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Hyundai Accent

1994 Accent: Hyundai's first model with every part developed in-house.1

Researched November 1, 2026 from 28 sources

Also called

  • VernaSouth Korea adopts Verna in 2000, while most export markets keep Accent.2
  • ExcelAustralia's first generation keeps the Hyundai Excel name from its predecessor.2
  • SolarisRussian Accents assembled at HMMR in Saint Petersburg use Solaris from 2011.2

At a glance

0100200
82–160 hpPower
0510
7.5–10 s0–60 mph
0100200
170–195 km/hTop speed
0150300
127–260 N·mTorque
07501,500
953–1,171 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.2468910

Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel drive2
Gearbox
5/6-speed manuals; 4/6-speed automatics; Verna CVT or 7-speed DCT256
Built at
LC: Ulsan (South Korea), HMIL Chennai (India), TagAZ Taganrog (Russia)2

The story

Created to replace the Excel in 1994, the Accent was Hyundai's first model with its design, chassis and powertrain developed in-house. It became the Verna in South Korea, while Australia's first generation kept the Excel badge.12

1994: X3: Hyundai develops every part19941999: LC begins a long regional life19992000: WRC debut, then fourth in Australia20002005: MC brings CVVT to New York20052012: Five doors and 138 hp for 201220122017: HC: 32% stiffer for 201820172023: Verna turbo reaches 160 hp20232026: HX trims and seven airbags for Verna2026 Hyundai Pony: 1975–1990Hyundai PonyHyundai Excel (first generation) (X1): 1985–1989 (main production)X1Hyundai Excel (second generation) (X2): 1989–1998 (regional production)X2Hyundai Accent (first generation) (X3): 1994–2006 (regional production)X3Hyundai Accent / Verna (second generation) (LC): 1999–2019 (regional production)LCHyundai Accent / Verna (third generation) (MC): 2005–2026 (regional production)MCHyundai Accent (fifth generation) (HC): 2017 launch; 2018 model yearHC 19801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones251819
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1975–1990Hyundai Pony
1985–1989 (main production)Hyundai Excel (first generation) (X1)
1989–1998 (regional production)Hyundai Excel (second generation) (X2)
1994–2006 (regional production)Hyundai Accent (first generation) (X3)
1999–2019 (regional production)Hyundai Accent / Verna (second generation) (LC)
2005–2026 (regional production)Hyundai Accent / Verna (third generation) (MC)
2017 launch; 2018 model yearHyundai Accent (fifth generation) (HC)
1994X3: Hyundai develops every part
1999LC begins a long regional life
2000WRC debut, then fourth in Australia
2005MC brings CVVT to New York
2012Five doors and 138 hp for 2012
2017HC: 32% stiffer for 2018
2023Verna turbo reaches 160 hp
2026HX trims and seven airbags for Verna
  1. 1994

    X3: Hyundai develops every part

    The Accent replaces the Excel, with design, chassis and powertrain developed entirely by Hyundai.12

  2. 1999

    LC begins a long regional life

    The larger, more angular LC arrives. South Korean production runs to 2005; Egypt keeps building it until 2019.2

  3. 2000

    WRC debut, then fourth in Australia

    The Accent WRC debuts in Sweden; Kenneth Eriksson takes fourth in Australia the same year.3

  4. 2005

    MC brings CVVT to New York

    The MC debuts at the New York International Auto Show with a larger cabin and CVVT. Egyptian production continues until 2026.2

  5. 2012

    Five doors and 138 hp for 2012

    The hatch grows from three doors to five. Its 1.6-liter GDI makes 138 hp; the manual hatch runs 0–60 mph in 8.0 seconds.4

  6. 2017

    HC: 32% stiffer for 2018

    The fifth-generation 2018 Accent brings 32% more torsional rigidity and a longer wheelbase that frees up cabin room.25

  7. 2023

    Verna turbo reaches 160 hp

    The new-generation Verna's 1.5-liter turbo delivers 160 hp and 253 Nm, with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.6

  8. 2026

    HX trims and seven airbags for Verna

    India's update introduces HX2, HX4, HX6, HX6 Plus, HX8 and HX10 trims, with seven airbags and a 360-degree camera among its safety changes.7

Every generation

  • Hyundai Pony
    Hyundai Pony1975–1990
  • Hyundai Excel (first generation)
    X11985–1989 (main production)
  • Hyundai Excel (second generation)
    X21989–1998 (regional production)
  • Hyundai Accent (first generation)
    X31994–2006 (regional production)
  • Hyundai Accent / Verna (second generation)
    LC1999–2019 (regional production)
  • Hyundai Accent / Verna (third generation)
    MC2005–2026 (regional production)
  • Hyundai Accent (fifth generation)
    HC2017 launch; 2018 model year

Power over the years

From 92 hp to 160 hp in 28 years.

