Cars

2025 Hyundai Accent Review: Specs, Price, and Worth It?

JH
John H
Senior Cars Expert
8 min read

2025 Hyundai Accent Review: Specs, Price, and Worth It?

The 2025 Hyundai Accent continues to carve out a niche in the compact sedan market by offering budget-friendly transportation without sacrificing essential features. As Hyundai’s most affordable sedan, the Accent appeals to first-time car buyers, city drivers, and those seeking reliable daily commuting without breaking the bank. But in an era dominated by SUVs and EVs, is the 2025 Hyundai Accent still a smart choice? In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive into the latest specs, pricing, fuel efficiency, safety, tech features, and determine whether the 2025 Accent is truly worth your investment.

Exterior Design: Simple, Functional, and Stylish

The 2025 Hyundai Accent maintains a clean, minimalist design that emphasizes practicality. While it doesn’t turn heads like a luxury sports sedan, its subtle updates keep it fresh and competitive in the subcompact segment. The front fascia features a widened grille, sleek LED headlights, and a sporty lower air intake, giving it a more modern appearance compared to previous models.

Along the sides, the Accent showcases sharp character lines and a compact footprint ideal for city driving and tight parking spaces. The 15-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers (on base trims) or alloy wheels (on higher trims) enhance curb appeal. At the rear, updated LED taillights and a slightly revised bumper give the car a cleaner, more contemporary look.

While the design is understated, it serves its purpose: offering reliable transportation with just enough style to feel modern. Available exterior colors include Phantom Black, Sleek Silver, Ecru Beige, and Interstellar Gray, giving buyers some personalization options.

2025 Hyundai Accent parked on city street showing compact design and front grille

Interior Comfort and Features

Inside, the 2025 Accent offers a well-organized cabin with materials that prioritize durability over luxury. The dashboard layout is driver-focused, with intuitive controls and a modest center stack. Higher trims now include soft-touch surfaces on the upper dashboard and door panels, which elevate the feel of the interior.

Seating for five is standard, with ample legroom in the front and acceptable space in the back for average-sized adults. While taller passengers may find the rear legroom a bit tight on longer trips, it’s perfectly serviceable for city commutes. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat adds versatility for carrying larger items, making the Accent more practical than its size suggests.

Standard features include manual air conditioning, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and fabric upholstery. Upgrades on SEL and Limited trims include heated front seats, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Storage solutions like cup holders, a center console bin, and door pockets are thoughtfully placed, though the overall interior space feels compact compared to larger sedans.

Infotainment and Technology

One of the standout improvements in the 2025 Hyundai Accent is its upgraded infotainment system. All trims now come with an 8-inch touchscreen display running Hyundai’s latest Blue Link infotainment software. The system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, ensuring seamless smartphone integration for navigation, music, and hands-free calling.

The touchscreen is responsive and features crisp graphics. Audio is delivered through a six-speaker system, with an available optional eight-speaker setup on the Limited trim. Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports, and a rearview camera are standard across all models.

While the Accent doesn’t offer a digital instrument cluster or advanced driver-assist tech as standard (except on higher trims), it does include a 4.2-inch color LCD driver information center on SEL and Limited trims. Wireless charging is not available, but a dedicated USB-C port in the front console helps keep devices powered.

Notably, the 2025 Accent adds a new Wi-Fi hotspot capability via Blue Link Connected Care, allowing passengers to stay online during commutes—an increasingly important feature in today’s connected world.

Performance and Fuel Efficiency

Under the hood, the 2025 Hyundai Accent remains powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 120 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. While this isn’t a powerhouse by any means, it’s sufficient for city driving and highway cruising. The engine is paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission (on the base SE trim) or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) on SEL and Limited trims.

The CVT provides smooth acceleration and helps maximize fuel efficiency, a major selling point for the Accent. The EPA estimates the 2025 model achieves up to 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, making it one of the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid sedans available. With a 12.4-gallon fuel tank, drivers can expect a driving range of over 500 miles on a full tank—ideal for road trips or long-distance commuting.

