, I`d love to acquire it from you.
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,704
    I agree with you about backy's good tire fortune, it's unbelievable. If I were to get started listing all of my flat tires throughout the years, Edmunds' bandwidth would suffer severely!

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I've had a nail in a tire. That hasn't prevented me from getting home or to a tire shop--a slow leak. I was speaking of the kind of tire problem that stops you cold and you have to fix it on the road. In other words--the kind of problem you'd need a spare tire for. So I guess I have been lucky that I've only had one, self-inflicted, incident like that.

    But as I've said before here, I would go out and buy a spare for a car that didn't have one, e.g. Elantra or Accent, or order the optional spare with a Cruze. It's just something I'm used to having.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    I understand, but sometimes even with a slow leak and the advent of (tubeless tires) one can find their car flat to the tire rim either in their driveway or in the parking lot after going to the movies. Not all (slow) leaks give you the opportunity to get to an air pump or tire repair center to get air or a repair, (patch or plug). You Sir, at far as your experiences with not finding your vehicle with its tire flat to the ground have been very blessed, at least when it comes to tires. I myself would not leave a Dealership with my new vehicle without an emergency spare tire (donut) and jack. It would be secured (before) I took delivery of my new car, again, thats just me.
  • nucarshoprnucarshopr Member Posts: 13
    The Accent is looking better to me.I drove a Fiesta yesterday and as far as performance goes it's not even close.Axe has significantly better acceleration and feedback from the elec steering and brakes.The Fiesta is a really nice car but it just didn't do it for me.After all the glowing reviews I was a little disappointed.I'm still worried about it being all new but it did speak to me.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    Since you replace your vehicles once every one or two decades, its makes good sense to make your selection carefully. I would think that the Hyundai/Kia 5 year 60K Bumper to Bumper Warranty and the "10 Year/100K" Drive Train Warranty which covers (both) engine & transmission would in itself be a huge deciding factor. If you need the vehicle now, do it. Hope you enjoy your new Accent. If you can hold off till the end of Sept. or early Oct. you might want to compare the 2012 Accent with the new 2012 Rio for both price and content. The warranty will be identical. Your fear of purchasing anything (new) like the Fiesta AND I might remind you, the ALL NEW 2012 Hyundai Accent, perhaps you should just wait a few more years and see how they hold up. I`m sure in upstate NY you can find a lot of cheap (winter beaters) to choose from and that can hold you over till Consumer Reports has enough Data to give the confidence that your making the right choice.
  • nucarshoprnucarshopr Member Posts: 13
    I haven't ruled anything out yet.My folks are looking for a new ride as well but for them it's an auto tran only.As such I think for them the Fiesta would be the best choice.It looks like if you want the Accent with the auto you can only get it with one of the packages and that bumps the price big time.I'll call the dealer and see whats what on that.
  • dirtbagdirtbag Member Posts: 57
    Just got my SE yesterday and put 100 miles on it. First impressions are good. I'm glad, living in the mountains, I didn't go with the lesser powered Fiesta, because the Accent is only adequate on the hills. The car seems solid and is quiet. A few parts are cheaply made, as might be expected in an economy car, but the stuff that counts seems very well made. My only real disappointment so far is the rock-hard arm rest on the door. Perhaps I'll post some more impressions, good or bad, later.
  • nucarshoprnucarshopr Member Posts: 13
    I think you made a good choice.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    C/D highlighted the 2012 Accent in their 2012 new car issue (September). Overall they liked the car. They drove only the 6MT, and noted the shifter was smooth with short throws, but the clutch had little feel. They also noted the highway ride was comfy, but it leaned some on turns. They especially liked the interior (they had the high-end trim with piano-black accents).

