by Jeff Voth

Hyundai, the car company, has always been synonymous for value. From the introduction of the first Hyundai vehicles in North America way back in the 1980’s, the corporate mantra was to provide cheap vehicles at fair prices.

At the beginning of the 21st century, however, Hyundai started singing a new tune. Rather than focus on cheap cars, the company decided to up the ante and build quality vehicles to be sold at reasonably good prices. While it was still important the Hyundai name represent best-in-class pricing, it was also imperative consumers no longer associate the words cheap and Hyundai in the same sentence.

The biggest challenge the Korean automaker faces is the perception they have created for themselves in the market.

"For 2007, Hyundai embodies a coolness factor previously missing from the cars"

How does a car company renowned for producing cheap transportation convince the buying public they now build high quality cars worthy to be compared with the likes of Honda, Toyota and Nissan? The answer, at least as far as Hyundai is concerned, is the all new Accent 3-door hatchback and sedan.

The Accent has been in production for the past 12 years, the newest iteration being the 3rd generation. For 2007, Hyundai has designed a vehicle that embodies a coolness factor previously missing from the first and second generation cars.

A swooping roofline rushes towards the front hood, providing the illusion of motion even when standing still. The rear of the Accent 3-door is short and stubby, but rounded so as to increase visual appeal. A rear roof spoiler is standard on both hatchback models.

Not to be outdone, the sedan is equally striking, though not as sporty in appearance as the hatchback. Rakish styling provides a tight exterior profile, corners are rounded with elongated oval headlights and European style taillights.

The 2007 Accent is available in three models, the two-door GS and SE hatchback and the GLS four-door sedan.

All three cars offer class-leading safety, including front and side impact airbags, head protection airbags, and other structural enhancements. Anti-lock brakes are optional, except on the SE hatchback, but this is also the case with two of its biggest competitors, the Toyota Yaris and the Chevrolet Aveo.

Underneath the hood is a 1.6-litre DOHC 4-cylinder cast iron block engine that produces 110 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 106 lbs-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. The high-revving engine can be mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic.

Fuel economy is rated at 32 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway for a manually equipped car. As you would expect in the economy class, the Accent runs on regular unleaded gasoline.

The body of the 2007 Accent is 39% stiffer than the previous generation and includes a front MacPherson strut suspension with coil springs and gas shock absorbers and a coupled torsion beam rear suspension with coil springs and gas shock absorbers.

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