Handling is light and agile, with electric power steering that’s tuned more for comfort than sportiness. The suspension absorbs bumps well, though the ride can feel a bit stiff over rough pavement. Noise levels are moderate; road and wind noise become more noticeable at highway speeds, but it’s typical for vehicles in this class.

It’s important to note that the Accent doesn’t offer all-wheel drive or performance upgrades. It’s designed as an economical commuter car, not a sport sedan. However, its nimble size makes it easy to park and maneuver in crowded urban environments.

Safety Features and Crash Ratings

Safety has become a major focus for Hyundai, and the 2025 Accent reflects that commitment—especially in higher trims. While the base SE trim comes with essential features like anti-lock brakes, stability control, and multiple airbags, advanced safety tech is reserved for SEL and Limited models.

Standard safety features across all trims include:

Optional or higher-trim safety features include:

The 2025 Accent has not yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but the previous model earned respectable ratings. The 2023 Accent received a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and “Good” ratings in most IIHS tests. Expect similar or slightly improved results for the 2025 model, especially with the addition of more standard safety tech on mid-level trims.

Trim Levels and Pricing

The 2025 Hyundai Accent is available in three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Limited. Each offers a balance of affordability and features, allowing buyers to choose based on budget and desired amenities.

Accent SE – Starting at $18,250

The base SE trim is the most budget-conscious option, ideal for buyers who want reliable transportation without extras. Standard features include:

Accent SEL – Starting at $19,950

The SEL trim adds comfort and convenience upgrades, making it the best value for most buyers. Key additions include:

Accent Limited – Starting at $21,550

The top-tier Limited trim offers the most comfort and tech. Highlights include:

All trims include destination and handling fees of $1,095. Optional packages, such as the Premium Convenience Package (available on SEL and Limited), add features like blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert for an additional $1,200.

Comparison with Competitors

How does the 2025 Hyundai Accent stack up against its main rivals? Let’s compare it to the 2025 Kia Rio and 2025 Nissan Versa—two similarly priced subcompact sedans.

Hyundai Accent vs. Kia Rio

The Kia Rio shares much of its platform and powertrain with the Accent, offering similar performance and fuel economy. However, the Rio has a slightly more aggressive design and a longer list of standard safety features. The Accent counters with better infotainment graphics, a more refined interior, and a stronger brand reputation for reliability. Pricing is nearly identical, with the Rio starting at $18,190 and the Accent at $18,250.

Hyundai Accent vs. Nissan Versa

The Nissan Versa starts at $18,390 and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, similar to the Accent. However, the Versa offers a larger 7-inch digital instrument cluster and more rear legroom. On the downside, the Versa’s CVT is less refined, and its interior materials feel cheaper. The Accent wins in ride quality and overall refinement, making it a more pleasant daily driver.

While both competitors offer compelling reasons to buy, the 2025 Hyundai Accent stands out with its combination of fuel efficiency, proven reliability, and updated tech features—especially in the SEL trim, which offers the best balance of value and features.

Reliability and Ownership Costs

Hyundai has consistently ranked high in reliability surveys, and the Accent benefits from this reputation. According to J.D. Power, the 2023 Accent received a 4 out of 5 reliability rating, indicating above-average dependability. The 2025 model, with minimal mechanical changes, is expected to perform similarly or better.

Owners can expect low maintenance costs. The 1.6L engine is known for its durability, and routine servicing is straightforward and affordable. Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (available on some models and regions) adds peace of mind, especially for long-term ownership.

Insurance rates for the Accent are among the lowest in its class due to its low repair costs and strong safety profile (on higher trims). Additionally, the car’s high fuel efficiency translates to lower annual fuel expenses—estimated at around $1,200 per year based on 15,000 miles of driving.

Who Should Buy the 2025 Hyundai Accent?

The 2025 Hyundai Accent is ideal for several types of buyers:

However, buyers who need more cargo space, all-wheel drive, or advanced tech may want to consider compact SUVs like the Hyundai Kona or Tucson, which now start in the mid-$20,000 range. Similarly, EV enthusiasts might look at the Hyundai Ioniq 5, though it comes at a significantly higher price point.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Accent Worth It?

The short answer: Yes, especially in SEL trim.

The 2025 Hyundai Accent may not be flashy or high-performance, but it excels