Hyundai Accent

Australian cars were released in November 1994 available in Sprint and GX trims (three-door hatchback) or LX and GLX trims (four-door sedan and five-door hatchback). The upper-specification models (GX and GLX) had full cloth interior (as opposed to vinyl seat backings), height and lumbar support adjustments on the driver's seat, four-speaker sound system (instead of two), passenger vanity mirror, a tachometer, and power antenna as standard. GX three-doors also had a standard rear spoiler, while power steering was standard on all but the Sprint. There were also some special editions—the Classique sedan in 1996 with anti-lock brakes and the Sportz in 1999 and 2000 with alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. The overwhelming majority sold were the Sprint three-door, enticing buyers with free air-conditioning, driveaway pricing and from late 1998, standard power steering.

The facelift arrived in Australia in April 1997 with accompanying trim changes. The engine was a 1.5-liter G4EK SOHC unit with 91 hp (68 kW). From November 1997 onwards, this was upgraded to a twin cam (DOHC) G4FK version with 74 kW (99 hp) at 6000 rpm and torque of 134 N⋅m (99 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm. A double overhead cam (DOHC) engine was also available in America in the Accent GT but made a more-powerful 105 hp (78 kW) at 6000 rpm instead.[10] X3s with the DOHC engine are badged "Twin Cam".

In Australia, the X3 proved so popular (due to its reliability and low price[11][12][13]) that it was the third best-selling vehicle in the country in both 1996 and 1998. In the latter year, it achieved more than 44,000 sales (a 5.5% share of the total market), a record figure at the time, for an imported car. Between 1994 and 2000, some 200,000 X3s were sold in Australia, making it arguably the most successful imported vehicle in the country's history.

In 1998, Hyundai created a joint venture with Romanian manufacturer Dacia to produce the Accent in Romania, at Dacia's Mioveni plant.[14] Unfortunately, the deal failed and Dacia was bought by Renault.

The Accent was sold in saloon (sedan), hatchback, and coupé form in the UK, with a choice of three engines for each: a 1.3 12v (85 hp), 1.5 12v (92 hp) and a 1.5 16v (105 hp) petrol. There was no diesel option. A GSi spec car was the top-specification Accent. The MVi-spec coupé version won particular praise for its handling agility in the UK. Although the Accent was cheap to buy and insure, its engines were quite thirsty; the 1.5-litre returned 33 mpg_‑imp (8.6 L/100 km; 27 mpg_‑US) average according to list figures.

In the US, although manuals exist for Accents before and after 1999, a manual for 1999 Hyundai Accent has not been published. Additionally, owners of the 1999 model were informed by their dealers that the power output of the 1.5-liter engine was in fact rated at 88 horsepower (66 kW).

In Indonesia, the Accent was assembled locally and marketed as the Bimantara Cakra from 1996 to 1998[15](alongside the Bimantara Nenggala) and only available as 4-door sedan with a fuel injected 1.5 liter 12-valve engine and 5-speed manual transmission. After the 1997 Asian financial crisis that affected Indonesia in 1998, Bimantara went bankrupt and the production facilities was taken over by Hyundai (also the first time Hyundai started selling their cars with their own brand in Indonesia) and reintroduced the Cakra as Accent, still with the 1.5 liter 12 valve engine but with the facelifted model and additional 4-speed automatic transmission variant from 1998 to 2001.[15] From 2001 to 2006, this generation was still on sale side by side with the second generation Accent (sold as Hyundai Verna) but as Hyundai Excel, specially for taxi fleets.

In China, the Hyundai Excel was branded as the Kia Qianlima under Dongfeng Yueda Kia. It came with either a 1.3 SOHC engine or a 1.6 liter engine DOHC engine. Production ran from December 2002 until November 2006. It had similar styling to the regular Hyundai Excel until it was given a facelift in 2005 featuring a new grille and foglamps. Trim levels included the 1.3 DLX, 1.3L GL (Manual), 1.3L GL (Automatic), 1.6 GLS (Manual) and the 1.6 GLS (Automatic). The only body style available was the 4 door sedan.[16]

The 1998 Hyundai Accent was crash-tested by the European New Car Assessment Programme and showed rather poor performance, scoring only 4 points out of 16 for frontal impact.[17] The passenger compartment became unstable in the crash test.[17] It was determined that there was an unacceptably high risk of chest injury during side impact crash, as a result, the car would not meet the minimum legal requirement in 1999.[17] The Swedish insurance company, Folksam, rates the 1st-gen Accent as one of the safest cars in its weight class.[18]

• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Excel 3-door (Australia)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Excel 3-door (Australia)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Accent 3-door (Europe)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Accent 3-door (United Kingdom)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Accent 3-door (United Kingdom)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Excel 5-door (Australia)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Excel sedan (Australia)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Excel sedan (Australia)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Excel sedan (Australia)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Excel sedan (Australia)
• 
  Hyundai Pro Accent
• 
  Hyundai Accent GT
• 
  Hyundai Accent GT (Malta)
• 
  Kia Qianlima (2003-2005; China)
• 
  Kia Qianlima (2005-2006; China)
• 
  Kia Qianlima (2005-2006; China)
• 
  Bimantara Cakra (Indonesia)

North America

In North America the Accent was available in GL, GLS and GT trim levels only, with the 1.5-litre engine at first, then the 1.6-litre engine from 2002. The GT version was similar to the MVi version marketed in Europe and Oceania, although the body kit was not as overtly hot hatch styled.

During 2003 in Canada, the hatchback was offered as a GS or GSi with a 1.5 L or 1.6 L engine, respectively. In 2004 the GS trim was equipped with the 1.6 L engine.

Russia

It was sold in Russia until 2011 as the Hyundai Accent side-by-side with the 3rd generation model which is sold as the Hyundai Verna.

India

It was launched in India in October 1999 as the "Accent" and was still in production after some minor facelifts;[19] the car was phased out in 2013 for local market.[27] A new variant of the India-made Hyundai Accent. The Accent GLS variant, which now adopts front airbags and ABS to meet the regulations on safety equipment on new vehicles, implies that the Accent could live on until 2017.

The GLS variant also comes with Air conditioning, power windows front and rear, power steering, central locking, Radio-CD-MP3 audio system, and front fog lights. It is the best selling model produce by Hyundai's Chennai plant. It has been restyled twice – in 2004 and 2010 – and is strapped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine matched to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Egypt

In Egypt, it still remains on sale as of January 2019.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, it was sold from 2001 to 2012 and marketed in 3 different names. At first it was marketed in a 4-door body style as "Accent Verna" (2001-2007), available with three trim levels, G, GL and GLS. In 2005, a facelifted version based from G trim was sold for taxi fleet as "Excel II". Later from 2007, both Accent Verna and Excel II 4-door sedan was replaced with a 5-door liftback body style, sold as "Avega" until 2012.

• 1.3 L 12-valve SOHC Alpha I4 I4, 82 hp (61 kW) from 2000–2003, 86 hp (64 kW) from 2003–2005 (except cars with Air conditioning, rated at 82 hp).
• 1.5 L 12-valve SOHC Alpha I4, 92 hp (69 kW) @5500 rpm and 97 lb⋅ft (132 N⋅m) @2900 rpm, 0–100 km/h: 12.0 sec., top speed: 181 km/h (112 mph)
• 1.5 L 16-valve DOHC Alpha I4, 102 hp (76 kW) and 98 lb⋅ft (133 N⋅m)
  • 0–100 km/h: 11.6 sec., top speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
• 1.6 L 16-valve DOHC Alpha I4, 106 hp (79 kW) and 106 lb⋅ft (144 N⋅m)
  • 0–100 km/h: 10.9 sec., top speed: 189 km/h (117 mph)
• 1.5 L CRDi (R 315) I3, 82 hp (61 kW) and 137 lb⋅ft (186 N⋅m)
  • 0–100 km/h: 14.0 sec., top speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)

A pre-2003 model (a three-door hatchback) was crash tested by Australian Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) under the rules as adopted by Euro NCAP. It scored 10.76 out of 16 points for frontal offset impact and 10.96 out of 16 in the side impact test.[28]

The same un-restyled model, a four-door sedan had been crash tested by Russian magazine Autoreview in 2005.[29] Test was carried out to the Euro NCAP regulations. Despite the lack of airbags (which are not available in the cheapest version of Accent on the Russian market) it scored 9.9 of 16 for frontal impact.[30]

The 2003 restyled model was tested by ANCAP as well. The three-door hatchback scored 9.19 of 16 points for frontal impact and 9.76 out of 16 in the side impact crash test.[31]

• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Accent 3-door (US)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Accent 5-door (Australia)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Accent 5-door (Europe)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Accent sedan (USA)
• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Verna sedan (South Korea)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Verna sedan (South Korea)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Accent sedan (US)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Accent 3-door (US)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Accent sedan (Malaysia)
• 
  Hyundai Avega (Indonesia)
• 
  Hyundai Avega (Indonesia)

