2008 Hyundai Accent Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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For basic transport with the best warranty, look no further.
The Accent comes as a two-door hatchback or four-door sedan. I think the hatch looks better, but both belong in the Ugly Section. Individually, each visual detail is good. The oversize headlights, vertical taillights, mirrors, door handles, the grille with the little kink above the Hyundai badgeâthey're all fine. Clumped together on the Accent's stubby body, however, they look cheap. On the standard 14-inch wheels with plastic hubcaps, the Accent is pretty as in pretty bad. Look at a Honda Civic or any number of small cars to find out why the Accent looks as if its dressed 20 years too late.
The interior, remarkably, pulls off a clean and stylish look, with an available two-tone dash, a silver-painted radio surround, and attractive gauges. It's convincing in quality until you run your fingers over the rock-hard seats, feel the brittle plastic on the doors, or pull on the turn signal stalk. You get what you pay for.
The Accent in base GS trim has no stereo or air conditioning. This hatchback-only trim has crank windows, manual locks, and manual mirrors. This is how Hyundai can price the car for less than $11,000. The GS can be ordered with these essentials for a couple grand more. The mid-level GLS sedan has all these features, plus body-color door handles, mirrors, and door handles. Remote keyless entry and 15-inch alloy wheels are optional.
The top SE hatchback has a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob made by B&M Racing, a rear spoiler with a rear wiper/washer, sport suspension, fog lights, illuminated vanity mirrors, metal-look interior trim, and 205-width tires on 16-inch alloy wheels (quite big for a small car). The hatchbacks have other available options that were not factory-installed, such as a 570-watt Kenwood stereo.
Six airbags are standard on all Accent trims: Dual front, dual front side, and front/rear head curtain. A tire-pressure monitoring system is standard. Traction and stability control are unavailable. Anti-lock brakes used to be standard, but Hyundai removed the four-wheel discs and put drums on the rear. This is a cheaper and less effective setup than having discs at every corner. Only the SE has standard ABS with four-wheel discs. They're optional on the GLS sedan and not on the GS.
Crash-test results are bad. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the 2008 Accent with five out of five stars for both occupants in a frontal crash, but only three for the rear passenger in the side test and four for the driver. The Accent scored worse in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning an "acceptable" for the moderate front overlap and roof strength and the worst "poor" in the side test.
User reviews for 2008 Hyundai Accent
Write a review2008 Hyundai Accent Pricing
Trims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat · Door sill trim: aluminum · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet
Convenience Features
Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.06
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: body-color · Mirror color: black · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6 · 172 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet
Convenience Features
Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.06
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: body-color · Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6 · 172 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat · Door sill trim: aluminum · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Cupholders: rear · Overhead console: with sunglass holder · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.06
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: body-color · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Sunroof: wind deflector
Safety
Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Rear wiper: with washer