    Personally I'll take a smooth ride over razor-sharp handling, if I have to choose. I drive over frost-heaved, pot-holed roads every day, and there's no mountain passes to carve in the Upper Midwest.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    I just sat in a new Accent hatchback at the dealer. I was amazed at the driver's leg room for tall drivers. Unfortunately there is none for adult passengers in the back. I do hope that they sell like hot cakes just in case H Execs are using sales of hatchbacks as an indicator of whether to bring the I-40 to the US. That is the car I'm wishing for. Despite the 4 speed automatic, I would buy another H Elantra Touring over the new Accent given the enormous amount of room for all passengers, and the excellent visibility; a great car for new drivers.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    You must have had the driver's seat pretty far back. When I adjusted the driver's seat for my 5'10" frame (32" inseam), I had adequate albeit not limo-like room behind me. Very roomy for a car in this class... much roomier in back than, say, the Fiesta. Of course, the Elantra Touring DOES have limo-like room in back. But it isn't rated 40 mpg on the highway like the Accent is. It's a size class above the Accent. But a great choice for someone who wants maximum rear leg room and cargo room in a small wagon, and doesn't need the best possible fuel economy.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    edited August 2011
    yes, I wear 36 inch long pants. I was shocked that I could sit so comfortably in the driver's seat and not feel like I needed to jam my foot through the gas pedal. There was no way I could even sit down in the back. My knees were crammed into the seat and had to put them sideways. Moreover, the head room made me feel entombed in the back. That is why I love wagons so much: easy to get in/out of the back seat and normally have great leg room. I also noticed that there was an eco button on the left side of the steering wheel. I guess they offer the same type of thing Ford does, except Hyundai gives it to you for free. According to the salesman, H can't jack up the EPA ratings on the sticker, even though the eco button comes on every Accent. I say that because the model I was in did not even have a center console, only an arm rest, so I'm guessing it was a base model. Nice of Ford to charge many hundreds of dollars more for the same feature. :mad:
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    You have a 36" inseam, and you were surprised that you could adjust the driver's seat for comfort but not also sit comfortably behind yourself... in a subcompact? Do you know ANY subcompacts where you can "sit behind yourself in comfort?" The only subcompact I can think of where you might have a chance of doing it is the Versa, as its interior is rated as a mid-sized car although length-wise it's a subcompact.
  • nucarshoprnucarshopr Member Posts: 13
    dirtbag is it the auto or man?Let us know about the mileage after you get it broken in some.
  • dirtbagdirtbag Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2011
    I got the automatic. First automatic I've ever had, in about 10 cars. Shifting is very smooth and hardly noticeable unless you stomp the pedal to accelerate quickly.

    Positives are always better than negatives and my impressions of the car are very positive! But, I'll mention just a few "gotchas."

    Agreed, the legroom in the back is lousy, but I think very few people are buying this car to seat four adults. I doubt I'll ever have more than two passengers in this car.

    Rear visibility isn't great, but is improved some by removing the center back headrest.

    The cruise control doesn't like steep grades and disengages unexpectedly when climbing steep hills. I contacted the dealer to say I think this is dangerous, suddenly losing power on the freeway, and was told it was completely normal. "Don't use cruise on steep grades" I was told.

    There are very few cubbyholes for storage. There's only the glove box, front door pockets, center console (SE only?) and under the "floor" in the back, where there should be a spare tire. Surely Hyundai could put a few pockets here and there (in the sides in the rear end, for instance.)

    I'm not a smoker but there isn't even an ashtray for storing coins or small bits of trash.