In 2006, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Accent received an Acceptable overall score in the frontal crash test and a Poor overall score for in the side impact test without its optional side airbags. It didn't perform well even when equipped with side airbags, performance of the car's structure is marginal there would likely be injuries to internal organs, ribs and pelvis.[39][40][41] In 2007, 2006 year model of Hyundai Accent had been tested by ANCAP in June 2007. It scored 3 star in the Occupant Protection, and 2 star in Pedestrian Protection Rating.[42]

• 
  Hyundai Accent SR (sold only in Canada for 2007)
• 
  2007–2009 Dodge Attitude (Mexico)
• 
  Hyundai Verna Transform (South Korea)
• 
  Hyundai Verna Transform (South Korea)

Hyundai debuted a demonstration version of a hybrid (MC/JB) Accent[43] at the 2005 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China. It uses a 90 hp (67 kW), 1.4 L engine with continuously variable valve timing and a 16 hp (11.9 kW) electric motor to achieve 44% better fuel economy. Though originally scheduled for production release in the 2006 model year, introduction of the production version has been delayed indefinitely, along with the Kia Rio hybrid.

The hybrid Accent is expected to be introduced at the same time as a hybrid version of the Kia Rio, the Kia twin of the Accent. A concept model of the Kia Rio hybrid was shown at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show.

Hyundai released the Korean version of the Accent (RB series) in November 2010. The new model is offered with the same 1.6-liter engine and 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual as the fifth-generation (MD) Elantra. The car reverted to the "Accent" name as used in the X3 series.[48] The hatchback version, called Accent WIT, replaces the Getz/Click in South Korea. Sedan model was discontinued since in late 2018; the hatchback model was in August 2018. It was sold until Hyundai Venue launched in July 2019.

In Beijing, China, Hyundai released the China-exclusive version of this model under the "Verna" name on 23 August 2010 under the model code RC.[49]

• 
  Hyundai Verna sedan (RC, pre-facelift; China)
• 
  Hyundai Verna sedan (RC, facelift; China)
• 
  Interior

In January 2011, the sedan had its North American debut and the hatchback had its world debut at the Montreal Auto Show.[50]

There is one engine option in North America for the Accent, a 1.6 L with 138 hp (103 kW) and 123 lb/ft of torque (2011 - 2017 models). This engine features the gas direct injection technology (1.6 "GDI"). Also, the head and block are made of aluminum.

• 
  2012 Hyundai Accent GLS sedan

Australia's Accent was released in August 2011 in three grades consisting of Active, Elite, and Premium in either Sedan or Hatch.[51] All were equipped with a 1.6-litre MPi engine mated to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, while a 1.6-litre diesel was later added to the Active grade, but dropped shortly after. In 2013, an SR grade was added to replace the Elite and Premium grades and brought in the Gamma 1.6-litre GDi engine to the range. The Active had switched to a 1.4-litre engine and optional CVT to keep costs down due to the discontinuation of the i20 in Australia.

As part of a 2017 upgrade, Hyundai simplified the Accent to just one grade called Sport. The Sport grade combined the SR's 1.6-litre engine, Premium interior materials, mesh-look grille, cruise control, optional 6-speed automatic, and 16" alloy wheels while staying close to the Active's entry price.[52]

Due to the lack of right-hand-drive 5th generation Accent production in Korea, Hyundai planned to phase the Accent nameplate out of Australia once all stock was exhausted by the end of 2019. The all-new Hyundai Venue, Hyundai's new small SUV, was positioned to indirectly replace it.

As of January 2020, the Accent was removed from the Hyundai Australia website, marking the end of the nameplate's 20 year run with sales reaching a total of 9,963 registered units in its last year on sale.

In September 2010, Hyundai unveiled its Russian assembly line and presented the "Hyundai Solaris" a production-ready local version of the four-door fourth generation Accent. Hyundai reported that production would commence in January 2011.[53] The Accent badge remained reserved for the second generation Accent, that had still been produced in Taganrog in the TagAZ plant at that time. The Hyundai Solaris was available with Gamma 1.4 (107 hp) and Gamma 1.6 (123 hp) petrol engines, with a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.[54]

In 2014, the Hyundai Solaris for Russian and CIS (where it is sold as the Hyundai Accent) market was facelifted. The car got new front fascia and new 6-speed automatic and 6-speed manual gearboxes for 1.6 version.[55]

Although Verna was launched in India for the very first time in 2006 but In May 2011, Hyundai launched Verna with four engine options including 1.4-litre petrol and diesel engines as well as 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines. The second-generation (LC) continues to be sold in India as the Hyundai Accent with the latest RB version carrying the Verna brand. At the time of launch, the new Verna RB features safety and comfort options that were previously unavailable in the Indian market at this price point including the option of 6 airbags.[56] Hyundai refreshed the Indian lineup of Verna in 2014 without any engine changes.[57]

The diesel variant has attracted more attention in India because of its fuel economy. As a result, the response in India was overwhelming.

