2012 Hyundai accent SE 5 door

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: I have some of the same issues with this 2012 Hyundai Accent SE five-door that I have with the Elantra. I'd like the suspension to be a bit more dynamic, a shade less soft, and I'd like the seats to have a less flat bottom and some more side support. Not being able to have a telescoping steering wheel makes getting a comfortable driving position more difficult, especially with the manually adjustable seats. But I realize that this is an entry-level car, what goes for basic automotive transportation here in the United States in 2012. Taking that into account, I can forgive some of those ills. But I'd still say that Hyundai needs to put better seats in its cars. The powertrain here is nothing to write home about, but it's perfectly adequate. The six-speed manual lets you eke out everything you can from the 1.6-liter four-banger. The gearshift does not give you any sense of mechanical greatness, but it works just fine. That pretty much sums up the Hyundai Accent. It's nothing really to wow you, but it's perfectly adequate in almost every way. If this is the base car in our world today, things aren't too bad. EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Of the three cars I drove over the last few days-a Toyota Yaris, a Kia Rio and this (plus an extended drive in the Accent), I'd say the Hyundai is the best overall. I'm taking everything into account, including sticker price, and this one is the least expensive. No, it's not perfect. But it's a good looking little scooter, has more power than the Yaris, rides on the same platform as the Rio--meaning it's a nifty handler (though not as fun as the Honda Fit--and it's practical in five-door form. Using it for a weekend, I hauled kids and a bunch of art supplies, made a trip to Comcast and back to pick up some cable boxes (not nearly the disaster I'd feared it would be), ran out to the airport and back, and battled the couple inches of snow we got (the car is decent in the snow--no more, no less). My biggest beef is probably the seats, which I thought were just awful. They are too flat and uncomfortable. That, and the panel fits--check out the front edge of the hood; it's quite misaligned. Oh, and the gearbox is a little mushy. Overall, though, this Hyundai is a terrific deal. NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This 2013 Hyundai Accent SE five-door is nicely priced and optioned, and it's a decent thing to blitz around town in. I liked the easy clutch and the agreeable six-speed, which let's you wring every bit of power from this four-banger. It's true, driving a slow car fast is indeed fun. I like the looks. The Accent has nice styling, cool lines and a sporty stance. It's a solid small-car execution. Inside, I had no issues with the seats, but at five foot, nine inches tall I generally fit well in most cabins. I was less than thrilled with the cabin appearance, especially the pattern on the doors. Otherwise, it was reasonably quiet for this segment and comfortable. It also warmed up respectably quick on a 5-degree morning in Michigan. The Accent is one of the better values on the market. Satellite radio, nice styling, very affordable--I like it. ASSOCIATE EDITOR DAVID ARNOUTS: Everyone has this car nailed right on: perfectly adequate. I took the Accent to do a drop-off one afternoon and found it to be better than I had imagined, but I wasn't expecting much. I'll admit that I'm a huge cynic unless it's something I am not familiar with or excited about. The six-speed fits well for the low-powered Accent. It's smooth and functional without much fuss. If you've never driven a manual before, this is a great car to learn on. There is adequate space in the interior for stuff and people of average size. The satellite radio was a nice touch, and I'm surprised that it's standard equipment on this car. Complaints about the seats are not unfounded. There never was a point where I felt completely comfortable or in the right spot. I'm not going to throw stones here and say the car is awful, because it's not. It's a perfectly fine entry-level car that someone will be more than excited about. I'm just not that someone. EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: I continue to marvel at what less than $17,000 buys in a car nowadays. This is well-sorted, fun-to-rev and run little scooter with reasonably nice upholstery and trim, a strong engine and good fuel economy. If I was back in my early professional days shopping for a utilitarian car at a good price, this one would certainly rank right up there. This price is roughly equivalent to what about $7,000 would buy back in the mid-1980s--and that kind of money back then didn't even buy a radio or air conditioning in a new car. As I commuted in this little Hyundai hatch, I also noted how many little cars like this are starting to pop up on the morning drive. I'm not sure if that's a function of price and fuel costs, or that there are just better-equipped choices available in this class of vehicle. Either way, I see this as a good thing. The car's no race rocket, but flinging something this small and light around on the road, working the gears, sawing on the steering and generally getting the most out of the car brings back some of the real fun of driving for me. Thanks, Accent. 2012 Hyundai Accent SE 5-Door Base Price: $16,570 As-Tested Price: $16,700 Drivetrain: 1.6-liter I4; FWD, six-speed manual Output: 138 hp @ 6,300 rpm, 123 lb-ft @ 4,850 rpm Curb Weight: 2,430 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 34/31.7 mpg Options: Carpeted floor mats ($95); iPod cable ($35)