    These minor issues aside, I'd say I'm impressed with the overall quality of the car, the look and feel of the dash, the quiet ride, fun handling, and I hope to be impressed with gas mileage!
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    I`m really surprised that there has not been much of a (push-back) of Hyundai removing the Spare Emergency Tire & Jack leaving you a "dandy" extra storage area that now contains a $5.00 mini- air compressor and a $5.00 Can of Tire Sealant. Funny, in most other Markets (outside of USA) including Canada, they still include the tire and jack. Talk about cutting corners to save a few extra dollars at the expense of being potentially stranded in the event of a major tire failure. Maybe the US NHTSA should mandate that (all) vehicle manufacturers must include an emergency spare tire and jack as a safety requirement. Damn, I almost forgot that the Tea Party would object to that. That would be (more) Federal Government intervention. Better to cut the deficit by eliminating the agency (NHTSA) instead.
  • dirtbagdirtbag Member Posts: 57
    I agree, there should be a spare tire and jack. When I asked the dealer about it and bitched a little, I was told it's a fuel saving measure...one mile per gallon. I don't think I really believe that but it was said with a straight face.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    What a tired "lame" excuse. Maybe if you did`nt haul a second passenger or a Golden Retriever or perhaps a bag of groceries you might save another "1 mpg". Maybe if you dropped a extra 20 pounds of one`s beer gut, you might gain another "1 mpg". When the tire eventually fails and won`t respond to the can of Tire Sealant a a few puffs of air from that (toy mini-air compressor) and you call for Hyundai Roadside Assistance or AAA and the Operator who takes the call or the Tow Truck Driver asks if you have a Emergency Spare Tire, just tell them, "nope" but the Good News is....I`m supposed to gain an extra "1 mpg". That will be some consolation as your vehicle gets Towed away when if you had a (spare tire) you could have driven away instead. You should have asked the Dealer why the vehicle had the cut-out in the Trunk for the Tire and Jack? Why? Because in Canada and other Countries outside the USA, they get an Emergency Spare Tire and Jack. I`m surprised he did`nt send you to the "Parts Department where they could have (ordered) you the missing Tire and Jack at a cost of..what you think, $100. or more retail? I`m probably guessing way too low! PS: If the Dealer or Salesperson gave you that "BS" with a (straight face), If his/her Lips were moving, they were Lying!
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    I simply refuse to give up my beer gut to save 1 mpg :P
    As for the tire and jack, the tools for my Elantra Touring are very lame. Don't even think about being on a surface other than pavement. Also, the lug wrench will barely budge my lug nuts even when they are torqued to proper tension. Moreover, the crank is pathetic. You get exhausted just trying to raise the tire an inch or two. While it is unthinkable that they did away with the tools and spare tire, the tools H are giving out are worthless. I went and bought a floor jack just to rotate the tires myself. I also had to use my heavy duty lug wrench (X) to get the nuts off. I'm hoping this same lame tool set doesn't come with the Sonata since i plan on the i40 being my next car.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    Hyundai Motors America after an exhausting Consumer Market Research Study have determined that the, "Mass`s are [non-permissible content removed]`s" and accordingly have decided to equipped their USA vehicles, as such. So sad! I just went out to check my 2011 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback and sure enough, in the trunk where it belonged was an emergency spare tire and jack assembly. Still can`t figure out why I get 34 mpg city and 41 mpg highway with all that "extra weight"?
  • dirtbagdirtbag Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2011
    "I`m surprised he did`nt send you to the "Parts Department where they could have (ordered) you the missing Tire and Jack at a cost of..what you think, $100. or more retail? I`m probably guessing way too low!"

    _____

    I asked about buying a spare tire and jack "kit" from Hyundai for the new Accent and was told none was available yet. The car salesman suggested Discount Tire, saying it would be a lot cheaper anyway.

    The new Elantra doesn't come with a spare either but there is a spare tire "kit" available for it at extra cost.

    The extra weight of a spare is not likely to decrease gas mileage very much but that's the line the salesmen have been fed. Since there is hardly anyplace in the car to stash stuff, I'm not sure I'll buy a spare, although I'd feel better if I had one.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    edited October 2011
    I took the 2012 Accent GS for a spin today. It was silver with automatic. I wanted to drive a stick, but the dealer didn't have any.

    My overall impression was: WOW, what an improvement over the previous-generation Accent! No comparison in NVH, smoothness, power, fuel economy, interior quality, and safety features. The car feels very solid and substantial, not a hint of a rattle, very smooth ride for a small car even over rough roads (my test course includes a badly rutted road). I confirmed that the Accent is plenty of car for my needs so it's high on my shopping list for my next car--but I'll have to drive a stick to see if I'll go that route.

    The test drive was on suburban streets, urban freeway (65 mph limit), and that rutted back road. As I said, the ride was smooth and quiet even on the rutted roads. Handling, including on a sharp U-curve exiting the freeway, was not exceptional, but did not invoke any drama and was very acceptable. (I'll take a smooth ride over pot-holed roads vs. razor-sharp handling but a harsh ride any day.) There was only a little tire noise and A-pillar wind noise (could only hear it when I turned off the HVAC system). The car tracked straight and did not require constant corrections on the freeway, which tells me Hyundai did a good job tuning the EPS. The 6AT shifted imperceptibly except when I floored it to get onto the freeway. Acceleration was adequate with the automatic--much better than in the old Accent. It would be better with the stick no doubt.

