W 2000 r. A variant of the Korean Hyundai Accent car appeared on our market, which is based on the old Pony and Excel models, and is produced from 1994 year. W 1999 r. facelift version was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show, mainly the front and rear of the car.
The Accent is available in three body styles – sports 3-door, a family 4-door and as a 5-door hatchback. The body is a self-supporting structure with separate crumple zones, with enhanced skeleton stiffness, with protection against the effects of side collisions. It fits in any version 5 people with a moderate amount of things in the luggage compartment with a capacity of 334 dm3 in 4-door version for 480 dm3 in versions 3- and 5-door.
The car is longer than its predecessor by 12 cm (O 10 cm version 3- and 5-door) and this is primarily the result of using more massive ones, larger bumpers, meeting the requirements of the latest regulations. The styling of the engine air intake is different. The upper inlet has been enlarged, which hitherto had the shape of a narrow slit. The headlamps blocked with the turn signals are larger, fog lights are located in the lower part of the fender (impurities accumulate in their cavities). In my opinion, the styling of the front part of the car is not very attractive – the horizontal ones are of concern, vertical and oblique ribs of both air inlet grilles. The rear part of the car is more aesthetic, where the shape of the rear lamp lenses has been changed, the number plate mountings and the bumper line.
The silhouette of the updated Hyundai Accent does not stand out from the crowd, which is characteristic of many Korean cars. You can see clearly, that it is a modernization of an old car model with all its remnants. Accent follows the tradition of Far Eastern cars, which were successful at the end of the years 70., but whose time has passed. Hyundai competes with modern Seat models in various markets, Skoda, Opel, Renault. The French compare the Accent with these cars, they write: "Two cultures – two epochs ”and one must agree with this term. Accent in its older version is from 1997 year assembled in Lżewsk, Russia. A newer variety of Accenta was to be called Verna, but it didn't, mainly due to objections from dealers.
The interior of the car has a conventional arrangement of controls, favorable ergonomic solutions and careful finish. As one of the few cars belonging to the lower middle class, available on our market, is equipped with an air conditioning unit in all versions. An objection may be caused by the left part of the tachometer covered by the steering wheel. Adjusting the height of the driver's seat and the tilt of the steering wheel, electric windows, double pull-out holder for containers with drinks – are standard equipment. Both the fuel filler and the boot can be opened from the inside. The car also has a third brake light. Basic equipment will probably satisfy even the most demanding users. The more expensive versions of the vehicle are fitted with two progressive airbags.
Although the Hyundai Accent is not a very big car, at the wheelbase 2440 mm, we managed to find a lot of space for people traveling both in the front and rear seats. The rear center passenger does not have a headrest. The distance between the armrests and the front door is 1340 mm and driver and passenger, especially when they are of strong stature, they can nudge each other with their elbows.