2009 Hyundai Accent Overview Change Vehicle

This 2009 Hyundai Accent overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2009 Accent, and includes Hyundai Accent safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

After seeing the Accent’s fuel economy ratings drop due to changes in EPA calculation methods, Hyundai has modified the Accent's engine, transmission, tire pressure, powertrain management system and power steering pump to improve fuel efficiency by up to eight percent for the 2009 model year. In other news, cruise control and a power-operated sunroof have been added to the SE Premium Package and cruise control has been added to the GLS's Popular Equipment package.

Three Accent models are on sale for 2009: GS Coupe, SE Coupe, and GLS Sedan. The “coupe” models are actually three-door hatchbacks, but since “hatchback” is a dirty word in America, Hyundai calls them something they’re not. All come standard with a “Hyundai Assurance” warranty that includes 10-years or 100,000-miles of powertrain coverage.

The most exciting piece of standard equipment on the Accent GS Coupe is a height-adjustable driver’s seat. This car is about as basic as basic gets, including cloth seats, a cabin air filter, variable intermittent wipers, a rear defroster, and nothing else of note. A Popular Equipment Package includes air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, and an auxiliary audio input jack. The Premium Package includes these items along with power mirrors, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, and an alarm system. Loaded, a GS Coupe costs $1,800 less than a comparable SE Coupe.

That extra coin pays for the Accent SE Coupe’s standard antilock brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, sport-tuned suspension, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, metallic interior trim, rear window wiper/washer, rear spoiler, and a handful of additional upgrades. A Premium Package with cruise control and a power sunroof is optional on the SE Coupe.

If you need the four-door GLS Sedan, it builds from the GS Coupe, adding air conditioning, a 172-watt six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with satellite radio and an auxiliary audio input jack, and illuminated visor mirrors. A Popular Equipment Package includes antilock brakes and a tilt steering wheel. A Premium Package adds cruise control, power windows, power heated mirrors, power door locks, and remote keyless entry. The GLS Sedan can also be outfitted with a set of 15-inch alloy wheels.

For 2009, Hyundai improves the standard, and only, engine for the Accent, bumping the 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine’s fuel economy ratings when it is bolted to the optional four-speed automatic transmission. The 110-horsepower engine is now rated to get 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the automatic, while the standard five-speed manual gearbox continues to return 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

The 2009 Hyundai Accent comes standard with six airbags, including side curtains. Antilock brakes are optional on the GLS Sedan and standard on the SE Coupe. Traction and stability control are unavailable at any price.

In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Accent Sedan receives 4- or 5-Star ratings across the board except for the rear passenger in a side-impact crash, for whom the Accent provides 3-Star protection levels. No data is available for the Accent Hatchback from the NHTSA.

In testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Accent gets Acceptable rating for frontal-impact and rollover protection. Unfortunately, side- and rear-impact crash testing resulted in the lowest possible rating of Poor.

Reliability slips a bit for 2009. Both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates expect that the Accent will provide average dependability over time, and nothing more.

Thanks to average predicted reliability ratings coupled with unimpressive side-impact crash-test scores, we can’t put the 2009 Accent anywhere close to the top of a list of recommended small cars to buy. Do some additional research and consider the competition.

By Michael Harley and Christian Wardlaw