    For those who might be worried about whether the Accent can meet its EPA FE rating: don't worry. At 65 mph on a relatively flat freeway and almost no wind, the car was in the upper 40s mpg. For the entire test, it did 42 mpg. That was on a brand-new engine of course. Figures are from the trip computer, but even if it were a little optimistic the car would be beating its EPA ratings. So I have no doubt that when driven moderately, the fuel economy will be fine.

    Ergonomically, I have only one complaint: the arm rests on the doors need some padding. Other than that, I felt very comfortable behind the wheel. The wheel doesn't telescope but was at a comfortable reach. The driver's seat felt firm but supportive in all the right places, including lower back and thighs. Seat adjusts for height. There's a swing-down right armrest for the driver that to me felt more comfortable than the typical center console armrest (SE has one of those).

    The controls had a quality feel, especially considering the price of the car. The turn signal was smooth. The HVAC mode and fan knobs rotated smoothly; the temperature knob a little less so. The dash and center stack layout is a big improvement over the old Accent's, IMO, and doesn't scream "economy car!" And this was without the SE's piano-black trim.

    In back, space is just adequate when sitting behind myself (I'm 5'9", 32" inseam). Would be fine for small adults and kids, or bigger people for short hops. Headroom was good front and back. With seats up, there's still a decent-sized storage area in back. There is a step-up in the load floor with the seats down however.

    Overall I think the GS is a nice package for the money. It has all the key features I need, including cruise (which the GLS sedan doesn't have except when loaded). It doesn't have Bluetooth, but I don't consider that feature to be a must-have. It does have aux and iPod jacks. The standard plastic wheel covers are pretty good looking, so I don't feel I have to get alloys just to be able to look at the car. I priced a GS stick on trueCar and found the best price for my area to be around $14.5k. I am hoping prices drop a bit more by the time I am ready to buy in 2013.

    FWIW, the same dealer had a couple of 2012 Rio EX hatches on the lot. They were just a little less money than the loaded Accent SE hatches, yet had 15" steel wheels and fairly basic equipment. They also looked less roomy in back than the Accent.
  • Sandman6472Sandman6472 Member Posts: 6,953
    Great review, as always, and this is on our short list, but I'd push for the alloys, so we'd get the top of the line model. Our dealer doesn't have any in stock as of yet. But we'll test the Accent and the Elantra back to back to see which she likes better and we'll do it as our last test.

    On a side note, FreebieShark.com had the $50 coupon for the Focus test drive. Have been trying to snag one for weeks now and this morning...there it was. Printed it and all we need to do is test drive before 11/11/11...which we'll do. Showed the wife the brochure Ford sent me this week and it is a good looking automobile especially in the 5 door version...but she prefers the sedan. Either way, we'll test both the Focus & Fiesta while there just to see the difference between vehicles, as she's not made up her mind over the compact/sub compact size still.

    Great timing, as our computer has been down most of the week due to our switching to AT&T U-Verse for our internet from regular dsl. Apparently, there was a problem with a rotten wire outside the house plus a setting on the computers was wrong...something with the sleep/hibernation setup. The inside guy fixed that problem on the 4 laptops on his 2nd visit, as the kids Mac had the correct setting and the outside guy found the problem very quickly. All is good now and it's a better set up than the dsl...better connection & faster download speed. So, the wife and kids are now happy! :) Chaulk up another situation dad took care of...sometimes being home most days comes in handy. My wife made me her "office manager" so I now handle things like this and all her phone calls...great hours though the pay could be a bit better...lol!

    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)

