Hyundai teases the new 2023 Accent in photos

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new Hyundai Accent in the Philippines, and Hyundai Motor Philippines (HMPH), hasn’t been making any noise about the new model just yet. Will there be an Accent in the future of the Hyundai lineup in the country? That remains to be seen, but as a returning nameplate with an all-new model on the horizon, we can’t ignore this one. 

The next-generation Accent is a subcompact sedan that is poised to compete against the likes of the Toyota Vios, Honda City, and Nissan Almera, among others. In a field of very established nameplates, and with the hiatus that the Accent got, could the South Korean brand be mounting a comeback sometime soon? 

Teaser photos from India have cropped up on the internet, and its fifth-generation model has got us wondering just how good it’ll look. Based on the other newer Hyundai models like the Stargazer, Tucson, and Santa Fe, we can expect a future-forward design with this new Accent, perhaps we will be able to get a model that will give established names a run for their money like it did before back in the early 2000s. 

Known as the Verna in India, the new Accent will adopt a similar design to the current Elantra compact sedan. The latest design language is full of cuts and curves and the teaser reveals that we are in for LED lighting all around which includes diodes for the headlights, DRLs, and taillights. This could be the best-looking Accent yet. There is also a fastback roofline that is akin to a lot of modern Hyundais as of late. 

As for the engine, sources are pointing to a 1.5-liter turbocharged motor with a six-speed manual transmission also available. For customers looking for an automatic variant, a seven-speed dual-clutch type transmission will be fielded in the lineup with the turbocharged engine. 

For the more cost-effective variants, Hyundai will be offering a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline engine paired with either a six-speed manual or an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). 

The power figures for these two powertrains will likely be similar to the other 1.5-liters in the Hyundai lineup, with the naturally-aspirated mill churning out 111 hp and 144 Nm of torque, while the turbo hits somewhere in the ballpark of 158 hp and 260 Nm of torque according to sources. 

The biggest hurdle here for the Accents hopeful return would be the interest in the nameplate and the interest that HMPH has in sedans. As we all know, the South Korean brand, under the new distributor, hasn’t fielded any sedans in the Philippine market just yet, with their main focus being crossovers, MPVs, and Vans. To a certain extent, the brand has become quite popular again, and it also has been gaining traction with Philippine car buyers. However, the brand could also explore the possibility of bringing back a very storied nameplate in the country, given that it was one of the more popular Hyundai cars back when it was widely available. 

The question now remains, does the market want the Accent? Do you want the Accent? After the launch, it’s likely that we will be able to get our questions answered.