Oh, it's on! Hyundai Accent regains Cheapest Car in America title
Less than a month after Nissan announced its $9,990 blue-light-special Versa Sedan 1.6, Hyundai has one-upped them. Or should that be one-downed? The 2009 Hyundai Accent has regained the title of Cheapest New Car in America with a starting price that undercuts the Nissan by a Jackson. Priced at $9,970, it is now the least expensive new car on the market. And Hyundai didn't reduce content to get the price down. It's essentially the same Accent you could have bought last month, just with a lower MSRP.
That's a hard deal to pass up, but that's not all bargain shoppers! Act right now and you'll be getting some free peace-of-mind, as well. According to the most recent J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, it's also the "Most Dependable Sub-Compact Car" on the market. With Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty and 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance protection, it tops the Nissan there, as well.
The $9,970 pricetag applies to the 2009 Accent GS 3-door with a manual transmission, which comes with a 110-hp 1.6-liter four-banger, power steering, airbags all around and even a tire pressure monitoring system. If you absolutely have to have an automatic or four doors, however, the price jumps quite a bit. The Accent three-door with automatic transmission starts at $12,070; the Accent GLS 4-door with a manual transmission starts at $12,920; and the "sport-tuned and comprehensively equipped" Accent SE 3-door with manual transmission starts at $15,070. Freight adds $695 to each. So we'll call this one the cheapest hatch in America and the Nissan gets to keep cheapest sedan honors, for now at least.
[Source: Hyundai]
PRESS RELEASE
Hyundai Accent Retains Crown as America's Least Expensive Car
November 25, 2008 -- FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- The country's most dependable sub-compact car is also its most affordable.
The high-mileage 2009 Hyundai Accent has a starting price of $9,970, making it the least expensive new car on the market. But it's also the "Most Dependable Sub-Compact Car" available (as determined by the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability StudySM) and one of the most fuel efficient vehicles on the road today - a trifecta that no other car can match.
"Accent is the perfect vehicle for a customer looking for the ideal mix of price, dependability and fuel economy," said Mark Dipko, Small Car product manager. "And as a brand known the world over for its value, we feel it is important to retain our crown as the most affordable new car available."
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai announced even more good news for the Accent, revealing that next year a special high-mileage "Blue" edition will be available that offers even higher levels of fuel economy without adding to the price. Accent "Blue" will feature fuel-efficient modifications to reduce engine friction and rolling resistance, enhance aerodynamics, optimize gearing and revise engine calibrations for maximum efficiency, all adding up to higher fuel mileage and lower emissions than today's model.
The 2009 Accent GS retains the same content as last year's model and has not been reduced to achieve America's best price point. Accent GS offers a 1.6-litre, 110-horsepower engine, power steering, advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, roof-mounted curtain airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, front variable intermittent wipers, 60/40 split fold-down seatback, six-way adjustable driver seat, adjustable head restraints for all seating positions and rear spoiler.
Pricing for all other Accent models remains unchanged, delivering outstanding value throughout the lineup. In addition to the $9,970 Accent GS 3-door with manual transmission, the Accent three-door with automatic transmission starts at $12,070; Accent GLS 4-door with manual transmission starts at $12,920; and the sport-tuned and comprehensively equipped Accent SE 3-door with manual transmission starts at $15,070. Freight charges for Accent are $695.
All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty. Hyundai buyers are protected by a 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty and 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance protection.
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif. is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 790 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.
Hyundai Accent received the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles among sub-compact cars in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Vehicle Dependability StudySM. Study based on responses from over 52,000 original owners of 2005 model-year vehicles, measuring more than 250 models. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of owners surveyed in January to April 2008. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mobius_1 10:36AM (11/26/2008)
That looks like a really cheap and nasty toy.
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Dave 10:58AM (11/26/2008)
The 10-year warranty is non-transferrable to anyone other than family members. The fine print on their warranty saved them a lot of money in claims knowing that people generally don't keep cars more than 5-years.
