Hyundai Accent

Name: 2003 Hyundai Accent
Brand: Hyundai

EPA MPG: 29 mpg

Owner Reported MPG:

EPA MPG: 29 mpg

Owner Reported MPG:

Reliability Details

Owner Satisfaction Details

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Road Test

The Accent's interior is put together well, the car is easy to park, and it provides a tolerable ride. Handling is secure but not very agile. In addition, the cabin is noisy and cramped, it's not very quick, and braking is subpar. Antilock brakes (ABS) were offered starting with the 2005 model year.

2003 Sedans & Hatchbacks Reliability

This Car

100

0 - 100

Hyundai Accent

vs. Similar Cars

Honda Civic

Toyota Corolla

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Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

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Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

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Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

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Owner Reports

Owner Satisfaction Owner Satisfaction

2000

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2020

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2025

Driving Experience

Comfort

Value

Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

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Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

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Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

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2003 Small sedans/hatchbacks Ratings

2003 Hyundai Accent

$2,850 - $2,925

EPA MPG 29 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser

$2,775 - $2,825

EPA MPG NA

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Ford Focus

$2,925 - $4,150

EPA MPG 28 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Honda Civic

$2,975 - $4,900

EPA MPG 34 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Honda Civic Hybrid

$ NA

EPA MPG 40 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Honda Insight

$3,300

EPA MPG 65 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Hyundai Elantra

$2,775 - $3,075

EPA MPG NA

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Kia Rio

$2,850 - $2,875

EPA MPG NA

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Kia Spectra

$2,725 - $2,750

EPA MPG NA

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Mazda Protege

$3,050 - $4,625

EPA MPG 27 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Mini Cooper

$3,075 - $3,375

EPA MPG 31 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer

$2,850 - $11,050

EPA MPG 26 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Nissan Sentra

$2,950 - $3,200

EPA MPG NA

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Pontiac Vibe

$3,100 - $3,350

EPA MPG 30 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Saturn Ion

$2,775 - $2,825

EPA MPG 27 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Subaru Impreza

$3,025 - $5,225

EPA MPG 24 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Toyota Corolla

$4,050 - $4,325

EPA MPG 32 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Toyota Matrix

$3,500 - $4,200

EPA MPG 28 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Toyota Prius

$3,400

EPA MPG 49 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Volkswagen Beetle

$ NA

EPA MPG 26 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Volkswagen Golf

$3,075 - $4,375

EPA MPG 45 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2003 Volkswagen Jetta

$2,825 - $4,550

EPA MPG 38 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

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Features & Specs

2-door hatchback

sedan

2 front, 3 rear

Front

1.6-liter 4 (104 hp)

5-speed manual
4-speed automatic

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Model History

2018-2022

2018 Redesign Year

This generation of Accent comes only as a sedan. It is bare-bones transportation and suffers from many of the shortcomings common among subcompacts. Its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine returned 33 mpg overall in our tests. That is good, but many larger, more substantial compact cars can match that. The engine noise is mostly unobtrusive, but the sluggish acceleration forces the driver to mash the throttle, at which point the engine sounds coarse. The Hyundai doesn't do much to soften bumps and ruts, and road noise fills the cabin. The basic interior features easy-to-use controls. We found the seats to be short on support, and the back seat is tight back seat. Advanced safety features come only on the top Limited trim, which is priced like a compact car, undermining the reason to buy a subcompact. All 2020 models get a new 120-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission. The manual transmission is no longer available for 2022.

2012-2017

2012 Redesign Year

The 2012 Accent is endowed with responsive handling, comfortable front seats, and better fuel economy While the front seats are also more roomy, the rear seat remains cramped -- though it is on par for its class. Noise levels are higher than we consider ideal, but not offensive. All of the controls are straightforward. Though we appreciate the newfound responsiveness of the Accent's handling, the ride is somewhat jittery. In the end though, we cannot recommend this version of the Accent because it scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test.

2006-2011

2006 Redesign Year

Accent's 2006 redesign brought a quieter, more comfortable ride. As a result, this version of the subcompact Hyundai is a significant improvement over the previous generation. It is pleasant to drive with a relatively comfortable and quiet ride. Fuel economy is very good, though it trails the best in its class. While ABS was offered as an option, it may be difficult to find a car so equipped and braking performance is lacking without it. Further, stability control wasn't available at all.

2000-2005

2000 Redesign Year

For most of its life, the Accent has been a decent, but uninspired small car with a choppy and noisy ride. On the positive side, the interior is put together well and the car is easy to park. Handling is also secure, if not exactly agile. On the other hand, the Accent is not very quick, braking is subpar, the passenger compartment is noisy and the accommodations are cramped, Antilock brakes (ABS) were offered as an option starting with the 2005 model year, but it was tough to find a car equipped with them.