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Eric's Autos: Reviewing the 2012 Hyundai Accent

Eric Peters on

Personally, I prefer the hatch-wagon layout because of the additional room (21.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second row and 47.5 if you fold them flat vs. 13.7 period for the sedan). You also get more equipment standard in the hatch-wagon, including keyless entry and trim upgrades.

But, if the object of the exercise is to spend less - not just up front, but also down the road, go for the sedan. It comes with 14-inch steel wheels - which means next-to-no worries about potholes hurting them and also dirt-cheap replacement tires, when the time comes for that.

Or, on the other hand, order the whole menu - the top-trim SE deal and 16 inch alloys, leather trim, premium upholstery, Bluetooth, steering wheel mounted secondary controls, the six-speed automatic. You'll still have a tough time spending more than $16k - sticker. That's the number ($15,925) on the Monrony that came with my loaded-with-nearly-everything Accent SE wagon.

I had a Mazda3 SkyActiv wagon last week - also very nice. Also 40 MPG capable. But it started at $19,300. A top-of-the-line Fiesta SES hatch-wagon lists for $17,500. A Sonic LTZ is about the same at $17,365 - and mind that's before you pay extra for the 40 MPG engine.

THE REST

What else is there? The only negative I could come up with is the lack of AC - and lack of a radio, period - in the base sedan.

But this is equally true of others in this class (at least as regards AC) and there are probably still people out there who can live without AC and who prefer to pay less for a car without one.

If you do want AC, you can get it as a part of a comfort package that also adds power windows and locks, plus a decent stereo.

 

However, the base car's pre-wired, so you could save some coin and buy your own aftermarket head unit if you wanted and probably end up with a better system for less than the factory piece.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Today's Accent is a car that makes you feel good the next morning. You buy it and are happy with it. No one laughs at you. If anything, you laugh at them - because of how little you paid to get so much car.

Again, all the cars in this class are really nice. But the Accent wins, to my way of thinking, because it costs the least but gives you the most.

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www.ericpetersautos.com or EPeters952@aol.com for comments.


 

 

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