If you think it's impossible to be frugal and also park a nicely equipped new car in your driveway, you need to test-drive the 2020 Hyundai Accent. Offered in three distinct trims—from the price leader SE to the loaded Limited—the Accent provides something for everyone's budget. Its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is as efficient as the car's base price would suggest. We've found the lightweight Accent fun to drive and easy to pitch into corners with enough speed to make the tires squeal. In this case, the old saying is true: It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow.
Pros Sophisticated styling, eager handling, businesslike cabin
Cons Noisy powertrain, cramped rear-seat passenger space, no hatchback body style.
The 2020 Hyundai Accent comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: continuously variable-speed automatic, 6-speed manual.Improved fuel economy from a new, less powerful four-cylinder engine.Continuously variable automatic transmission replaces traditional automatic.
Pros Comfortable ride and impressively quiet cabin Spacious interior with solid, rattle-free build quality Long warranty coverage provides peace of mind Excellent real-world fuel economy
Cons Lacks onboard navigation but connects to smartphone nav apps Cloth seats are uncomfortable and trap heat USB port struggles to charge a phone Enhanced safety aids only available on top trim level
The 2020 Hyundai Accent is about as basic as new cars get, and that’s where its appeal lies.
Pros City-friendly size Handsome, if forgettable Good value even at top trim More efficient new engine
Cons No hatchback version Base trims lack safety features Rough acceleration noise Un-fun driving dynamics
Six-way power driver's seat now standard on SES and Titanium trims.Cargo cover and package tray included on SE trim and above.Minor exterior styling changes.
Pros Above-average cargo space for the class All-wheel drive can be ordered on every trim level Widespread availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Sync 3 infotainment interface is fast and easy to use
Cons Aside from blind-spot monitoring, advanced safety features aren't available Below-average fuel economy Base engine can struggle while carrying passengers and cargo Choppy, jittery ride on most surfaces
Very little is new on the EcoSport for 2021, but it does get an updated appearance package, a standard power driver’s seat on the top SES 4WD trim (oddly, it didn't have one before) , and techy faux-leather seat coverings in the Titanium model.
Pros Affordable, compact and maneuverable, easy-to-use infotainment.
Cons Disappointing fuel efficiency, sleep-inducing acceleration, lacks interior space.
The 2021 Ford Ecosport small crossover forsakes its name and doesn’t offer much by way of driving excitement or efficiency.
Pros Easy to park Big enough back seat Cargo space isn’t bad
Cons No active safety tech Spartan base model Hardly a value Built to a budget Cheap, but somehow still too much
