The Environmentally-friendly & Affordable: Hyundai Accent @ $12,000
While the Accent seats five, it is considered a “small car”. It’s noisy at fast speeds, but it also has good safety features for a car of this price and size.
I really prefer the SE with the sunroof package. Um, all because of the potential impact on gas … and emissions … and not even a little because it’s “the cool one”. Honestly. Even with the fun stuff added, you come away with a car that has a lot to offer and with the rebate going right now, it’ll cost you under $15,000.
If that’s more than you want to spend though, the GS can be scored - with upgraded audio, etc -for under $12,000. The GLS 4-door is also under $15,000.
Fuel-efficiency is best (27 mpg city/32 mpg highway) with a stick, but automatic (24 mpg city/ 33 mpg highway) for roughly $1000 more per model. Like many of the smaller cars, there are problems when it comes to taking a hit. Rear passenger tests only scored 3 starts for side collisions in the Accent. The rest were pretty good however, at 5s and 4s. Safety ratings can be seen here.
Standard features on all 3:
Dual front advanced airbags with OCS
Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact airbags
Side Air Curtains (front and rear passengers)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Child seat LATCH system
Front seatbelt pretensioners
Not (factory) available? Cruise control. I don’t get this, particularly with the other options they carry. Also not available? A rear wiper. (I have these on two cars and honestly use them maybe once a year, so I was very surprised to see people complaining about them.)
Each model has its own list of upgradeable options, even colors. If you like the Accent, but want more room, the Hyundai Elantra is also an inexpensive option.
[image source: Hyundai USA]
Tags: affordable, fuel-efficient, hyundai accent, seats 5, sunroofRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Car Types, General, Safety Ratings, commuter cars, compact cars
3 opinions for The Environmentally-friendly & Affordable: Hyundai Accent @ $12,000
Jennifer
May 9, 2008 at 3:20 am
Hey, a car I can afford! I’ve never had a Hyundai, just Nissan and Volvo-I will have to add this to my test drive list. The safety doesn’t sound perfect, but I guess I won’t have much choice there, because I’m getting a small car no matter what, so… I don’t care about rear wipers either - that’s just silly.
Kristie Burns
May 9, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I am SO happy to have discovered this site! I am in the market to do some work on my LIMO (not the most fuel efficient car LOL) and I also am looking forward to what are the best options for a future car. My questions are - which fuel efficient cars are REALLY helping the environment and which ones are just creating more waste and will not be able to weather a fuel shortage?
Hilary
May 9, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Hey ladies! I’m glad to see you both stopping by.
@Jennifer - I should have more cars up in the next week or so.
@Kristie - Ecomodders is a great site, but they might come up with some really crazy ideas. lol For now, I think you’re doing great … I’ll post some more about it later. Hopefully get some bright minds churning. ;)
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