2011 Hyundai Accent

The 2011 Hyundai Accent hatchback remains the cheapest car available in the U.S. at $9,985. The Accent is also available as a sedan, albeit with a higher starting price. Reviewers don't select the Accent as a favorite subcompact, but they say it's a reasonable choice if one wants to spend as little as possible. Reviewers say the ride quality is decent, and the generous warranty is certainly a selling point if one is trying to keep costs to a minimum. Experts consider the 2011 Nissan Versa (Base MSRP: $9,990 to $17,190), whose base price is only $5 higher than the Accent's, to be the better car. The Hyundai Accent performs poorly in crash tests and the base model lacks many standard features, including antilock brakes. The current-generation Hyundai Accent sedan and hatchback is set to be replaced by a completely redesigned car for the 2012 model year.

The 2011 Hyundai Accent carries on with few changes. A sunroof is no longer an available option, and higher trim levels come equipped with an upgraded stereo with satellite radio capability and USB input. Our full report on the 2009 Hyundai Accent [LINK] analyzes multiple reviews to give a comprehensive look at what the experts think of this economy car.

Fuel efficiency is a strong suit for the Accent, but considering its size and power output, the mileage as rated by the EPA isn't great. Its four-cylinder engine makes 110 horsepower and delivers 28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined when equipped with the five-speed manual transmission. With a four-speed automatic, it manages 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined. For comparison, the new 2011 Ford Fiesta (Base MSRP: $13,320 to $17,120) SFE trim level gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined, all while delivering 120 horsepower.

The 2011 Hyundai Accent falls short in independent crash testing. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Accent its second-best Acceptable rating for front and rollover accidents, while the Accent receives the lowest rating of Poor for side-impact protection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Accent a 4-star rollover-protection rating, but it has not yet crash tested the Accent using its new 2011 5-star ratings system. Front, side and side curtain airbags come standard. Antilock brakes are not available for the base GL hatchback trim but are optional on the GS hatchback and GSL sedan, and standard on the SE hatchback. Electronic stability control is not available.

The 2011 Hyundai Accent starts at $9,985 for the base Accent GL hatchback and goes up to $15,345 for the Accent SE hatchback. Sedan pricing falls in between.

The 2012 Hyundai Accent and its corporate cousin, the 2012 Kia Rio, will both get complete redesigns that continue to share underpinnings.