  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    edited October 2011
    Backy, Glad you were so impressed driving the 2012 Hyundai Accent GS. I think if you check both the interior and exterior measurements of the Accent and the 2012 Kia Rio5, I believe they measure up almost the same. Beauty, they say is in the "eyes of the beholder", that said, I personally think the Rio5 looks a hell of a lot better and more European and upscale, at least from the exterior then the Accent Hatchback. I`m still awaiting a call from several local Kia Dealerships to notify me when their first 2012 Kia Rio5 in Clear White with Beige Cloth Interior, Automatic Transmission, and the optional Power Package, (Power Windows/Locks & Remote Locking Key Fob), in Base "LX" Trim, MSRP of $16,445 including Freight arrives so I can purchase one. I also have to admit disappointment that the "bean counters" at HKAG have eliminated and de-contented the 2012 Kia Rio5 perhaps even more so, in the Base LX and Intermediate EX Trim Lines, then even Hyundai did with its 2012 Accent. At least in the GS Accent with Automatic Transmission, you get standard Speed/Cruise Control and a Fold Armrest, in the equivalent Rio5 Base LX, you get neither and cannot get them as part of any package as well. You do get the larger 15`` Steel Wheels and Caps over the Accents 14``. To upgrade to the EX Trim similar to the Accents SE Trim costs $800 more and you get very little extra. Still same 15`` Steel Wheels and Caps, (no Alloys as Standard Equipment) and they only add Speed/Cruise Control, Console Folding Armrest w/Storage, and 2 mini Tweeter Speakers in the "A Pillar" Telescope Steering Column,and Padded (Door) Armrest . I`ll miss the Speed/Cruise Control and the Armrest, but not for an additional $800. To get the upgrade to 15`` Alloy Wheels, (not 16`` like the Accent gets) and all the extra`a that Hyundai did (not) offer on its Accent, a long list of very impressive features requires an additional $1000 to buy the EX Trim Convenience Package. That brings the Rio5 EX fully loaded at $18,300 only $300 dollars short of the Rio5 SX which has all the previously mentioned (plus) 17`` Alloys, LED DRL`s and Tail Lights and more. Personally , I think that the most (value) is in the 2012 Kia Rio5 LX with the Power Package, otherwise, go all the way and get a SX with everything. I`m anxious to trade my 2006 Kia Rio5 in for the new 2012 before my trade in`s value along with the U.S. Dollar both continue to drop making the purchase more expensive the longer it takes. I don`t know what your "situation" is, but waiting for 2013 and expecting prices to drop is (not) likely to happen due to the falling U.S. Dollar. Perhaps the new Trade Agreement the U.S. just signed with Korea reducing "Import Duties" (might) off set the negative exchange rate in currency.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    The dealer had the Rio5 EX hatch in white and IMO it was very plain-jane looking. If you like simple lines on cars, it has those. More interesting grille also. Seeing both cars virtually side by side, I prefer the Accent with its curves. Looks are so subjective, aren't they?

    Just looking at the two cars, it appeared to me the Accent is significantly bigger in back, and that's what the numbers show:

    Rear passenger room: Accent 38 cu ft, Rio 35 cu ft
    Rear cargo room seats up: Accent 21 cu ft, Rio 15 cu ft
    Rear cargo room seats down: Accent 48 cu ft, Rio 28 cu ft

    I was pretty impressed by the sales rep who helped me except he goofed on one thing. I was pretty sure the GS stick didn't come with cruise, so I asked him if that was the case. He said, no, both the stick and automatic come with cruise. Turns out only the automatic comes with cruise. So that could be a reason to ultimately go with the automatic. However, if I really like how the stick drives, I could live without cruise. I'd use it less than once a month.
  • Sandman6472Sandman6472 Member Posts: 6,953
    My kid's '08 GLS does not have cruise which I found odd. It has the nicer alloys and the abs, both of which were hard for the dealer to find us back then. The cruise should have been standard with this package as far as I'm concerned. But they found at the time a white one and the dark gray one that she chose ans now I wish I had been there to check out both cars to see the equipment. I would've chosen the white, just personal preference. Another thing, they put a darker color pin stripe on this car which is extremely hard to see. I should've over ruled the wife when they said they would redo it in a color that stood out more...either a white or dark red would've looked killer. But I let the wife decide as she did most of the deal herself. The original plan was for us to do a deal on both, one for each girl, which is why they located both and had them waiting for us at the dealer. but the oldest wanted the Elantra but was out of her price range. She then preferred the Versa hatchback in the SL option which is eventually what I negotiated for her. And personally, the Versa is a better car all around but not by much. Both girls are happy, which is all that matters!

