Vehicle crash and safety data is provided by NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA testing was established by Congress to reduce highway deaths and injuries.
After a stylish redesign last year, the 2013 Hyundai Accent returns with a few added standard features and thankfully the same combination of fuel economy and affordability that made it one of the most attractive options in the sub-compact segment.
Americans have increasingly been turning to small cars, as they seek to downsize both fuel costs and the impact of a new car on their pocketbooks. Hyundai took advantage last year transforming the Accent from a car that was very anonymous in both looks and features, into an attractive and well equipped alternative to the mostly bland competition. Just like last year, the Accent comes in two forms, a sedan and a four-door hatchback that adds some extra room. The sedan is only available in one trim, the GLS, while the hatchback offers GS and SE variants.
New for 2013 are standard keyless entry, heated side mirrors, and air conditioning. The GLS sedan adds satellite radio and iPod/USB connectivity.
The 2013 Accent offers a singular engine option: an efficient, 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder with direct injection. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed automatic is available. No matter which transmission you opt for fuel economy numbers are identical and sky high: 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.
Inside, the Accent tries very hard to make you forget it’s supposed to be a small car with enough interior volume for the EPA to consider it a compact, as opposed to the sub-compact segment it actually belongs to. The sedan offers 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 21.2 cubic feet if you opt for the hatchback. In addition to the aforementioned additions to the standard features list, the Accent also comes with a 60/40 split-folding rear seats, auxiliary audio input, and power windows and locks. Looking to spruce up the Accent some more? Optional features include Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel cruise and audio controls, and a power sunroof.
Safety features include electronic stability and traction control, active front heard restraints, six airbags, and antilock brakes. The 2013 Accent received four overall stars in NHTSA crash tests.
With a great combination of features, style, and fuel economy, all at a very affordable price, the 2013 Hyundai Accent is one of the best subcompact choices… in the world.