It can be hard for families to find a vehicle that has an affordable price point and enough interior space. Cheaper vehicles also don’t always have many safety features, which can make shoppers uneasy. Fortunately, the latest Hyundai Accent offers just enough bang for its buck.

It was even featured on the Good Housekeeping list of Best New Family cars for 2021. True, a subcompact sedan can’t accommodate families with more than five passengers. Still, Good Housekeeping says there’s a lot for families to love on the Hyundai Accent.

The 2021 Hyundai Accent’s efficiency

A car that gets poor fuel economy can be a strain, especially when you have multiple family members. A day of appointments, errands, or round trips to school and work can really deplete your car’s tank in a hurry. With the CVT equipped, the Hyundai Accent is rated for 33/41 mpg city/highway.

The CVT is optional on the base trim, but standard for every other Accent. The Accent SE comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that makes 120 hp, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. It’s only available with front-wheel drive, so it might not be suitable for families in northern areas.

The Hyundai Accent gets 29/39 mpg with the six-speed manual gearbox, which is still pretty good by class standards. According to Consumer Reports, drivers can only expect to pay an average of $870 for 12,000 miles worth of fuel.

Due to its smaller engine, the Hyundai Accent is best when used as a city commuter. It needs almost 10 seconds to reach 60 mph, making it a hassle to drive on the highway. However, Good Housekeeping reports that its ride quality remains smooth and quiet. It’s far from sporty to drive, but it has good brakes and light steering.

Every trim is a bargain

The standard Hyundai Accent only costs $15,395, or $16,495 if you want the more efficient CVT. For that price, you get a 5-inch center touchscreen, Bluetooth, and only one USB port. Despite comfortable seats, Good Housekeeping says the second row is slightly cramped. Still, the LATCH connectors for booster seats are easy to use and locate.

The Hyundai Accent also doesn’t have the biggest trunk, only around 14 cubic inches of space. You can squeeze in a little more cargo by using the split-folding rear seats, even if they don’t fold flat. It still has a low loading floor and a wide trunk opening.

If you feel like upgrading to the Hyundai Accent Limited, you can also get a power liftgate. Even though it’s the highest trim, it carries a starting price of merely $19,500. This model also includes some extra comfort features like automatic climate control and heated seats.

The middle trim, the Accent SEL, offers some much-appreciated convenience features. Smartphone integration, more USB ports, a bigger touchscreen, and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel are included. This trim retails for $17,750.

How safe is the 2021 Hyundai Accent?

Unfortunately, the Hyundai Accent SE only offers a backup camera in terms of safety equipment. The Accent Limited comes standard with automatic emergency braking and forward-collision warning. Fortunately, the Hyundai Accent still has great crash-test scores according to the IIHS. 

It has a Good rating in every crashworthiness category besides passenger-side overlap collisions, where it gets an acceptable score. The headlights’ performance ranges from poor to acceptable. U.S. News also showcases its four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, plus a high predicted reliability rating.

Even on the highest trims, the Accent still lacks many of the features present on some rivals. Still, it’s hard for thrifty family leaders to pass up that sub-$16,000 price tag.