2008 Hyundai Accent Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Write a review
For basic transport with a solid warranty, look no further than the latest Hyundai Accent.
The Accent comes as a two-door hatchback or four-door sedan. I think the hatch looks better, but both belong in the Ugly Section. Individually, each visual detail is good. The oversize headlights, vertical taillights, mirrors, door handles, the grille with the little kink above the Hyundai badge, they're all fine. Clumped together on the Accent's stubby body, however, they look cheap. On the standard 14-inch steel wheels with plastic hubcaps, the Accent is pretty as in pretty bad. Look at a Honda Civic or any number of small cars to find out why the Accent looks as if it’s dressed 20 years too late.
The interior, remarkably, pulls off a clean and stylish look, with an available two-tone dash, a silver-painted radio surround, and attractive gauges. It's convincing in quality until you run your fingers over the rock-hard seats, feel the brittle plastic on the doors, or pull on the turn signal stalk. You get what you pay for.
The Accent in base L trim has power steering, variable intermittent wipers, and a rear spoiler but no air conditioning and a very simple stereo with a CD player, MP3 playback, and four speakers, as well as crank windows, manual locks, and manual mirrors. This is how Hyundai can price the car for less than $14,000. The GL adds power windows, power side mirrors, power locks and keyless entry for just under $2,000 more.
The hatchback has a Sport trim available for the GL that adds 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, extra speakers, a power sunroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a sport-tuned suspension. The top GLS trim, which is offered on the sedan only, adds 15-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, side and curtain airbags, and fog lamps.
Dual front airbags are standard on all Accent trims, while side and curtain airbags are available only on the GLS sedan. Traction and stability control are unavailable. Anti-lock brakes used to be standard, but Hyundai removed the four-wheel discs and put drums on the rear. This is a cheaper and less effective setup than having discs at every corner. Only the GLS sedan has standard ABS.
Crash-test results are bad. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the 2008 Accent with five out of five stars for both occupants in a frontal crash, but only three for the rear passenger in the side test and four for the driver. The Accent scored worse in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, earning an "Acceptable" for the moderate front overlap and roof strength and the worst "Poor" in the side test.
The model year 2008 Hyundai Accent starts at $13,595 in Canada for the L manual hatchback, and pricing climbs to $17,495 for the GL Sport hatchback with an automatic transmission and $18,145 for the Hyundai Accent GLS sedan. The price for this little car is great, but the lack of basic features, poor safety ratings, and terrible styling make the Accent one of the worst small cars to pick when there are so many better ones out there.
Note: Images show a US model.
User reviews for 2008 Hyundai Accent
Write a reviewWhat users have asked
2008 Hyundai Accent Pricing
Trims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat · Door sill trim: aluminum · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet
Convenience Features
Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.06
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: body-color · Mirror color: black · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6 · 172 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet
Convenience Features
Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.06
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: body-color · Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6 · 172 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat · Door sill trim: aluminum · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Cupholders: rear · Overhead console: with sunglass holder · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.06
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: body-color · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Sunroof: wind deflector
Safety
Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Rear wiper: with washer