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2017 Hyundai Accent review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
6 photos

Hyundai Accent highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • Engaging style
  • Strong engine
  • Feels larger than it looks

Cons

  • Competitors offer more options
  • Hatchback’s rear visibility is limited

Mileage (EPA estimate)

26 city, 36 highway, 30 combined

Pricing for current inventory

(no current inventory)

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Price
Year

2017 Hyundai Accent offers excellent value despite dated features

As demand grows for ever-roomier sedans and crossovers, so does the appeal of smartly packaged small cars that mimic the bigger guys. The 2017 Hyundai Accent fits the bill with a satisfying blend of performance, utility and comfort, offering both sedan and hatchback body styles. Get the hatch for maximum utility, or the sedan if you prefer a trunk.

The Accent isn’t flashy, but doesn’t lack style. It has the same flowing lines as its larger Elantra and Sonata counterparts, and it’s also one of the quicker subcompacts around, which eases the stress of highway maneuvers. It’s available with either a manual or automatic six-speed transmission.

The Accent’s versatility makes it a top pick, although the rival Honda Fit can carry more cargo and the Ford Fiesta gets better fuel economy. A new Value Edition trim level debuted for 2017, blending features from the base and top trims. Note that the Accent was fully redesigned for 2018 with new features. If modern tech is a priority, the 2018 and newer models may be a better choice.

All Hyundai Accent years

What is new for the 2017 Hyundai Accent?

  • The Accent is available in a new trim called the Value Edition.
  • The Sport trim now comes with Satellite Radio Ready as standard equipment.

Hyundai Accent photos

5 reasons to buy the 2017 Hyundai Accent

What We Like:

Performance: No one will mistake the Accent for a sports car, but it’s a gutsy performer with a punchy four-cylinder engine that makes it one of the quicker subcompacts around. The engine makes just 137 horsepower, but responds quickly to the gas pedal (aided by an equally snappy six-speed transmission) and accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about nine seconds. There’s also a little zip to be gained by shifting your own gears with the manual transmission. The Accent’s composure and steady grip in corners is equally endearing, with confident, direct steering that makes fun work of a winding road.

Comfort: The Accent is surprisingly roomy inside. The dashboard angles away from front passengers and contributes to a spacious feeling. Tall doors and a low floor make for easy entry and exit, and there’s ample space in all four seats (the rear middle seat is best left unoccupied). Front seats offer plenty of cushioning for long drives, and ride quality is better than most rivals. Although the Accent is no Mercedes, it does an admirable job of muting outside noise.

Value: The 2017 Accent continues Hyundai’s tradition of offering exceptional bang for the buck. Standard features like keyless entry, heated side mirrors, and a six-speaker sound system are nice to have, especially at the Accent’s bargain price. Moving up the trim ladder adds larger wheels, rear disc brakes (many subcompacts at the time had rear drum brakes) and Bluetooth® music streaming.

What Needs Improvement

Fuel Economy: Our lone gripe with the otherwise well-rounded Accent is that it fell short of its EPA-estimated fuel economy target in Edmunds testing. The Accent is estimated at 31 mpg combined with the automatic transmission (32 mpg combined with the manual).

While its shortfall was within an acceptable margin, they underscore that the Accent’s rating is difficult to achieve in real-world driving.

Similar vehicles

If you're interested in the 2017 Hyundai Accent, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.

Image of Chevrolet Sonic

The Chevrolet Sonic is a subcompact hatchback with a lot to like. 2017-2020 models have a standard 1.8L four-cylinder gas engine that produces 138 hp and come with a five-speed manual transmission (with hill-hold feature) or you can find an optional six-speed automatic. You can also find an optional (standard as of 2019) turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder with the same horsepower but more torque. 

Standard features on the 2017-2020 Chevrolet Sonic include:

  • Cloth upholstery

  • Automatic headlights

  • LED daytime running lights

  • 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks

  • Seven-inch touchscreen interface

  • Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

Based on customer reviews, the 2017 Hyundai Accent has great gas mileage and is dependable. It is good for driving around town and has enough power for highway driving.
4
Excellent

RepairPal gave the Hyundai Accent an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Hyundai Accent 11th out of 27 among Subcompact Cars.

View RepairPal's full rating of the Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Accent features and specs

SE 2WD 4D Hatchback

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • CD Audio
  • Cloth Seats
  • Cruise Control
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Side Airbags
  • Traction Control
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • Cloth Seats

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

1.6L

Horsepower

137

Torque (ft-lbs)

123

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

11.4

Wheelbase

101.2"

Overall length

162"

Width

66.9"

Height

57.1"

Leg room

F 41.8"/R 33.3"

Head room

F 39.9"/R 37.8"

Front tires

P175/70TR14

Rear tires

P175/70TR14

Seating capacity

5

Transmission

Automatic

2017 Hyundai Accent FAQ

More about the 2017 Hyundai Accent

Color options

Exterior colors:

  • Boston Red

  • Century White

  • Ironman Silver

  • Misty Beige

  • Pacific Blue

  • Triathlon Gray

  • Ultra Black

  • Vitamin C

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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.

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