Overview Solid budget car doesn’t actually feel like a budget car

Pros Logical layout, quality interior, feels more expensive than it is, reasonable prices for options

Cons Could be faster, but it will suit most people’s needs

Value for money Great

What would I change? If I was being really picky, I’d like more power and more curb appeal

The 2014 Hyundai Accent is one of the few cars I’ve reviewed in a long time that doesn’t do anything to piss me off. This is a great compliment, trust me. In every car I review, I usually find at least one thing that annoys me so much that I end up not liking the car — sometimes it’s something like no volume knob, a wonky transmission or an over-inflated price. I found no real faults with the Accent — the car is perfectly fine for what it is, and that’s a big deal. For me, the Accent scores high in all areas: driving dynamics, interior quality, ergonomics, powertrain, refinement, user friendliness, comfort and value.

As Hyundai’s entry-level compact car, it feels much richer than its budget price would suggest. Although it’s hard to make a truly terrible car these days, economy cars often offer constant reminders of their price, usually in the form of shoddy-feeling interior materials, a Spartan layout or just a general feeling of cheapness and corner-cutting that can’t be ignored. The Accent is not like this at all — the hatch feels solid all around and has a build quality to it many other cars in its segment lack.

Where many other budget cars in this class feel twitchy at highway speeds, the Accent is stable and not a rattle can be heard. Yes, on the highway, you have to shift the six-speed manual into third or fourth to get any sort of passing power, but this is normal for its segment. Luckily, the manual transmission is a smooth affair — the clutch and gear shifter feel like they came from a more expensive car. The gates are intuitive, the throws are short, and the clutch bites at just the right time. It’s easy enough to operate that it would make an ideal car for someone to learn manual on (getting a manual transmission well also help you coax more from the Accent’s engine and save some money in the meantime).

Acceleration is acceptable for what the car is, meaning you’re not going to win any drag races, but it will meet most people’s needs. Braking, handling, steering and feedback are better than, if not on par with, other competitors in the market, including the Honda Fit and Nissan Micra. The Accent’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine has 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque — the Accent has more power and feels more high-end than both of those subcompacts. I also prefer the Accent’s heavier steering to the Micra’s or Fit’s somewhat flimsy-feeling setup. The steering’s weight helps convey a sense of quality and gives more feedback.

Also watch our video review of the Nissan Micra

Inside, the Accent again punches above its weight. The materials used don’t look cheap, and everything has a substantial feel to it. Where there is a typically constant drone of engine noise in budget cars, the Accent’s interior is as quiet as a Lexus’. The dashboard is also logical and user-friendly — everything is where it should be.

The base Accent model is admittedly quite bare-bones, but the car does have value because its options are priced fairly. Typically, a budget car has a really attractive base price, but the moment you start adding options and want something like air conditioning or Bluetooth, the price can become inflated quickly and diminish the car’s value. My as-tested top-line Accent GLS with a six-speed manual costs just $4,000 more than the base L model, but it adds a huge amount of equipment for that price. For comparison’s sake, if you want an automatic transmission in the Nissan Micra, it adds nearly $3,000 to the base price of $9,995 and the upgraded transmission is all you get — there are no extra goodies so soften the blow.

I recently reviewed a Micra whose as-tested price rang in at more than $16,000. For that price, you will get more value with an Accent because it is more car, you get more features, and it doesn’t feel like a cheap car, something that can’t be said of the Micra.

The Accent is one of the best subcompacts on the market right now because it punches above its weight and provides outstanding value.

The Specs

Type of vehicle Front-wheel-drive four-door compact hatchback

Engine 1.6L DOHC four-cylinder

Power 138 hp @ 6,300 rpm; 123 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,850 rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS

Tires P175/70R14

Price (base/as tested) $13,899/$17,899

Destination charge $1,595

Natural Resources Canada fuel economy (L/100 km) 7.5 city, 5.3 highway

Standard features Six air bags, tilt steering column, 60/40 split/folding rear seat, USB port, iPod connectivity, auxiliary input jack, power locks and windows, four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system, and more

Options Six-speaker 172-watt audio system, telescopic steering, Bluetooth, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, heated front seats, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, cruise control, heated mirrors, 16-inch aluminum wheels, sunroof, heated power mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, fog lamps, automatic transmission and more