    Now, since I've been driving the Accent much of the time, I miss the cruise control but am making due. It's funny that I had to drive the Civic for a couple of days this week, but the power the Civic has over the Accent...no contest there. And compared to the Mazda 3s, there is no comparison on the get up and go. The 3 takes off like a rocket with so much low end torque which continues seemlessly through all the gears, simply amazing. And even the Ciwith a cd playervic gets the better mileage figures over the Accent while being a bigger engine and a bigger car. The Mazda has the 2.3 engine so it's mpg's are much smaller. Really thought the last generation Accent would have had better mileage figures...but it seems Hyundai has corrected that problem with the 2012's...a great move! But I will still happily drive her Accent to keep the miles off the Civic. It has the auto tranny, a/c and a cd player which makes me a happy camper. And since it's got low mileage, around 11.4k on it, she doesn't mind me driving her around and putting some miles on it.

    We'll test the Elantra and Accent as the wife's last test drive, as I really think she'll end up with one of those. But, she could throw me a curve ball and buy a 3 Series BMW, something I could really live with! :)

    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)

  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    Your absolutely correct, Beauty (is) in the eyes of the Beholder. I have to admit, as I posted before, I (do) prefer the interior of the Accent over the Kia Rio, (but) I much prefer the exterior of the Rio5. The Accent looks from the (rear) much too Ford Fiesta like, IMO for my taste, not that I find that objectionable, but I already own a 2011 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback, so I`d rather not have a similar looking vehicle parked in my driveway. I think the 2012 Kia Rio5 , although basically sharing mechanical components with the Hyundai Accent, has more of a Audi flare to it, probably since Kia`s head designer, Peter Schreyer, formally worked for Audi. I think both vehicles will have carved out their own share of the Sub-Compact/ B-Segment Market just as Hyundai has done with their Sonata and Kia has done with its Optima. I`m just a bit disappointed in Kia for putting (all) the upscale content into its top of the line SX Model at the expense of de-contenting its LX and EX line without better reflecting their pricing or making the missing features available or included in one of their Package Upgrades. Another deal breaker for me was the Accent GS or LE (not) being available with a Beige Interior Option. Not (everyone) prefers Black or Charcoal Grey Cloth Fabric depending on their choice of exterior color. White, IMO looks like you said, "very drab" coupled with Black or Dark Grey interior.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Yes, I prefer the black/tan interior as on the Accent GLS also. That might sway me to get the sedan vs. the hatch. But I think the red GS with the black/grey combo will be fine too--the grey isn't too dark, and the GS seats have inserts with a little white in them so it's actually pretty bright. I just don't like all black interiors--too dour, and the black cloth shows too much "stuff".

    The white Rio5 I saw today had a black/grey interior. Not too interesting.
  • dirtbagdirtbag Member Posts: 57
    Gee, I thought this thread had died.

    I bought the SE and backy, I'd agree with nearly everything you said. It's a very solid car and a lot of fun to drive. I do, however notice some drift on straight sections of freeway. It just doesn't track well compared to every other car I've ever driven. I hate the "piano black" accents (glossy black plastic that's easily scratched) so I wouldn't miss that if I bought the GS. I'm a little disappointed in fuel economy so far but the jury is still out on that. I had hoped to average above 35 mpg but so far it's not happening.

    Small gripes aside, I love the car! It's very comfortable, quiet, has a good sound system, looks good inside and out, and rides great.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    It just doesn't track well compared to every other car I've ever driven.

    Ever drive any other car with EPS... like the Sentra for example? The Accent tracks better than that car for sure (it's what I have now). I did my "look ma no hands" test at 65 mph on a flat freeway, right lane, light wind, and it tracked perfectly straight. Also I noticed I didn't have to constantly correct the wheel. But the GS has different tires than the SE you have.

    I can imagine those piano black accents picking up smudges and fine scratches easily... looks great when new, but hard to keep that way.

    In order to average over 35 mpg you'd have to do mostly highway driving. I was glad to see 42 mpg at the end of my test. It was mostly highway, but with some stops and slower driving and a big hill (but I went down that hill, too). 42 is the best I've seen on that test, ever, and I've driven a lot of cars over that "test course" in the past 15 years. And one of those drives was in a Prius! :) (But in winter, in light snow.)
  • nucarshoprnucarshopr Member Posts: 13
    A little update here.I've decided to hold off buying for a while but my folks went with the Fiesta S sedan/auto tran about a month ago.After driving it a little more I'm liking it better but I still like the Civic best.But who knows what will be available when I take the plunge.I read Toyota is bringing back a hot new version of the Celica sometime in 2012.
  • dirtbagdirtbag Member Posts: 57
    "Ever drive any other car with EPS... like the Sentra for example? The Accent tracks better than that car for sure (it's what I have now). I did my "look ma no hands" test at 65 mph on a flat freeway, right lane, light wind, and it tracked perfectly straight. Also I noticed I didn't have to constantly correct the wheel. But the GS has different tires than the SE you have. "
    ______

    No, I don't think I have. Regardless, if I did the no hands test with my car, I'd be off the road in about five seconds. It's not a serious pull, left or right, but it requires regular correcting. It'll help keep me awake on long trips, I suppose.

