Price: $17,490

As tested: $19,380, with automatic transmission.

Why were driving it: It’s a new model.

Likes: Interior layout. Metallic-look highlights lift cabin. Well-equipped. Controls on steering wheel and MP3-capable sound system. Decent interior space and boot. 1.6-litre engine is perky enough. Anti-lock brakes standard. Five-year warranty.

Dislikes: Looks and feels basic inside. Grey-on-grey colour. Hard plastics are unwelcoming. Small wheels hurt appearance. Curtain airbags not available. Thirstier than expected. Four-speed auto nothing special. Engine is noisy and a tad thrashy.

Would I buy one? No. While the Accent is good value, I’m not big on the styling and couldn’t live with the cheap feel.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 29th, 2006 at 7:02 pm and is filed under Car Models [t], Car Reviews [t]. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.