The Versa is a bare bones car with no radio, air, auto transmission, etc. I wonder if Hyundai also decided to save $10 on their basic radio?
Flashpoint 11:17AM (11/26/2008)
Thank God I make over $75,000 a year. I'll never have to make choices like this.
JZeke 11:26AM (11/26/2008)
Hush on the salary talk, one must keep a little decorum about such things.
Nevertheless I am also glad I have the luxury of choice.
Torrent 11:50AM (11/26/2008)
It's not terrible to drive. It's one of the best small cars on the Market. Sure thy don't have ripping horsepower, but that's not the point- it gets amazing fuel economy.
Frylock350 11:53AM (11/26/2008)
I just don't get the appeal of this segment of vehicles. One can get a lightly used Cobalt/Civic/Focus/Corolla/Mazda3 for pretty much the same price and have a larger, safer, more powerful and more efficient vehicle. There's really no advantage.
To those boasting about their salaries and such, don't. Its unbecoming of you. Also there is always choice. $10k will buy a decent amount of car if you know where to look. A 2005 Charger with maybe 60k on the odometer can be yours. Or a 4-5 year old Grand Marquis with
jsjs 4:54PM (11/26/2008)
What di you want for this segment/price range?
Nevertheless, it looks better than the Toyota Platz/Echo (the precursor to the Yaris).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Platz
Red 10:51AM (11/26/2008)
People really gotta stop using J.D. Power and Associates as any genuine yardstick to measure things such as reliability. Their testing methods are highly subjective. Then again, I suppose nearly anybody that conducts these types of studies is. I'm curious though, how are the Versa's sales since lowering that MSRP? In order to get an automatic transmission you have to pony up $1,000, which I suppose is still in the realm of a "deal", but kind of a buzzkill if you're an unsuspecting customer.
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Sean 4:34PM (11/26/2008)
Oh noes, $1k for automatic transmission?
Sorry, I like to drive my car, not have a computer do it for me.
IOMTT 3:55PM (11/26/2008)
@ Red, it also puzzles me that JD Power has a magic formula to rate reliability on models that have no track record due to them being new. I do look at CR and JD Power info, but I would never make decisions based on them. It is great you still have new car options at this price point, but as Frylock commented, used car options at this price are also tempting.
Michael 10:55AM (11/26/2008)
It definitely looks like the cheapest car in America.
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DriverG 10:56AM (11/26/2008)
Considering it already didn't have airconditioning, or power windows, or power locks, that's no surprise.
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C Smith 10:57AM (11/26/2008)
Looks like brilliant value to me. A perfectly good little car to run around in. In my book it does everything, and more, that the Smart does for a lot less money.
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Frylock350 12:05PM (11/26/2008)
It doesn't broadcast your smug sense of superiority :)
bduddy 7:24PM (11/26/2008)
Nor does it broadcast your gullibility and lack of shopping skills, as the Smart also does.
spookiness 11:02AM (11/26/2008)
This is the only car currently on the market that remotely reminds me of my beloved 83 Civic. Basic, compact, simple. Hondas got so bloated in the 90's.
Hyundai has definitely come a long way. Everyone I know who has one loves it.
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sfast 3:13PM (11/26/2008)
Its a good car. I love my 2003 Accent. 65,000 miles and few problems.
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tankd0g 11:10AM (11/26/2008)
I bet you can get an Aveo for less but the general doesn't see the value in simply lowering the MSRP instead of heaping on the discounts to an inflated price.
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Kattleox 11:19AM (11/26/2008)
GM hardly makes money on their small cars. They could lower the price, sure, but they would just have to make up for the losses with truck and SUV sales.
GenesisOwners.com 11:13AM (11/26/2008)
If they're audience is white teenagers, they're right on target. :p
Anyway.. This is great news for Hyundai. People are practically buying strictly small and inexpensive cars these days. Whether this Accent stands out for being ugly or not, it's going to sell - and that's the point...
Sal C.
http://genesisowners.com
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