In 2010, Hyundai uncorked the panache and polish and spruced up the Accent to compete against GM, Nissan and Honda in the Chinese economy car market. The effort paid off as Hyundai tallied record August sales in China, led by the Accent.
The Accent, called the Verna in China, had relied on old lines and modeling since 2008. In 2010, Hyundai redesigned the front end to give the car a sleek look, while also restyling the rear lights.
The Accent is available as a sedan or hatchback. The sedan is equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, air conditioning, a USB port, AM/FM and satellite radio and four speakers. It has power windows, mirrors and door locks.
The Hyundai Accent hatchback made its debut in China at the Guangzhou auto show, in December, 2010 and arrived in showrooms in January, 2011. Two engines, a 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter, will be available in China. The 1.6 liter engine is destined for North America.
The 2012 Hyundai Verna 1.6 liter 4-cylinder engine generates 30 miles to the gallon in city driving and 40 miles to the gallon on the highway. The seats are comfortable with ample leg room. The car comes with a standard USB port, roomy space in the trunk, and a satellite radio. The car promises 138 horsepower.
The Hyundai Accent 5-Door model has a hatch in the rear, plenty of shoulder room and fog lights. It has a back window wiper, but visibility through the back window is not optimum.
No crash test information has yet been released by the National Highway Traffic Safety; however, the 2012 Accent does come with standard features for safety, including anti-lock brakes and airbags.
The car’s warranty is the longest among economy cars.
Between January and August, 2011, Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia Motors expanded their market share in China to 9.7 percent. Ranking third, Hyundai sales totaled 478,525 units. The August sales were a record high. The popularity of the Verna is credited for the jump in sales. In the 2011 China Automobile Customer Satisfaction Index, Hyundai’s Verna ranked first in the compact category.
Hyundai is confident their sales will continue to improve to 10% of the Chinese market share.
“China is becoming the most important market that could decide the very fate of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors,” a group executive said in the Korea Herald.