The Hyundai Accent won’t turn any heads with its style, agility, or horsepower. But that’s standard for economy cars. However, one Accent model year stands out among the general mediocrity of its siblings — and not in a good way. The owner satisfaction rating for the 2012 Hyundai Accent is as bad as it gets. Read on to learn more about what’s hot and what’s not about this nearly decade-old car. 

The Accent tops no one’s list of the best Hyundai models

The Accent has long been Hyundai’s most economical model, having evolved from the now-extinct Excel, Automobile Fandom reports. A subcompact car, the Accent has struggled to compete with other vehicles in its class, such as the Chevy Spark, Nissan Versa, and now-defunct Honda Fit. 

Indeed, as we’ve written before, the Accent is limited in part by its body style. Though competitors such as the Spark and Fit offer hatchback variations, the Accent comes as only a sedan. Moreover, the Accent’s ride isn’t known for supreme comfort. It can be rather jarring when passing over bumps in the road.  

Then there’s the Accent’s engine, which MotorTrend gives low marks for acceleration. Not that we’d expect much else from a 120-hp engine. 

The 2012 Hyundai Accent scores poorly in owner satisfaction

Though the Hyundai Accent isn’t a top-of-the-line vehicle in general, Consumer Reports criticizes the fourth-generation 2012 model.

First, there was the fact that this model scored a “Poor” rating in the IIHS small-overlap crash test. This is definitely not something you want to mess around with. A low grade on a crash test can be a matter of life and death. 

If the 2012 Hyundai Accent’s crash-test score didn’t take it out of the running for consumers, this subcompact also has another significant mark against it. Its owner satisfaction rating from Consumer Reports is the lowest possible: 1 out of 5.

Per Accent owners, trouble spots contributing to this rating are the suspension, fuel system, and paint and trim. Concerning the latter, owners particularly complained about loose exterior trim or moldings. 

Finally, Consumer Reports knocked the 2012 Hyundai Accent for the lack of comfort and space to spread out in the rear seats. 

But this subcompact has some redeeming qualities

All of this isn’t to say the 2012 Hyundai Accent is worthless. If you look hard enough, you can find some things to appreciate about it.

First, Consumer Reports praises the ease with which drivers can operate the car’s controls. Though this might seem like a small thing, it can make a huge difference when you’re trying to concentrate on navigating the roads safely. 

Another plus? The 2012 Accent gets great gas mileage, which Consumer Reports scores a perfect 5 out of 5. Owners can expect to average around 40 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg overall, so they save not only on the car’s sticker price but also at the pump. 

Finally, the 2012 model also earns high marks for responsive handling and roomy, comfortable front seats. 

All in all, the Hyundai Accent makes for a solid subcompact car that won’t win any awards for style or speed. Though the 2012 model year leaves much to be desired, the manufacturer has made several generational updates since then. As a result, the 2021 Accent actually landed on Car and Driver‘s “Editor’s Choice” list.