Hyundai's Poor Accent

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Yet, despite its price advantage, demand for the Accent isn't as high as for its main rivals. According to the Power Information Network, the Accent spends an average of 33 days on the lots before selling, vs. a mere eight days for the Honda Fit, nine days for the Yaris and Versa, and 23 days for the Aveo.

Behind the Wheel

Why isn't the Accent selling faster? It's a decent car, but in my opinion it just doesn't match up to the Japanese competition once you slide behind the wheel.

For starters, there's the Accent's only available powerplant, a 1.6 liter, 110-horsepower inline four-cylinder engine. Hyundai likes to point out that the Accent's engine is slightly bigger than the 1.5 liter engines in the Fit and Yaris, which deliver 109 and 106 horsepower, respectively, as well as more powerful than the 1.6 liter, 103-horsepower engine in the Aveo. But the Nissan Versa has a 1.8 liter, 122-horsepower engine, if more power is what you want.

In any case, the Hyundai is even slower than its rivals. My fastest 0 to 60 time in the Accent was a glacial 9.7 seconds, and I had to pop the clutch and really jam the transmission to get it that low. That's slightly slower than the Versa (9.5 seconds) and noticeably slower than the Fit (9.0 seconds). (I didn't get a 0 to 60 in the Yaris, but it felt quicker than the Accent. I haven't driven the Aveo yet.)

The Accent's acceleration really starts to fade once you pass 35 mph or so. And the car lacks oomph when you need passing power at 60 mph and above. Worse, if you accelerate fast or cruise at above 70 mph, the engine sounds like a tractor. The noise became so loud at times that I got out and checked the muffler to see if something was wrong with it. There's also a fair amount of whistling and tire noise at highway speed

The interior and instruments are nondescript. The dash is well-designed, curving back from the center console and flowing nicely into the door panels. But the bins at the bottoms of the doors are cheap plastic, and the windows in back don't open. I also found the driver's armrest flimsy, poorly positioned, and uncomfortable to use.

Even by subcompact standards, the Accent's rears seats are cramped, and the lack of rear doors makes it very hard for an adult to get in and out. I couldn't get in or out at all without moving the front seat all the way forward, and even then it was tough. The rear seat bottoms fold up against the backs of the front seats, making a large, flat cargo space in back when you have no passengers. But the Honda Fit's numerous seat configurations make it more versatile.

On the plus side, the upgraded steering and suspension systems in the Accent hatchback really do make a difference. The steering is tight for such an inexpensive car. And one of the distinctive things about the car's ride is the way it smoothes out bumpy roads. The suspension is hard enough to feel sporty, yet manages to absorb bumps much better than in many small cars.

Buy It or Bag It?

The Accent's main appeal is its low price, standard safety features, and excellent warranty. Hyundai's quality is also reasonably good: In the latest J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction ratings, announced on Nov. 15, the company came in just below the industry average, a notch above Honda and a several notches above Toyota. If you're looking for an inexpensive commuter car that gets good mileage, the Accent is a good choice.

However, there are wiser choices, if you can find one on the dealers' lots. I'm not a huge fan of the Yaris, but it's a better car for about the same money. So are the Versa and Fit if you don't mind spending a little more. If you want a domestic model, check out the Aveo, or even the Chevy Cobalt, a bigger car that can be had for about the same money. The bottom line: comparison-shop before buying an Accent.

To see the slide show, click here.

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.