Accent driver's report

I’ve driven my new 2003 Hyundai Accent GL for about 800 miles. Here are some
thoughts
and impressions.

This car appears to be well designed and well built. Everything works as it
should with the fit and finish being top rate. The doors close with a solid
"thunk" and all of the operating controls for the lights, heater, etc. have a
solid feel. Nothing says "cheap."

The interior is surprisingly spacious at least for the 2 people in the front.
The headroom is good as is the legroom. The seats, while firm, are comfortable
and supportive. The driver’s seat offers an easy to operate array of
positions and adjustable lumbar support. The back seat on the other hand
offers minimal space for passengers. It would be difficult for 3 people to be
comfortable for all but the shortest of trips. It would be more acceptable for
2 children. But remember the Accent is a subcompact. And in a package as
small as this it is amazing what Hyundai was able to do with the space it has.
For example, the trunk is impressive in its layout and size. And the rear seat
backs fold forward to give you even more capacity. Even the glove box is
spacious. One negative; the 2 cup holders look flimsy.

The Accent (with the Preferred Package) is a very well equipped vehicle. It
includes AC, PS, PB, PW, PL, PM, AM/FM/CD player, RWD.

The car is a joy to drive and is easy to park. Both forward and rear views are
good. It handles well with good road feel in the steering wheel and brake
pedal. Let’s face it, an auto of this weight and size is not going to give a
Town Car-like ride. But it does hold the road well and acts like a much
heavier car. Nothing rattles.

The 4 cylinder fuel injected engine starts quickly and runs smoothly. It heats
up quickly, too. The automatic 4 speed overdrive transmission shifts crisply.
In overdrive the car cruises comfortably at 75 miles per hour.

Other notes: The radio/CD sounds great. The AC cools quickly. The instrument
panel, while plain, is nicely laid out. It consists of the speedometer,
tachometer, fuel gauge, and the usual array of warning lights. Leave your key
in the ignition? That prevents the power locks from operating. Leave the
lights on? Removing the key turns them off. Door or trunk not fully closed?
There’s a warning light for that, too. And this car sips gas. It got 30 mpg
on its first tank full in a combination of city and highway driving with the AC
operating. Current Accents have front seat forward AND side air bags. The
wipers feature adjustable time delay. Looking under the hood, there’s a lot
of equipment. Fluid levels are easy to check, however. And it all looks neat
and tidy. For example most electrical cables are grouped together in bundles
rather than being helter-skelter around the engine bay. The very complete fuse
box is easily accessible.

Three options are noticeably missing. Anti-lock brakes, tilt wheel, and cruise
control. With the possible exception of ABS this is not a big deal for me.
Most of my driving is in a small city. But your needs may be different.

As you might guess, I am very impressed with the Accent. If it proves to be as
reliable as its construction seems to indicate, Hyundai has come up with a real
winner.

Jim