There was a time when shopping for a subcompact car meant embracing compromise. But modern subcompact cars have many features once reserved for larger vehicles. Bluetooth calling, touchscreens, and heated seats are all standard, or at least part of the menu, with the 2019 Hyundai Accent.
The Accent is one year removed from a complete redesign, which incorporated the new Hyundai corporate grille. The grille, headlights, and taillights all create a likeness to the Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan.
There are minor year-over-year changes to the Accent. The chrome grille that was once exclusive to the Limited is now standard across the trim lines. And the fog lights and chrome belt line molding (also previously exclusive to the Limited) are now part of the midrange SEL. Finally, new LED headlights are now included on the Limited trim.
Trims for the Accent include SE, SEL, and Limited. Standard equipment on the SE includes remote keyless entry, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, steering wheel audio and cruise controls, USB and auxiliary jacks, and a 5-inch color touchscreen that operates a 4-speaker stereo.
The SEL trim upgrades the touchscreen from the 5-inch unit to a 7-inch touchscreen, and adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SEL also adds a second USB port, voice recognition, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Outside the car, the SEL adds heated body-colored side mirrors, automatic headlights, and fog lights.
The range-topping Limited trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels, LED head- and taillights, side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and a power sunroof. Inside, the Limited adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, a proximity key with push-button start, automatic climate control with an automatic defogger, and three years of BlueLink Hyundai connected services. The Limited also adds a 3.5-inch TFT instrument cluster display.
Along with these features, the Limited features Hyundai’s innovative hands-free smart trunk. The trunk automatically opens, giving way to 13.7 cubic feet of trunk space.
A 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine powers the Hyundai Accent. It makes 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque, sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual or an available 6-speed automatic transmission. The manual is standard equipment on the SE trim, and is only found on this trim. The automatic is optional on the SE, and is standard equipment on the SEL and Limited.
EPA fuel economy estimates for the Accent’s 1.6-liter engine with the manual are 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined. With the automatic, the Accent returns 28, 38 , and 32 combined.
Standard safety features on the Accent include a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and reversing camera with dynamic guidelines that bend with the direction of the steering wheel.
The mid-range SEL adds a helpful driver’s blind-spot mirror. This mirror-within-a-mirror provides a wide angle of view for the driver. The range-topping Limited trim adds forward-collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking. Unfortunately, the Accent is not available with other driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, or lane-departure warning.
The 2019 Hyundai Sonata packs a lot of car in a small package. It’s available with modern driver-assistance and infotainment features, and provides amenities that buyers look for in a modern car, regardless of size or vehicle class.