    As for gas mileage, since I averaged 27 mpg in my Subaru which was rated at 24/28, I'd hoped to average over 35 in the Accent which is rated 30/40. I suppose the Accent's rating is a little optimistic; as am I.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    I hope your the Economy on your 2012 Accent LE is NOT indicative of what (most) Accents and Rio`s are going to achieve with their much touted 1.6 GDI engine. My 2011 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback (without) the optional SFE package and 6 speed automatic transmission has consistently produced 33 mpg city with AC engaged 100% of the time and 41 mpg or better highway driving at 70 to 80 mph. Simply amazing when you factor in that the Ford Fiesta has the added disadvantage of having the added weight of a Emergency Spare Tire and Jack Tool Kit in its trunk which, allegedly was the reason given by both Hyundai and Kia why they eliminated it and replaced it with a toy mini air-compressor and can of tire sealant goo. I`m sure the fact that the same toy mini air-compressor and can of tire sealant goo kit can be bought on Amazon.com for $20 retail, had (nothing) to do with their decision. I also want to note that the Fuel Economy on my Fiesta has remained constant from delivery of vehicle in July of 2010 to the present, with 15K driven. There is absolutely no excuse for a small B-Segment vehicle (not) to achieve the same or (better) Fuel Economy then the Hyundai Elantra which has a larger displacement engine, (no) GDI and is a larger/heavier vehicle. Both have the identical E.P.A. Fuel Estimate numbers.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    edited October 2011
    nucarshopr, Glad to hear that your folks are enjoying their Base Model Ford Fiesta "S". I have to admit I got a good laugh since you began posting on this Blog about your decision making on purchasing a (new) vehicle. Since apparently, you and your family do this once ever 2 decades, I can see the need to be very careful with your decision, since you will be "married" to it until it goes to the Salvage Yard. I would`nt worry too much about either your preference for the Honda Civic or for that matter any other vehicle currently on the market. When (you) finally decide to "pull the trigger" as they say, there will be either full battery operated or hydrogen powered vehicles, or perhaps we will go back to the Horse and Buggy Days. You have no idea how much Car Salesmen love "tire kickers" like you. One can only spend so much time doing Crossword Puzzles before needing some form of a diversion.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Have you had the wheel balance, and alignment, checked on your car? There's something wrong if you would be off the road in 5 seconds.

    Keep in mind the FE will improve on your Accent as the engine fully breaks in. I've found the magic point to be around 15k miles on Beta engines... not sure what it would be on the Gamma.
  • dirtbagdirtbag Member Posts: 57
    edited October 2011
    "Have you had the wheel balance, and alignment, checked on your car? There's something wrong if you would be off the road in 5 seconds."
    _____

    Actually, five seconds is quite a long time at 65 mph (476 feet).

    No I haven't had it checked. The nearest dealer is 100 miles away and I suspect they'd test drive it and say everything is normal. My only gripe is that it doesn't track like the half dozen other new cars I've bought over the years. I can live with it and hope perhaps it will improve as the tires wear.

