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Kissing cousins that do component sharing better than the “Big 3”

By Nathan D. Adlen

I am rather proud of the Hyundai Motor Corporation. The Kia Rio5 and Hyundai Accent are proven little runabouts that are worth a look.

In a very short amount of time, Hyundai went from building a nearly laughable sub-compact, like the first generation Excel, to producing the current line of world contenders. Since the acquisition of Kia, the Hyundai Motor Corporation has been competing with and now beating many competitors’ products.

Quality, value and excellent coverage make Hyundai and Kia compelling choices for anyone who is looking to stretch their buck just a little more. Backing up their constantly improving products with an excellent business model has resulted in better sales than many of its competitors. Good for them – they deserve good business. The Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5 make good business sense.

In a ten day period, I drove two of the most frugal vehicles Hyundai and Kia produce in an attempt to find cheap, realistic replacements for gas-swilling used vehicles. These cars either provide a better standard warranty (10 year, 100K miles – powertrain & 5 year, 50K miles bumper to bumper) and/or a cheaper price from about $11,000 to about $16,000. I wanted to use the two baby hatchbacks offered by Hyundai and Kia: the three door Hyundai Accent (both base and the Hyundai Accent SE) and the five door Kia Rio5.

As some of you might know from my previous writings, I am a huge fan of hatchbacks. Both the Kia Rio5 and Hyundai Accent can come as hatchbacks. The additional storage afforded by the hatch is substantial next to a wee little trunk/boot. Most hatchbacks come standard with a rear wiper (which the base Hyundai Accent does not… grrrrrr! – but the base Kia Rio5 does…yeah!). When mixed with rear defrost, it makes for a great rear visibility asset. Snow and ice are much easier to remove based on the sloped angle and lack of a trunk. A hatchback is a utilitarian platform great for people with kids/strollers, pets, wheelchairs, musical interments, etc.

The Kia Rio5 and Hyundai Accent share many of the same or similar components; yet, they possess very different personalities. With its longer wheelbase and slightly higher driver’s position, the Kia Rio5 is a pleasant runabout that performs most maneuvers with little drama and holds a considerable amount for its diminutive size. The manual transmission feels a bit spongy (just like the base model Hyundai Accent’s), but the rack-and-pinion steering (shared by the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5) is good and provides a decent amount of feedback.

4 speed automatic transmissions are available for both the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5 as an option. Base model Hyundai Accents even come with manual windows and doors (a rarity nowadays) along with no air conditioning and no stereo (but there are speakers – if you change your mind later, I guess). This means: if you are real frugal, but still want air conditioning and a nice stereo in the Hyundai Accent your total will be in the $12,000 range. That is one of the cheapest prices around.

The Kia Rio5’s base model comes standard with more (air conditioning, a good stereo, rear wiper and power windows) for a sneeze below $14,000. I would recommend the Kia Rio5’s “Power Package” which comes with: power windows with one-touch-auto-down, power door locks with a key-less remote, power heated mirrors and additional tweeters for your speakers. The package is a steal at $600.00 and this will allow you to add 4 wheel antilock brakes for $400.00 more. All in all, you can get a well equipped Kia Rio5 LX for under $15,000 – which is a good deal.

Kia Rio5’s back seats are fine for kids and the rear doors open wide enough to facilitate easy placement of child seats. The doors are light, its door handles low enough so that little ones (5 & up) will have no problem opening them for self access. The hatch opens easily, but you have to remember to duck if you are anywhere near 6 feet (the Hyundai Accent’s is even lower). With the rear seats folded and the fairly high roof, you can hold a remarkable amount of cargo. The space reminds me of the original Volkswagen Rabbit’s, but the Kia Rio5 is a tad wider and deeper. The Hyundai Accent’s capacity is less, especially in length.

The Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5’s automatic transmissions operate smooth and simply, but it saps some of the fun and it’s a little lower on the MPG in the city (yet slightly better on the highway). I averaged about 32 MPG mixed driving with the 5 speed – that’s not bad for 4 doors. It’s less noticeable in the Hyundai Accent.

Load up the little Kia Rio5 with people and cargo and both the fun and economy go down a bit. Remember, this is a 1.6 liter, 4 pot engine with 110 horsepower which was built economically for efficiency – it isn’t a rocket. In the Hyundai Accent, it feels slightly more responsive.

Driving around town, the Rio5 is nimble and fairly fun to drive. It holds corners well and has a decent turning radius. On the highway, the ride is firm, but not uncomfortable. I especially liked the standard audio jack that made plugging my MP3 a breeze (the Hyundai Accent’s is standard too – as long as you get the stereo package).