The Verna is offered with four engine options, 1.4 L VTVT petrol, 1.6 L VTVT petrol, 1.4 L CRDi diesel, and 1.6 L CRDi diesel.

Hyundai launched the Verna facelift in the Indian car market on 18 February 2015.[58] The new Verna mid-sized sedan gets changes to both styling and mechanism. The updated Hyundai Verna gets new front fascia. Apart from the same petrol and diesel engine versions, the four-speed automatic gearbox is likely to be offered in the upcoming model; however, the maker might also introduce the six-speed automatic gearbox.[59]

In 2018, the Hyundai Verna was named Indian Car Of The Year.[60]

In Indonesia, the Accent hatchback was sold as the Grand Avega. The car made its debut at the 2011 Indonesia International Motor Show and was assembled locally (CKD).[61] The Grand Avega is equipped with two engines and four transmissions: a 1.4 L petrol 108 PS Gamma engine with 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual (2011–2013) and a 1.4 L petrol 100 PS Kappa engine with 6-speed manual or CVT (2013–2016).[62] Sedan body style also available in Indonesia only for taxi fleet and sold as Excel III, only available with 1.4 L petrol 108 PS Gamma engine and 5-speed manual transmission.[63] In 2016, Grand Avega was replaced by the relatively smaller Hyundai i20.

Dodge Attitude (Mexico)

In Mexico it was marketed as Dodge Attitude from 2011 to 2014 until May 2014 after Hyundai's arrival in the country, forcing Dodge to give the name Attitude to the Mitsubishi Attrage. The Accent returned to the country in mid-2017 as the 2018 Hyundai Accent.

In the Philippines, the RB model was launched in 2011. The sedan version was powered by a 108 PS (107 hp) Gamma engine with a choice of a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. Some of first batch of RB models were dogged by knocking issues when using 91 and below octane fuel. A second iteration was introduced in 2014 with a 100 Ps Kappa engine mated to a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic, and a newer 1.6-liter D4FB common rail direct injection turbodiesel with 126 PS (124 hp) and 260 N⋅m (192 lb⋅ft) in either a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

The hatchback model was introduced at 2013 exclusively with a 1.6 D4FB common rail direct injection turbodiesel with VGT. Power output is at 126 Ps and 260 N⋅m (192 lb⋅ft). Both the 6-speed manual and 4-speed Automatic models came with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) with electronic brake distribution. By 2014, a facelifted model was introduced with the top-end model getting new projector-type headlamps, ABS and EBD.

In 2015, the diesel variant was upgraded on both sedan and hatchback models with an electronic VGT (e-VGT), mated to a 6-speed manual or a new 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). Power outputs are now 136 PS (134 hp) and 265 N⋅m (195 lb⋅ft) for the 6-speed manual while the DCT model has the same horsepower but now has 300 N⋅m (221 lb⋅ft) of torque.

The 2012 Hyundai Accent was tested by the IIHS and received a "Good" rating in the frontal offset test, an "Acceptable" rating in the side impact test, and a "Good" rating in the roof strength test. It also received a "Good" rating in the rear crash protection (head restraint) test.[64]

The 2012 Hyundai Accent was tested by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and received the following:[65]

• Overall Rating:
• Frontal Crash:
• Side Crash: *
• Rollover:

The Hyundai Verna was crash-tested by China NCAP in 2011 and scored the maximum possible 5 stars.[66]

• 
  Pre-facelift Hyundai Verna sedan (China)
• 
  Facelift Hyundai Verna sedan (China)
• 
  Interior

China Verna has been given a facelift in 2020.

• 
  Rear view
• 
  2017 Hyundai Verna (YC, China)
• 
  2017 Hyundai Verna (YC, China)
• 
  2017 Hyundai Verna RV (YC, China)
• 
  2017 Hyundai Verna RV (YC, China)

The hatchback version of the 5th generation Accent will not be available in the United States market due to poor sales for its predecessor. Instead, the US market will get the Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Kona as indirect successors to the Accent hatchback. The 5th generation Accent will continue to be available in the US market in sedan version only. The Accent hatchback will be sold alongside the sedan in the Mexican and Canadian markets for the 5th generation only. All models of the Accent sold in the United States and Canada are powered by the same 1.6L GDi Inline four-cylinder (I4) gasoline engine as its predecessor, though horsepower is down to 130 horsepower from the previous rating of 138 horsepower. However, EPA Fuel Economy ratings are now up to 28 City/37 Highway/31 Combined MPG for manual transmission-equipped models, or 28 City/38 Highway/32 Combined MPG for automatic transmission-equipped models. The base SE features a six-speed manual transmission, while a six-speed automatic transmission is optional. The six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the SEL and Limited models.

