Hyundai brings back Accent five-door

HYUNDAI has re-introduced a five-door hatch variant of its Accent light car, joining the three-door hatch model which launched with the more powerful 1.6-litre engine and freshened nose and tail styling a year ago.

From $16,490, Accent 1.6 five-door is positioned between the five-door Getz at $15,490 and Elantra sedan or liftback at $18,990. Automatic adds $1863 to Accent.

The Accent’s 1.6 litre, twin cam, 16-valve engine produces peak power of 76kW and maximum torque of 143Nm at 3000rpm.

According to GoAuto InfoTools, the Accent lines up closely against opposition like the Suzuki Ignis, Toyota Echo and Kia Rio on price, but outdoes them all for engine capacity, power and torque.

A small number of five-door 1.6 Accents have been specially imported for some car rental companies over the past year and Hyundai says demand from such companies, other fleets and some retail customers has prompted the five-door’s official re-instatement in the Accent range after an 18-month absence.

Accent 1.6 five-door shares the same standard feature list as the three-door including air-conditioning, MP3-CD audio, power steering, remote central locking with alarm, electric windows, power mirrors, dual front airbags, driver’s seat tilt and height adjustment, retractable cupholders, split-fold rear seat backs, body-colour exterior features and door trims with bottle holders and cloth inserts.



Other Accent standard safety features include front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load-limiters, anti-submarining front seat steel pans and rear seat ramps, five vertically adjustable head restraints, a full-size spare wheel and child seat top tether strap anchor brackets fitted for all three rear seat positions.

Hyundai claims the Accent is a space leader in its class, capable of fitting an 11-inch wheeled demountable pram or jogger’s stroller or a golf bag.

Accent’s Extra Safety Pack option, comprising ABS brakes and six-spoke design alloy wheels, is also available on the five-door, priced at $2400.

Hyundai is tipping the five-door Accent to add about 50 sales per month on top of three-door sales, which have been running at about 450 per month.