Test drive: 2005 Hyundai Accent

The Hyundai Accent is certainly not one of the new kids on the cheap-car block, but it's still one of the best econoboxes you can buy. Cheap? Yep. Tinny? A bit. Fun? Surprisingly so! I can't put my finger on exactly what makes these cars so enjoyable. The frisky 104-hp engine that returns 30 MPG or better? The confidence that comes with standard features like side airbags and a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty (in a $10,000 car)? The smugness of knowing that your neighbors paid twice as much for their car, but yours is twice as much fun to drive? Maybe Philip Powell can cast a little more light on the subject in his review. One thing I can tell you: Even with all the cool wheels we get to sample here at About Cars, I'll never pass up seat time in a Hyundai Accent. -- Aaron Gold