Suits my needs perfectly. Smaller hatchback is great.
*As of last review, my last remarks still stands as written below. Updates as time passes with an asterisk (*).
Suits my needs perfectly. Smaller hatchback is great.
Seats
- Drop down backseats to allow for some greater cargo transport
- Bucket seats that hug your body
- Back seats ride rather high; passengers and I do get fatigued over long drive times
Interior: paneling, dashboard, or main console does not feel cheap and made with some pretty decent material
Bells & Whistles:
- Bluetooth connection feature for your phone and phone calls is a pleasure and a must to have. Sound quality on the other end of phone calls have been said to be superb.
- When using Bluetooth, you have to watch out for the volume levels of the speakers because the voice coming out the speakers can be heard from the outside.
- Steering wheel controls for the main console and Bluetooth phone feature works great and makes the ride pleasant.
- USB connection of MP3 devices is a god-send for my car rides.
- Would have preferred to have the center console USB to be hidden away in my center armrest compartment. (Or, have another USB hidden away). I don't mind (un)plugging my device whenever I get in-and-out, but the seamless design of a USB device hidden away would have gave the car some elegance.
- Was fortunate to take advantage of the Sirius radio for the first 3-months of having the car. It was a great add-on but I had to cut costs. Satellite radio is a great addition if you can afford it in the long-run.
Styling:
- Lines, headlights, shape of scoop and hood, placement and shape of backlights and reflectors have a nice look to them.
Performance:
- 4-disc caliper brakes provide some pretty decisive and smooth stopping power when needed. *Saved my life once or twice.
- The engine (1.6 L) is not the heart of a speed demon, but with some aggressive handling the car is pretty responsive.
- *Electronic shifter used as needed when I need a quick response to a driving situation that driving fully automatic may be sluggish about; one can never know true car responsiveness if one has never driven manual -use of electronic shift isn't manual but you get some added control. The feature has become a great benefit to me.
- Shocks/struts really feel the potholes and sudden road impediments; you can feel the road -smooth feel for most straight driving. At the same time, the suspension is stiff enough that the car doesn't really yaw, shimmy, bounce, or fishtail.
- On highway drives at steady speeds, I can average 37-49 mpg. On the stop-and-go, I can average 23-32 mpg. Improvement of gas mileage would make the car pretty darn near perfect.
- *Standard all weather tires have been a godsend since the move to the mountains and the exposure to inclement rain/snow.
- *Traction/tire slip sensor/light VERY helpful in making moment to moment adjustments when driving in white knuckle driving conditions
Misc Features:
- I know that the Hyundai Accent (and more cars on the market) provide air pressure tire sensors, run flat-tires, and a compressor with fix-a-flat in a can as an alternative to providing a spare tire. But, I admit some anxiety with not having a doughnut just-in-case. *Now I have a spare. Kept the run-flat kit and feel better.
- Installing/removing or using baby/child seats is not bad. Anchors are easily accessible and doesn't disappear into the cushions. For a 3-5 year old, the child may be able to touch the front chair by extending their legs.
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