050100150200 199520002005201020152020 hp 1995 · 92 hp · Accent 1.5-liter1996 · 105 hp · Accent GT DOHC2006 · 110 hp · Accent 1.6-liter2012 · 138 hp · Accent 1.6-liter GDI2015 · 137 hp · Accent 1.6-liter Gamma2017 · 123 hp · Verna 1.6-liter petrol2017 · 128 hp · Verna 1.6-liter diesel2018 · 100 hp · Verna 1.4-liter petrol2018 · 130 hp · Accent 1.6-liter Gamma GDI2023 · 115 hp · Verna 1.5 MPi2023 · 160 hp · Verna 1.5-liter turbo 160 hp Verna 1.5-liter turbo 92 hp Accent 1.5-liter
4568111213
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
199592Accent 1.5-liter
1996105Accent GT DOHC
2006110Accent 1.6-liter
2012138Accent 1.6-liter GDI
2015137Accent 1.6-liter Gamma
2017123Verna 1.6-liter petrol
2017128Verna 1.6-liter diesel
2018100Verna 1.4-liter petrol
2018130Accent 1.6-liter Gamma GDI
2023115Verna 1.5 MPi
2023160Verna 1.5-liter turbo

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Accent GS / SE (MC)

    Standard

    Accent GS / SE (MC)

    2007

    110 hp

  • Standard

    Accent SE / SEL / Limited

    2018

    130 hp

  • Standard

    Verna HX2 / HX4 / HX6 / HX6 Plus / HX8 / HX10

    2026

  • Accent CRDi (LC)

    Standard

    Accent CRDi (LC)

    82 hp

  • Standard

    Accent Viva (India)

    2002

  • Verna 1.5 Turbo

    Performance

    Verna 1.5 Turbo

    2023

    160 hp
  • Accent GT (LC)

    Performance

    Accent GT (LC)

    104 hp

  • Performance

    Accent GT (X3)

    1996–1997

    105 hp

  • Performance

    Pro Accent 1.5 DOHC TGR

    1997

  • Limited

    Verna Anniversary Edition

  • Accent SR (Canada)

    Limited

    Accent SR (Canada)

    2007

    500 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • X3 DOHC cars carry Twin Cam badges.2
  • 2018 cars pair a cascading grille with wraparound headlights.5
  • LED-equipped 2018 cars have slim wraparound taillights.5
  • The 2023 Verna has a thin LED strip across the nose, with separate headlights mounted below.6
  • The 2023 Verna's rear LEDs draw an H, joining a full-width light bar to vertical ends.6

Year by year

  1. 1997 (Australia)

    The facelift arrives in April; November's DOHC switch adds Twin Cam badges, a quick clue to later Australian X3s.2

  2. 2003

    The second-generation LC2 facelift revises the front and rear sheetmetal.210

  3. 2012

    The hatchback changes from three doors to five.4

  4. 2014–2015

    2014 SE hatches gain LED-accented projectors; 2015 GLS gets a new grille and lamps, while SE becomes Sport on 16-inch alloys.1317

  5. 2018

    The sedan adopts a hexagonal grille and more streamlined headlights and taillights; the hatchback is dropped from the lineup.9

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Hyundai Accent
    Accent
    Photo of a Hyundai Sonata
    Hyundai Sonata

    Hyundai Sonata

    The 2018 Accent resembles a smaller Sonata; look for its hexagonal grille and streamlined headlights and taillights.9