    Thanks for your suggestion. If the car constantly pulled to the left, or pulled to the right, I'd have it checked.
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    edited October 2011
    backy, Not to split (hairs) and dispute how much "smaller" the 2012 Kia Rio5 is in size, both Interior wise and well as Exterior dimensions, afte rechecking the specifications, your (are) right in one detail. The 2012 Accent GS is in fact larger in Cargo Volume (rear seat up). As you stated, the Accent indeed is bigger, 21 cu. ft, vs the Rio with a mere 15 cu. ft. I`m quite surprised! My 2012 Kia Rio5 brochure does not give total cargo volume figures but perhaps your numbers are accurate, again giving the fact that both vehicles are very close in every other dimension, don`t you figure its a bit odd that Kia lists Passenger volume at 88.4 cu ft and the Accent has 90.1, not much more, would you say? I know that Passenger volume is not the same as Cargo volume, but just saying. Other comparisons that you did not list are as follows: (Hatchback Models)
    Wheel Base: Accent 101.2 Rio 101,2 Exactly the same
    Track: Front/Rear Accent 59.3-59.5 Rio 59.9/60.1 Rio a tiny bit wider
    Length: Accent 162.0 Rio 159.3 Kia almost 3`` shorter
    Width: Accent 57.1 Kia 57.3 Kia a tiny bit wider
    Legroom: (f/r) Accent 41.8/33.3 Kia 43.8/31.1
    Mixed bag there, Accent: Less in front & a bit more in back
    Headroom: (f/r) Accent 39.1/37.8 Kia 40.0/37.6 Both cars almost same
    Shoulder Room: Accent 53.7/53.4 Kia 53.1/52.1 Both cars almost same
    Hip Room: (f/r): Accent 51.3/47.2 Kia 52.1/51.2 Kia (4``) wider in rear
    Passenger Volume: Accent 90.1 cu.ft Kia 88.4 cu.ft.Accent 1.5 cu.ft.more
    Cargo Volume, Rear Seat up: Accent 21.2 cu. ft. Rio 15.0 cu.ft
    As you posted, The Accent (is) larger by 6 cu. ft, very odd?
    My point is, these 2 vehicles are basically sibling twins and share pretty much identical mechanical and interior specifications. Other then the rear cargo room with rear seat up, where the Accent wins by 6 cu. ft., I`m sure with the rear seats folded down, the comparisons would be much closer as all the other interior dimensions are pretty much the same. It all boils down to which vehicle appeals most to you. For the few extra cu. ft. of storage, if that was a major deal breaker, one would (not) purchase a B-Segment /Sub Compact vehicle to begin with, would you say? Finally, on the matter of not having a Beige Cloth Interior option on either the Accent GS (or) the LE, IMO several colors just don`t work with the Charcoal Grey Fabric. I`ve seen the 2012 Kia Rio5 in Clear White, Midnight Black and Signal Red (Hyundai refers to it as "Boston Red"), and all the above mentions Exterior colors look (much) better again, IMO, with the Beige Interior. The Dark Grey looks very drab, especially in Clear White and the other colors mentioned too. If I (were) to purchase a 2012 Hyundai Accent, I would definitely opt for the Sedan over the Hatchback for those reasons depending on my Exterior Color choice plus I think the Sedan looks better too.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Other comparisons that you did not list are as follows...

    I didn't list them becasue they are immaterial to me. Also to you, since you have decided to buy a Rio5, right?

    I only gave the rear passenger room volume and cargo volume specs because you said I was wrong when I wrote that I thought the Accent looked bigger in back than the Rio5. Turned out my impression from seeing both cars nearly side by side was accurate. I notice you didn't mention the cargo volumne with rear seats down, which is a huge (no pun intended) advantage for the Accent.

    I think it's clear the two cars are not twins. They do share some mechanical parts including powertrains, but exteriors and interiors are much different, also tires/wheels and available options. The Accent has a boxier profile in back, which helps it get more cargo and passenger room back there. The Rio5 is more streamlined in back, which some people (like you) prefer. I prefer the utility of more cargo room when I need it. That's one reason I'll take a close look at the Accent, and also the Fit when it's time to buy my next car--it has exceptional cargo and rear passenger room for this class of car. Also it's supposed to have perhaps the best-in-class shifter.
  • dirtbagdirtbag Member Posts: 57
    I did some unscientific tests of my 2012 Accent SE on the freeway to see how the tracking really is. Perhaps it's not as bad as I first thought. Several times I removed my hands from the wheel on straight stretches at 65 mph, with no other traffic around. It takes between five and nine seconds before I'm over the line, drifting into the passing lane on the left or onto the rumble strip on the right. I don't think this is any worse than most other vehicles.

    Because the steering is somewhat stiff at highway speeds, it seems to take some effort to make minor adjustments. Maybe this added to my initial perception that the tracking isn't so great.
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