All-new 2018 Hyundai Accent revealed in Toronto

Ryukein · Feb 16, 2017

I think this is ****ing ugly. The seats and interior look great, though, and I bet the car overall is a big improvement over the current one.

via Motor1

The Canadian International Auto Show has been around since the mid-70's, and while plenty of exciting vehicles have made their way through the Toronto expo over the years, it's never actually hosted a world premiere. That changes today with the global unveiling of the 2018 Hyundai Accent seen here.

The fifth-generation Accent sedan, which Hyundai says will make its way to markets around the world beginning in the third quarter of 2017, is larger than its predecessor, accelerates quicker, and offers segment-first automatic emergency braking.

In terms of size, the 2018 Accent is wider and longer than the 2017 sedan, with an increased wheelbase, though it sits 10 millimitres lower to the ground for better aerodynamics. Not surprisingly, the interior is larger, both in terms of passenger volume and trunk space. The cabin looks plenty stylish, with the accompanying pictures showing eye-catching red accents and stitching on the seats, as well as on the steering wheel.

The new Accent subcompact still uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. While power is down compared to last year's powerplant (132 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque for the 2018 model, compared to 137/123 in the previous generation), Hyundai says acceleration from 25-50 miles per hour and 50-75 mph actually improves with the new model by 0.2 and 1.3 seconds, respectively).

A first for the subcompact segment, the new Accent offers Autonomous Emergency Braking. The technology, which has slowly been trickling down from luxury vehicles, uses a front-facing radar to warn the driver if a collision is imminent. If the driver still doesn't react, the vehicle will automatically apply the brakes in order to minimize injuries.

Additional technology available on the Accent in certain markets – and much of this we're assuming will require moving up to the highest trim levels – includes a five- or seven-inch color TFT LCD instrument display, proximity key with push-button start, and rear-view camera with dynamic guidance. The upgraded display will also incorporate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

While the focus today is on the four-door Accent, hatchback fans need not fret – the five-door model will be joining its sibling in the fourth quarter of 2017. From the sounds of it, the hatch will include most, if not all, the same additions the sedan gets.

DrewSXR · Feb 16, 2017

...the interior looks pretty nice though, but I'll have to inspect the stitching behind the steering wheel more closely.

woofster · Feb 16, 2017

For what it is, I wouldn't particularly call it "ugly". It seems rather quite like standard fare for an economy car, obviously with modern stuff as compared to econoboxes 5 years ago. I suspect Hyundai will sell a decent volume of these.

spoonie · Feb 16, 2017

World reveal, and no pricing?

bzcat · Feb 17, 2017

Not world reveal. It's been on sale in China and Korea for a while now.

StlVDub · Feb 16, 2017

For as many hits as Hyundai has been having lately, I guess they were bound to strike out sooner or later.

Yeech, this thing is...bad. Like, Mitsubishi Mirage G4 bad... :what:

saron81 · Feb 16, 2017

Very bland, and "meh" to me. Lots of generic Focus and Sentra styling cues.

Ryukein · Feb 16, 2017

saron81 said:
Lots of generic Focus and Sentra styling cues.

Where? I see pure Hyundai.

DesertJets · Feb 16, 2017

Sub-compact sedans are never really the greatest looking things out there. I think the only exception right now is the Sonic sedan. Hopefully the HB will be better looking. B/c as it stands it looks like Hyundai took the new Elantra and reduced it by 75%.

gonzo08452 · Feb 16, 2017

Power is down to 132 Korean Horsepower yet is faster. Awesome.

Golgo-13 · Feb 16, 2017

If I lived in a third tier city in China, this car would be fine.

As I live in North America, I expect more from car companies. This is mediocrity at its best.

xo_vw · Feb 16, 2017

Golgo-13 said:
If I lived in a third tier city in China, this car would be fine.

As I live in North America, I expect more from car companies. This is mediocrity at its best.

I agree although it looks MUCH better than the Accent it's replacing. I had an Accent as a weeklong rental... probably one of the worst modern cars I've ever driven. I would easily take a Versa or similar over it.

Slipstream · Feb 16, 2017

Ryukein said:
I think this is ****ing ugly.

Did you just say something negative about a design? You feeling okay, man? :laugh:

But also - I agree. This is not a good translation of the rest of Hyundai's design language.

MGQ · Feb 16, 2017

Slipstream said:
Did you just say something negative about a design? You feeling okay, man? :laugh:

Everyone! quote it in your signatures!

