A Rent-a-Ride to Accent my Vacation

From Piestewa (Squaw) Peak. My Accent fit tight parking spaces easily.

Last week I flew to Phoenix, Arizona which necessitated a rent-a-ride. Rental cars are generally perceived as boring, fleet vehicles, and normally I’d have to agree. (Unless I took the sales rep’s up sell and traded to a Camaro!) However, after declining all insurance coverages, fuel charges, and other ridiculous ways car rental companies try to gouge you, I was passed the keys to a 2011 Hyundai Accent. Couldn’t be more boring, right? After all, this is an econo-box with a starting price under $14,000.

But that’s exactly what impressed me. In this class of car you can’t come expecting much. If it can climb hills and maybe provide air conditioning, you’re doing pretty well (I used to drive a 1994 Honda Civic that struggled on both these fronts). With a 110-horse, 106 lb/ft four cylinder, the Accent didn’t exactly accomplish either of these feats quickly, but it was competent. The A/C blew cold, and while not overwhelming with pep, I was able to merge from a dead stop to highway speed on the Arizona-101. Around town this four-cylinder mill was plenty capable, if not a little noisy.  The A/C didn't cause severe power loss.

The Accent's handling was far from impressive, and speed bumps could be downright unnerving. But with 14-inch tires and a basic suspension setup, what can you reasonably expect? Hey, at least this thing was easy to squeeze into tight parking spaces with.

The interior, on the other hand, was surprisingly well finished for this class vehicle. Nearly 40 inches of headroom accommodated my 6-foot-4 frame with ease. A height-adjustable driver’s seat helped too, and along with the telescoping steering wheel, I was able to find a comfortable driving position. Ergonomics allowed ample forward and aft visibility, and large side mirrors helped fill in blind spots. Soft-touch plastics covered the dash and all the switches and levers had a solid, quality feel to them.  There were two sturdy cup holders beneath the well-placed driver’s armrest along with “water-bottle” holders in the door pockets.

Come night time, the gauges lit up in a brilliant shade of white while the rest of the dash lights glowed funky blue. I loved this readable, contrasty color combination far more than the flat shade of red that dominates all the dash lights in my personal 2011 Subaru Impreza. Two extremely bright map lights further chased away the darkness.

I should also mention that my rental was the GLS package, a higher-end trim. It had all the power goodies. Cruise and radio inputs were mounted on the steering wheel. With around 2000 miles on the odo, this was obviously a new vehicle, and hence the reason I believe it had XM satellite radio (new vehicles often come with a few months free). The stereo in the GLS was another thing that surprised me. Music sounded really good coming from those six speakers. Upping the bass tones provided clear, low sound without buzzing and distortion, one boast the “premium” stereo in my Subaru Impreza can’t make. iPod and auxiliary inputs are easily reached just under the stereo, with a handy tray to rest your MP3 player or other device on.

Of course the Accent is not without a few gripes. Start the engine, and not only is it noisy, it sounds coarse and unrefined. There’s no outside temperature reading, no fuel-economy computer, and no light or gauge indicating engine temperature (unless it overheats). While decked out with all the airbags, tire-pressure monitoring, and stability control, the Accent still hasn’t fared among the leaders in its class during crash tests.

What the Accent demonstrates is that basic transportation is getting really good. It’s a comfortable car with great warranty coverage, a fuel-conserving engine, and a nicely appointed interior. If you need something basic for getting around town without a lot of extra luxury, the Hyundai Accent may be something to consider. This car is continued proof of Hyundai’s surge in producing quality, affordable vehicles with a few little "cherries" on top.