HYUNDAI may have expanded its reach over the past decade with the two-plus-one door Veloster and hire car-conquering Genesis, while its 3 Series and Golf GTI rivals have yet to arrive, but its roots unashamedly remain in the light-car space currently occupied by the Accent Active.

Not only was Hyundai made famous by the Excel that sold from 1986 until 1999, but its Accent replacement continued toiling away at the bottom end of the market. The i20 was briefly positioned below it, but it is now made in Europe and has become too pricey to import.

Instead, $2000 was cut from the price of the Accent Active to bring it to $14,990 plus on-road costs, or $16,990 as tested here with a continuously-variable transmission (CVT). For sales volume it leads the segment – but does this ageing five-door hatchback deserve to?

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