I think it looks nice and a lot less swoopy than previous Accents, but then it also looks like a 3/4 scale version of my car.

KingUnderpants · Feb 16, 2017

FV-QR

Well, that's very inter........Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Mike! · Feb 16, 2017

Ryukein said:
I think this is ****ing ugly. The seats and interior look great, though, and I bet the car overall is a big improvement over the current one.

Accent... it's a car!

I seriously had to refresh myself on Hyundai's current lineup, because I could have sworn the Accent looked like that already. Guess it's Elantra resemblance,

andlf · Feb 16, 2017

gti_matt · Feb 16, 2017

Definitely they're playing it safe here, although their design language doesn't really translate that well to smaller models in that it doesn't make it have any presence. It just looks like a generic-ish and dowdy ho-hum small car on the outside.

Hopefully the hatch version will be more stylish. Perhaps the upcoming i30-based 2018 Elantra GT will have some influences on it.

spoonie · Feb 16, 2017

it looks slightly better not on a white background.

Dubveiser · Feb 16, 2017

Considering most Accents will be delivered with blank fog light housings and 14-15'' steel wheels with wheel covers, they will likely look even more bland than any of the examples posted in this thread.

Dravenport · Feb 16, 2017

I do not approve of this no booty trend going around right now

Carson Fiber · Feb 16, 2017

Nice to hear it's got autonomous braking, just to protect me from all the incomps on the road. While the interior is going in the right direction compared to Hyundai's first entry level car in this country dba the infamous Excel

iliveoncaffiene · Feb 16, 2017

I looked at it and instantly forgot about it - that's how bland it is. It doesn't even have "very ugly" going for it.

The interior :thumbup:

GruuvenNorth · Feb 16, 2017

It looks like a shrunken Elantra.

davewg · Feb 17, 2017

Exactly my reaction. Sheetmehtal...

GolfTango · Feb 16, 2017

Ryukein said:
I think this is ****ing ugly. The seats and interior look great, though, and I bet the car overall is a big improvement over the current one.

StlVDub said:
For as many hits as Hyundai has been having lately, I guess they were bound to strike out sooner or later.

Yeech, this thing is...bad. Like, Mitsubishi Mirage G4 bad... :what:

But it's an ACCENT. And for a base, entry level point A to B, I think it looks well executed. Especially the interior. My only gripe, exterior styling sort of looks like a Nissan and that's not a cool thing.

Minority5 · Feb 16, 2017

Ryukein said:
I think this is ****ing ugly.

Didn't you have to design a B class car and present a clay model in freshman trans? Designing a good looking B class car around a real world package is probably one of the more difficult things to do.

Ryukein · Feb 16, 2017

I never did, and I know that it's a hard class of car to design, and I don't think that this one looks good. The current Accent looks better to my eyes, and so do a few of its competitors.

Mike! · Feb 16, 2017

B-segment sedans are indeed a difficult class to proportion...

The Mazda2 minus the Toyota Yaris / Scion iA front is probably best-in-class:

If I remember right they're basically limited to 4.5metres or less due to size class in some markets (India?).

Minority5 · Feb 16, 2017

From a proportion standpoint, the Mazda/Scion and Chevrolet Sonic did pretty well in roofline execution/stance IMHO; the Fiesta is pretty cab forward which is nice, but the light catcher fade out towards the rear fender isn't doing it any favors. When considering cost, economic factors, and FE/crash regs, it's a miracle these cars look as good a as they do.:beer:

ImpeccableNEW · Feb 16, 2017

Rear end is bland compared to the current, i figured it wouldnt be as swoopy as the current ala elantra

Roboturner913 · Feb 16, 2017

I need to see the hatchback before making full judgement. Look at the current-gen Accent, the hatchback is the better looking car by a mile.

I looked at a couple Accent hatches in SE trim and they seem like pretty solid little cars that hold a great deal of real-world value. Especially if you have a couple of kids and a big dog, etc. Granted, I'm a guy that enjoys cheap cars but it seems like something that would be pretty easy to live with, and 2-3 year old low mileage examples are easy to find under 9K.

gonzo08452 · Feb 16, 2017

I think it looks fantastic!!!!

ZPayne · Feb 17, 2017

all subcompact sedans are ugly. subcompact should be hatch only.

All-new 2018 Hyundai Accent revealed in Toronto

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities