Hyundai Accent Hybrid

I've read:

1) There's a 44% improvement in mileage. Given that the car gets around 32mpg overall, that puts it in the 45 mpg category.

2) Estimated MSRP around $15,000

3) Slight improvement in acceleration.

4) The car is a mild Hybrid i.e. no electric only operation reported.

I'm looking for any additional current information I can find on this car. I've googled already, so please don't repost information that can be easily found.

Impressions and opinions welcome. Thanks

Had a Hyundai and would never get another one. Poor quality overall and considering the complexity of Hybrid technology I want someone who has experience. Good luck, sometimes money saved now looks good but 3 years down the road you can really regret it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Salsawonder @ Jun 5 2006, 12:27 PM) [snapback]266041[/snapback]</div>

If money saved is the only issue, depreciation should also be taken into account. Hondas and Toyotas have the lowest depreciation.

I currently drive a Hyundai, so I understand your sentiment. I've replaced so many things in the last year alone and the car shows no sign of stopping. It's a BIG headache when you drive 60 miles a day.

HOWEVER, I must add that most of these are wear n tear items and that Hyundai's have gotten alot better in the last few years. That is the main reason I put them in the running against the Prius.

That and the $10,000 I'd save over a Prius.

Hyundai has gotten a lot of flack over the years- and I feel that their new products are just as reliable, if not MORE reliable than Toyota.
In 2003 I had puchased a new Elantra GT - a 4 door hatchback, and it really surprised me. I always had heard bad things about Hyundai, until my friend purchased a 2000 model, and loved it, so when I decided to just buy an econo box for my commute, I thought I would give it a shot being that I could get one so cheap, and they have the great warranty. I drove the heck outta that poor little car, and it stood up better than most cars I have owned. The plastics were not cheap and slapped together, and it handled nicely. I only had one issue with it, but it was because a rock hot the windshield, so I had to fix that. I never had a trim piece fall off (like the Prius), and I never had it stall on the freeway (like my Prius). I have been waiting to hear more about the Hyundai hybrids, I have heard they are coming, and they seem to promise fierce competition. I have also read several articles in the Fresno Bee, and other magazines related to the reliablitity- saying that Toyota had better watch out. In fact they rated the reliability higher than some Honda models. I would definately buy a Hyundai again, it was worth what I paid for it, and it served it's purpose.
I am sure people are wanting to jump me for talking bad about the Prius quality, so let me state again, I fully understand the Prius has loads of new technology, therefore expect things to go wrong- so I am not putting the car down, such saying that the Hyundai was trouble free.

Also I just remembered my sister has a Hyundai Sonota, I believe a 2002 model, and she has driven a lot of miles and hauled her family around, and it has held up much better than any car she has owned.

So maybe a 1990 Hyundai Excel isn't as reliable as a Corolla, but times have changed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Screwdriver @ Jun 5 2006, 03:19 PM) [snapback]266081[/snapback]</div>

May I ask how many miles are on your Hyundai?

You basically get what you pay for. The "full" hybrid system may or may not cost more then, but it will definitely be more flexible. There are certain fundamental limitations of the other hybrid types simply cannot be provide... since they don't include the needed hardware.

Remember, the high volume from mass-production will help to drive down costs. So in a few years, the market will likely be different anyway... especially if the influence of oil/gas prices continues.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(remaxmanager @ Jun 5 2006, 01:55 PM) [snapback]266104[/snapback]</div>

Sure, I have 120,000 miles on the car. It's a 98 Tiburon. I've used a number of additives and treatments to get the car to "like new" engine performance.

You're right. The car is just as reliable as a Toyota as far as the major components go. The engine is bulletproof. It's things like brakes, catalytic converter, suspension and other wear items that I have had to replace. The design of these components have been MUCH improved in newer models.


The fact that I am comparing them to Toyota should speak volumes. I have owned a Solara before this Hyundai so I do have experience with both manufacturers.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Screwdriver @ Jun 5 2006, 04:27 PM) [snapback]266126[/snapback]</div>

Yea I would say after 2000 is safest as far as reliability is concerned. I have driven the newer Tiburon V6 5spd, and it was a lot of fun! The downside to the Tiburon (that I have heard) is that it is very expensive to insure.

Not really. I have a very reasonable rate from State Farm. It helps that the older Tibs are 4 cylinders that are underpowered by todays standards (140 hp)

The newer GTs are more expensive to buy, own, and insure. They are heavier and V6s guzzle gas too. My Tiburon gets 32 mpgs regularly. Only on this forum, am I embarrassed to say that.

Poor Resale value on the Hyundai, They depreciate very quickly.

Dont they offer the LIMITED 10yr 100k warranty like mitsubishi & kia :blink: ? The Limited manufacturer defect only 10yr 100k warranty.. I almost purchased one until the sales manager explained the warranty in full. I couldnt get out of the dealer fast enough.... :huh:

5 year/60k mile bumper-bumper, 10 year/100k mile powertrain. The 100k mile powertrain just covers the major components, but even then some warranty is better than none, and 5 year 60k mile is better than most competitors.

PS Hyundai owns Kia

i remember reading an article a while back that explained how Hyundai is getting up to par with Toyota. They are actually viewed as a real threat to Toyota. Supposedly Hyundai is getting many of the same parts that Toyota gets... but putting out cars that are between 5k and 10k less. They claim reliability is up to par now. Fast moving company and all.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Jun 5 2006, 11:39 PM) [snapback]266542[/snapback]</div>

I've seen articles about Hyundai's ambitious goals (like http://detnews.com/2005/specialreport/0505...A01-182019.htm). Not sure about them getting many of the same parts as Toyota, that sounds bogus and I've never heard that before. Go take a look at the April 06 auto issue of Consumer Reports. You'll see their reliability is still pretty mixed and nowhere near Toyota.

Also, although I don't trust JD Power much, you can see from http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/press....asp?ID=2005089 that Hyundai is below average and well below Toyota. Although this is a so called "long term" test, it's not long enough, it only covers 3 year old vehicles. I don't feel that JD's initial quality studies are very accurate indicators of long term reliability either (some do very well initially and poorly down the road).

I wouldn't buy a first year Hyundai. In fact, I wouldn't risk buying a first model year car from anyone other than Honda, Toyota, Lexus or Acura. Even then, it's still somewhat risky in my book.

Back to the article I cited the "musical tune-alarms" aren't that unusual in car factories. I remember hearing them one of the car factories I visited (I believe it was the Nissan plant in Oppama, Japan). The covering of the sides of painted cars w/plastic to prevent scratches was present at EVERY plant I visited (Mazda, Toyota, Nissan and NUMMI (GM/Toyota joint venture)).

"At Asan, every car that comes off the line is taken for a spin on a two-mile track out back" is definitely unusual. I recall seeing final test at Nissan which consisted of functional tests for everything and driving it on rollers. They didn't talk about taking it out to a track nor do I recall any of the other makers discussing that.

The poor resale value is a valid drawback with Hyundai. Their reputation from 10 years ago still haunts them.

As far as reliability is concerned, take a look at the autos.msn.com site. Look up any used Hyundai and see how they scored.

That's what I did when I bought mine.

My next car purchase will depend on how much information about the '08 Prius is out by the end of the year.

I think the acqusition of Kia doesn't help them at all either.. I got a 2005 Kia Magentis as a loaner when my Prius was in the shop, and the Kia was bar none, the worst car I've ever driven in my life.. The transmission gearing was absolutely horrid, the shifts were harsh.. The interior appointments were downright spartan, the trunk lid mechanism was extremely heavy- it was a workout to lift or close the lid.. If this was a car that they hoped would compete against a Camry, they completely missed the mark.. I would buy a Ford Taurus (which I had on a business trip a few months back- and although the mileage was horrible, it was actually a pretty nice car to drive) before I'd touch the Kia..

Hyundai is improving, it is still a newer company than Toyota. While Hyundai's ratings increase, so will their resale value. I will remind everyone that it seem's like Toyota has been declining in quality, and in ratings. The new Camry for example, already having troubled transmissions, and a recall under it's belt? The Prius (2005) is filled with cheap plastic, and I hate to think how they will hold up after 5 years. I was in my mom's '05 yesterday to get it washed, and the top glove box panel sticks up on the left side above the dash, the center of the steering wheel is off, leaving a large gap between the black part and the "silver/grey" plastic... When I pulled off the protective plastic on the corners by the tiny window on the dash, the plastic panels just popped off- on mine and hers... Again I love my Prius, it's been a great car so far, but I am not going to lie and say that I think it's worth it's weight in gold, or far superior over a competitor other than gas mileage. Did GM have a hand in designing the interior or at least the materials used? :lol:

Combined with rumors of lower quality than Toyota customers are used to (and me being slightly disappointed in the qaulity of my Toyota), and the terrible service from the dealerships, I have yet to see why people worship the ground Toyota rolls on?

I have also seen many articles that talk about the quality of the new Avalon, and how loyal Toyota customers will never buy again after buying their new Avalon...I think that Toyota has a tough road ahead if they wanna beat out GM as #1 automaker- sad because GM isn't what I call great quality in the least, but American's love to think that they are "buying American". GM thrives so well on the theory that "we can make one car, and rebadge it as many other names, and we will sell 100's of thousands of them, and the consumer will never know"

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jun 6 2006, 12:19 PM) [snapback]266688[/snapback]</div>

My prius has misaligned panels and exposed screws. I don't know about welds in the engine bay, because I haven't looked. So my Prius seems about on par with this Kia in terms of build quality.

I'm thrilled with our 2002 Hyundai Elantra, especially since I bought it 2 years and 24,000 miles old for $6,200. My wife and I both preferred it to our 2001 Civic, which we bought new and required more repairs than the Hyundai. We just sold for $8,900, 5 years and 70,000 miles old, after replacing it with the Prius.

I'd consider waiting to buy a hybrid Accent. Only I'd wait a few years to buy one used, a couple years old. The rapid depreciation of a reliable Hyundai is as delightful if you buy used as the slow depreciation of a Honda if you buy new.