Against its rivals

  • Kia Rio

    Accent vs Kia Rio

    Power

    Accent138 hp
    Kia Rio138 hp
    20
  • Honda Fit

    Accent vs Honda Fit

    Observed fuel economy

    Accent32.4 mpg
    Honda Fit31 mpg
    20
  • Toyota Yaris

    Accent vs Toyota Yaris

    Observed fuel economy

    Accent32.4 mpg
    Toyota Yaris32.3 mpg
    20
  • Chevrolet Sonic

    Accent vs Chevrolet Sonic

    EPA combined

    Accent31 mpg
    Chevrolet Sonic28 mpg
    17

Prices

Value today $1.0K–$12.0K21112

Price when newValue today
$0$5K$10K$15K$20K 20052010201520202025 Value today: $1,000–$12,000 2004 · $9,994 · US base three-door2004 · $11,639 · US GT base2012 · $13,205 · US GLS manual base2012 · $15,355 · US GS manual base2012 · $16,555 · US SE manual base2014 · $18,205 · US SE hatch automatic base2015 · $15,555 · US GLS manual, incl. $810 dest.2015 · $17,305 · US Sport manual base2018 · $15,880 · US SE manual base
49101317
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2004Price when new$9,994US base three-door
2004Price when new$11,639US GT base
2012Price when new$13,205US GLS manual base
2012Price when new$15,355US GS manual base
2012Price when new$16,555US SE manual base
2014Price when new$18,205US SE hatch automatic base
2015Price when new$15,555US GLS manual, incl. $810 dest.
2015Price when new$17,305US Sport manual base
2018Price when new$15,880US SE manual base
2026Value today$1,000–$12,000

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 11 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “44,000 sales and a month ahead of Commodore”
    • “Sweden debut, fourth in Australia”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 7 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 28 sources
  1. Hyundai Accent: Driving with Dreams | Journal | Hyundai Motor Group hyundaimotorgroup.com
  2. Hyundai Accent - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. juwra.com  |  Hyundai Accent WRC juwra.com
  4. Three-Way 2012 Hyundai Accent Mini Comparison Test caranddriver.com
  5. Hyundai Introduces All-New 2018 Accent At The Orange County International Auto Show prnewswire.com
  6. New Hyundai Verna price, design, colours, features, performance review, test drive | Autocar India autocarindia.com
  7. 2026 Hyundai Verna Facelift Launched At Rs 10.98 Lakh: Exterior, Interior, Features, Safety And Powertrain Updates Explained Along With Full Variant-wise Prices | CarDekho.com cardekho.com
  8. Tips on buying a used Hyundai Verna | Autocar India autocarindia.com
  9. Tested: 2018 Hyundai Accent Manual Exceeds Expectations caranddriver.com
  10. 2004 Hyundai Accent GT - Short Take Road Test caranddriver.com
  11. 1995-99 Hyundai Accent | Consumer Guide Auto consumerguide.com
  12. 2006-11 Hyundai Accent | Consumer Guide Auto consumerguide.com
  13. 2015 Hyundai Accent Gets Mild Face-Lift, New Equipment motortrend.com
  14. Hyundai India launches 'Accent Viva' - The Economic Times economictimes.indiatimes.com
  15. Hyundai Verna anniversary edition launched at Rs 11.69 lakh | Autocar India autocarindia.com
  16. Subcompact Culture - The small car blog: Subcompact Showcase: Michael's 2007 Hyundai Accent SR subcompactculture.com
  17. 2014 Hyundai Accent SE First Test - Motor Trend motortrend.com
  18. Hyundai Pony - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  19. Hyundai Excel - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. Economy Five-Door Hatchbacks - Kia Rio, Suzuki SX4, Chevrolet Sonic, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mazda2 - Motor Trend motortrend.com
  21. Hyundai Accent WRC aerodynamics – WRCWings wrcwings.tech
  22. About Us | Series X3 Queensland seriesx3qld.com.au
  23. Richard Burns Rally (PS2) Review | Race Sim Central – Presented by SimCraft racesimcentral.net
  24. Gran Turismo 6 - List of featured cars gran-turismo.com
  25. Hyundai Ha Hak Soo: If form does not follow function, it would be fine art, not design - Industry News | The Financial Express financialexpress.com
  26. Hyundai Verna used price remains flat over over 5 years among midsize sedans: Autocar-Spinny study | Autocar India autocarindia.com
  27. Hyundai and Kia Theft Fix Involves Software Updates | CarComplaints.com carcomplaints.com
  28. 1995 Hyundai ACCENT Canadian Market Value | $500 - $3050 vmrcanada.com
  • hyundaimotorgroup.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • juwra.com
  • caranddriver.com
  • prnewswire.com
  • autocarindia.com
  • cardekho.com
  • consumerguide.com
  • motortrend.com
  • economictimes.indiatimes.com
  • subcompactculture.com
  • wrcwings.tech
  • seriesx3qld.com.au
  • racesimcentral.net

Photo credits

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