- by Brian Byrne
Upgraded Accent now in Ireland
25 March 2003: Hyundai Ireland has introduced its upgraded Accent, with prices starting from E15,250. The new version of the car, introduced in its current form in 1999, is slightly longer and has been changed front and rear to give it a more 'European' look.
It also has ABS and air-conditioning as standard, and is available in 3-door 'Sport GT' or 4- and 5-door in both GL and GLS forms. The GL cars are the same price as the 3-door, and the GLS versions cost E16,250. GLS specification includes side airbags, electric radio aerial, keyless entry and a higher level of interior trim and fittings.
Sam Synott of Hyundai Ireland said the Accent is now firmly placed in the 'C' small family car segment, competing with C2 level cars such as the Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus as well as C1 vehicles like SEAT Cordoba and Suzuki Liana.
But though he made the point that the Accent is longer than the Ford Focus, it is significantly narrower and lower than any of the C2 cars, including the Golf and Astra, and has a shorter wheelbase than any except the Citroen Xsara, which has the same.
Sam Synott also said that if a value-added/specification analysis is made, the new Accent has an advantage of up to E5,825 against its major competitors, ranging upwards from a E2,675 difference against a VW Polo 1.4.
Some 17,000 Accents have been sold in Ireland since the model was first introduced here, while worldwide the total is 1.6 million.
©2003 irishcar.com