Established Australian light car leader, Hyundai, looks set to further its six-year reign as the most popular brand among affordable small cars, with the July 1^st launch of its new Accent.

Underlining Hyundai’s benchmark value for money formula by offering more car, more standard extras and improved small car essentials in its completely new look 3-model range, Accent will be launched with ultra-competitive driveaway-no-more-to-pay prices* from just $14,990 post-GST.

According to Hyundai Australia’s managing director, Doug Croker, Accent has more space, strength, safety, power, refinement, features and dynamic finesse than the very successful Excel which it supersedes.

"Accent raises the bar for the light car class in so many ways and as a bonus, looks attractively different without being confrontational and feels more lively and substantial than others in its class", Mr Croker said.

"Excel was the icon light car of the ‘90s in Australia because it offered more of those fundamental value elements of room, performance, affordable pricing and attractive design than any other competitor in the class, and even some in the next class above. Accent improves on this formula and adds emphasis on safety, dynamics, standard equipment levels and strength of construction to offer an even more competitive package to light- and small-car buyers."

Mr Croker said comfort, safety and handling are big improvements and Accent’s even more potent 1.5 litre twin cam engine maintains Hyundai in the front of the light car performance pack.

He pointed out that Accent continues Excel’s established tradition of buyer-friendly driveaway-no-more-to-pay pricing, which saves up to around $2000 over ‘plus-on-road’ prices depending on the state of purchase.

"As a natural migration point for ‘toy’ car drivers, Accent is affordable on the road yet is a much bigger car with lots of room, zoom and a big boot," he said.

"Also, buyers now being priced out of the next segment up will find Accent close to Corolla in specs but available at near entry-level pricing. And as the latest generation of the well-reputed Excel car line, Accent comes already well credentialled in respect of reliability and economy.

"Excel will not disappear, however. We are garaging the Excel name temporarily and will use it again as Hyundai’s entry level nameplate when we introduce a new, even more affordable, smaller-than-Accent car in the near future."

Model range
Accent is available in the three body variants of 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks and a 4-door sedan. Each comes in two models defined by trim levels.

The 3-door hatch accounts for the entry level Accent as well as a sporty-look GS. Both 4-door sedan and 5-door hatch are available as GL or GLS models.

New standard features even on entry-level models include engine immobiliser with rolling codes, driver airbag, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, centre console, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, internally adjustable door mirrors, three cup holders and a front passenger vanity mirror.

Pricing
Post-GST recommended retail pricing of Accent starts at $14,990 driveaway for the Accent 3-door manual, or $15,990 driveaway with factory air-conditioning.