Features available for the first time on the Accent include forward collision avoidance alert, a touch-screen infotainment system with optional Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Hyundai Blue Link, proximity key entry with push-button start, seventeen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, heated dual front bucket seats, and more.

Power output for 2018–2019 models is 130 hp (97 kW) and 119 lb⋅ft (161 N⋅m) of torque. Power output for 2020 models is 120 hp (89 kW), with a new "Smartstream" 1.6L DPi engine with continuously variable valve timing and "Intelligent Variable Transmission" (Hyundai's term for a CVT) replacing the automatic transmission.[71]

The Accent was discontinued in Canada in the end of 2020 and was indirectly replaced by the Kona and Venue crossovers, just like in the United States.[72]

Codenamed HCi, the Indian-market version was launched in August 2017 as the Verna.[73] Hyundai claimed the new Verna is underpinned by the K2 platform that is more rigid than the previous-gen model’s platform, citing improvements in NVH levels, crashworthiness and overall stiffness.[74] At launch, the Indian-market Verna was available with the 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines carried from the previous generation and in four variants. Some of the main features includes 6 airbags, sunroof, handsfree trunk and front ventilated seats.

The 1.6-litre petrol engine prduces 123 PS (121 hp; 90 kW) and 151 N⋅m (15.4 kg⋅m; 111 lb⋅ft) of torque and the 1.6-litre diesel producing 128 PS (126 hp; 94 kW) and 260 N⋅m (26.5 kg⋅m; 192 lb⋅ft) of torque are now mated to 6-speed manual transmissions with an optional 6-speed automatic transmission. In 2018, a 1.4-litre diesel engine option was introduced, producing 89 PS (88 hp; 65 kW) and 220 N⋅m (22.4 kg⋅m; 162 lb⋅ft).[75]

The facelifted model was released in March 2020. The Verna features cosmetic changes which include a refreshed front end, new LED headlamps, new rear bumper, revamped LED taillamps, and new dashboard design. Engine options were totally revamped, introducing three new engines. The base option is a 1.5-litre Smartstream MPi petrol which generates 115 PS (113 hp; 85 kW) and 144 N⋅m (14.7 kg⋅m; 106 lb⋅ft) of peak torque, available with a 6-speed manual and CVT. The 1.0-litre Kappa II turbo petrol churns out 120 PS (118 hp; 88 kW) and 172 N⋅m (17.5 kg⋅m; 127 lb⋅ft) output, paired to a 7-speed DCT. The 1.5-litre U2 CRDi diesel delivers 115 PS (113 hp; 85 kW) and 250 N⋅m (25.5 kg⋅m; 184 lb⋅ft), with transmission options of 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic.[76]

The HCi Accent/Verna is exported throughout Middle East, Africa, and to the Philippines and Vietnam in knock-down kits.[77]

• 
  2020 Hyundai Verna 1.5 SX(O) (India; facelift)
• 
  Interior (facelift)

Hyundai Solaris (HCr, Russia)

In late 2017, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Russia plant in Saint Petersburg started assembling 5th generation of Hyundai Accent under the name of Hyundai Solaris. It got renewed engines Kappa 1.4 (100 PS (99 hp; 74 kW)) and 1.6 Gamma II (123 PS (121 hp; 90 kW)), with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

In 2020 the Solaris was restyled, and got the new front design, some new comfort features and new touch screen multimedia system. Engines and transmission options remained the same.[78]

Hyundai's Accent World Rally Car, Accent WRC, competed in an official capacity, spawning three generations, in the World Rally Championship from 2000 to 2003.[79]

In India, Hyundai is the sole engine supplier for Formula LGB Hyundai, built by the Chain and Sprocket giant LGB. The single make series is promoted at grassroots level acting as a launch pad for future Formula One hopefuls. The Accent engine is supplied in Stock form albeit after some engine control unit modifications.

In Australia, the X3 Accent is sold as the Hyundai Excel and is used in the Excel Rally Series, beginning in 2005. There are restrictions on modifications to the vehicle to reduce cost and encourage competition.

Similarly in 2010 a circuit racing competition began in Queensland called Excel Cup and soon after in South Australia called Circuit Excels. The class has since spread to all six states with several hundred race cars built nationally. A single event nationals has been created to bring all six states together for a single race meeting annually. They are the cheapest racing class in Australia based on a production road car.