If you want a little more fun and don’t need the two rear doors, the Hyundai Accent 3 door is a good option. Unlike suggesting the base model Kia Rio5, I recommend getting the high end Hyundai Accent SE package (which is about the same price as the upper trim Kia Rio5). You get nice looking, wide (P205/45R) 16 inch alloy wheels, rear wiper, sports suspension and a slick feeling B & M Racing sports shifter. Combined with the same, spec 1.6 liter engine as the Kia Rio5, you get a sprite little hatch that is downright fun to drive. It’s no Mini Cooper, but the Hyundai Accent SE is a real fun car to corner in and the mileage is about the same as the Kia Rio5.

The tiny Hyundai Accent has a decent rear seat for two and can hold three in a pinch. With the rounded rear glass already creating a bit of a blind spot, having a tall rear passenger in the center will all but ruin your rear view. As with many other two door cars that have a rear seat, Hyundai Accent’s access is a bit of a chore and plugging children into car seats would be a hassle.

The Hyundai Accent’s capacity is less than the Kia Rio5 by a considerable margin. Still, with the tall roof and hatch, folding one of the 60/40 split rear seats down opens up more room than you might think (more than the standard Mini and less than the Mini Clubman).

If you opt for the much cheaper base model (keeping the radio, power windows, door locks and air conditioner) you can keep the price at under $13,000. Currently Hyundai has rebates than can save you a bit more on the final price.

This brings me to my only two major gripes for both vehicles. The MPG is very good, but not exceptional for vehicles this size. If Hyundai added a six speed (or five speed in the automatic) with revised gearing, a slightly lighter weight and updated fuel management systems it’s possible that both machines could get better mileage making better use of their mellow power plants.

The other main flaw, for the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5 are the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris. I contend that the Honda Fit is one of the finest cars in its price range. The Toyota Yaris is a quality car that is extremely well assembled and provides a cheap alternative to the Prius. The Fit’s interior is far more useful than either the Kia Rio5/ Hyundai Accent contender and it performs better. The Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5 can be had for a few thousand less in base forms, but at the expense of neat goodies.

If you wondering about the Nissan Versa – it is powered, priced and sized above these contenders and (quite frankly) plays to a different kind of consumer. Kia Rio5 and Hyundai Accent customers should consider the Nissan Versa better competition for the Korean cousin’s larger siblings, namely the Kia Spectra5 and Hyundai Elantra.

Still, there is a lot to like with sprite Hyundai Accent and the logical Kia Rio5. The biggest selling point for the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5 is the great warranty. Having little to be responsible for makes many consumers happy, and having a 5 year bumper to bumper, 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty is a great way to remove the specter of maintenance. Just remember, the warranties do not cover parts the driver wears out by use (or misuse) such as the brakes, tires and clutch.

Would either make a good first car for your teen? Sure, but remember: these are compact cars that do not fare quite as well as larger cars in accidents (I would recommend the larger brethren of both vehicles, such as the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Spectra). All the same, with the great gas mileage and easygoing power plants, the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5 are very affordable machines. Older, more experienced drivers who need gas sipping commuters are the perfect audience for these cars.

College students would find the utility, ease of driving, appearance and economy of the Kia Rio5 attractive incentives. With its four doors, large hatch area and 60/40 rear folding seats, it would be a breeze for a student to load several duffel-bags/trash-bags of dirty laundry, a few friends and road food for the trek to their parent’s house.

The Hyundai Accent is slightly more of a personal transport. The interior is handsome, and comfortable, with logical controls and (other than the rear quarter views) a nice view of the road. It is a little bit more of a driver’s car than the Kia Rio5 and feels more responsive. If you pony up the extra cash for the Hyundai Accent SE, you have a slick little commuter that is a hoot on the corners.

Both cars have 4 door sedan siblings that have similar driving characteristics. I find the Kia Rio to be slightly more attractive, but it’s subjective at best. They both provide similar ride and performance with each other and fall well in the price range of the hatchbacks. I think the Hyundai Accent’s two tone interior looks more inviting than the Kia Rio5’s.

When it all comes down to value for the dollar, the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio5 are hard to beat. These are not enthusiast’s cars by any means, but they do not disappoint easy going drivers either. And consider this: these cars are BMWs compared to their granddaddies 20 years back.

I should know, I owned an 88 Excel – never said I was proud of it.

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