2018 Hyundai Accent makes global reveal

The 2018 Hyundai Accent makes its global debut at the Canadian International Auto Show. Hyundai’s 5th generation subcompact sedan and hatchback is rebuilt from ground up – gets a redesigned exterior, overhauled cabin, more safety features, and bigger dimension.

However, fans of its diesel version could face dismay, as the South Korean marque did not disclose the availability of a turbocharged CRDi variant of the 2018 Accent – a trait that made this car popular in the Philippine market.

The changes in exterior design of the 2018 Accent are easily noticeable; it now follows Hyundai’s signature fascia design – and we’re talking about the hexagonal grille, which is prominent in the latest Elantra.

In fact, if not for the narrower headlamps and a different fog lamp design, the all-new Accent could easily pass as a carbon copy of the Elantra, albeit, smaller.

The similarities between the 2 brothers flow through the character lines and overall shape of the car. The taillight shape and rear clad diffuser are just sharper with the 2018 Accent.

As for the size, the all-new Accent is essentially bigger than the outgoing model. Figures from Hyundai reveal that it’s 29 mm wider and has a 10 mm longer wheelbase for both 4-door and 5-door models. However, the sedan gets a 15-mm increase in overall length, while the hatchback receives a substantial 70-mm increment, also in overall length. The height of both models has been retained, although, ground clearance is reduced by 10 mm.

The overall increase in size spells good news for future owners, as this will mean more wiggle room for the driver and passengers, as well as bigger trunk space.

Just like the Elantra, the all-new Accent inherits the driver-oriented dashboard layout. The controls are soft touch and intuitive, with the 5- or 7-inch infotainment system features a reverse-camera display as standard for the global-spec model. It will also come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

For safety, the 2018 Accent comes standard with 6 airbags, as well as electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, traction control, and anti-lock braking system (ABS). This is aside from the fact that its chassis gets more torsional rigidity, which is up by 32% from the current generation model.

Moreover, the all-new Accent has autonomous emergency braking – a high-tech feature that uses forward-facing radar to detect a potential collision. Failure to react to the warning signals will force the car to apply emergency braking.

The 2018 Accent receives an improved Gamma 4-cylinder Gasoline Direct Injected (GDI) engine that produces 132 hp and 161 Nm of torque. The new engine is claimed to be retuned for better fuel efficiency, which is said to be improved by 7%. The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

As mentioned, Hyundai did not say if a CRDi engine variant will be available for the all-new Accent. Although, we may need to wait until the Q3 of 2017 before the sedan version hits the global showrooms, while the hatchback is expected by Q4. By then, the guess for a diesel Accent is still floating.