2012 Hyundai Accent SE review
Most big automakers have a full line-up of vehicles, ranging from the small, fuel efficient car, all the way up to the massive SUV that is the embodiment of style and prosperity.
The current upswing at the fuel pump, combined economic hard times has meant that more and more people are looking at getting back to their small car roots, and competition for that dollar is fierce.
Hyundai is riding the crest of a huge critical and consumer success wave, and expectations are high for their entry into the 2012 small car market; the 2012 Hyundai Accent SE.
Usually when going for a basic small car, there are very few expectations that there will be any sort of huge upgrades, but there is an expectation that what does come with the vehicle works properly and should show no sign of corners being cut for the sake of price.
Let’s look at what you get with the 2012 Accent SE by starting from the inside, and that begins with the radio unit. It’s a fairly basic unit, but with enough cool little additions to make it better than average.
The large visual display is bright and easy to read, perfectly displaying the artist and title of each track, whether it’s on the Sirius/XM satellite radio, the CD player, or you MP3 player which is attached via the special aux jack. There are also controls for the unit on the steering wheel so that you can still safely control the car as you control your tunes.
The interior of the 2012 Hyundai Accent SE is solidly crafted from great looking materials and is totally devoid of that cheap plastic smell that tends to plague so many other lower priced models in the market.
It also comes standard with a 6 speed manual transmission, but by paying a little extra to upgrade to an automatic, you will also be upgrading to the Eco Drive system that will allow the vehicle to let you know when you have a little bit of lead foot going on, and perhaps save you even more money on gas as you drive.
Perhaps the biggest change to the newest version of the Accent SE is on the exterior, with the design getting a much needed makeover.
The sleek new look brings the Hyundai Accent more in line with what people like and expect from a small car. Under the hood is where the biggest surprise may be found, as the 2012 Hyundai Accent SE boasts a surprisingly powerful engine for a vehicle in this class.
What you get is a direct injection engine that delivers 138hp, 123 ft-lbs torque and 30/40 miles per gallon, all of which are on the upper end of the small car scale.
Overall, the 2012 Hyundai Accent SE offers a smooth, comfortable drive, with enough power to let you perform many driving tasks without feeling as though the engine is going to vibrate right out of its shell; a great little car at a great price.
