Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The 2007 Hyundai Accent GS Hatchback five-speed drives fluidly with an effortless steering response. Definitely not highly rated as a performance vehicle, the Accent could surprisingly beat a performance vehicle in fun factor. The five-speed manual transmission Accent shifts and corners like a performance vehicle, while the compact size increases the feeling of performance.
With the 2007 MSRP price point starting at $10,995, the Hyundai Accent delivers the fun ride of a performance vehicle in a small, cheap package. Beyond the effortless steering and fluid driving, however, the Accent offers little else in the way of performance. Driving over rough highways produces a very uncomfortable, bumpy ride. Even the steering wheel is difficult to hold onto on rough highways; the steering wheel vibrates beyond an acceptable comfort level. However, normal, smooth roads produced a very smooth ride.
Though the five-speed model accelerates more quickly than the automatic transmission model, which tops out at four speeds, neither would be considered a quick accelerator. I have accelerated at an acceptable level in the Hyundai Accent, but certainly not at a performance level. However, I did test drive both a 2005 automatic transmission Elantra and the 2007 five-speed before deciding on the five-speed. The performance of the newer vehicle was much higher; the five-speed accelerated much more quickly. Also, a very noticeable difference between the two years/styles; the headliner in the 2007 Accent was very noticeably superior to the 2005 Elantra's headliner: the exterior noise was drastically decreased in the Accent
Through a slightly above-normal three-year usage period of 44,000 miles, my 2007 Hyundai Accent GS Hatchback five-speed has performed better than expected. I have not had many issues with the vehicle, and I tested it thoroughly: hitting a deer, driving fifty miles on a torn-up highway, accelerating quickly, braking quickly, beginning on steep inclines, etc. When I braked to avoid hitting the deer, the car braked quickly, and I hit the deer at only ten or fifteen miles per hour. Thankfully, I did not test the airbags, but I did test the impact. The car crumpled in the front, as designed, to avoid engine damage, and I was able to drive away from the accident.
With the effortless steering, shifting and cornering, I rate the 2007 Hyundai Accent GS Hatchback five-speed a four out of five for performance. Even considering the rough ride on rough roads and the slower acceleration, the 2007 Hyundai Accent GS Hatchback five-speed performs very well for its class.