2006 Hyundai Accent GLS (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

Underhood is a 1.6-litre, 16-valve engine which Hyundai calls Alpha. It generates 110 horsepower and 106 pounds feet of torque. Alpha promises to be reliable and clean burning, and to not be a pig at the pumps. Indeed, Alpha drinks like a camel: a little bit lasts a long time. In real world, wintertime driving, I observed fuel consumption at around 8 liters per 100 km. That's respectable, but not amazing. I'm not sure what to make of Alpha. It's clean and not too thirsty but with only 110 horsepower, it isn't gutsy for its size. There were similarly sized engines with similar if not more output 10 years back. It isn't incredibly smooth or quiet either, though it doesn't sound bad. Motivation is adequate, and the transmission reacts quickly to throttle input. The manual gearbox will allow even more power to make its way to the wheels.

This car is all about small simple execution of the most very basic components of driving. It's mobility, wrapped in simplicity, with an MP3 player and other goodies installed to sweeten the deal.

2006 Hyundai Accent GLS (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

Get behind the wheel though, and it's not as basic as you might think. The ride, for instance, is a very strong point. Older Accents were a bit unsure over uneven surfaces, especially when cornering. I remember it being fairly easy to overwhelm the suspension while cornering over rough surfaces and to loose proper grip of the road. The new Accent shows no such nervousness. It goes about confidently no matter what the road surface is up to, while the ride is quieter than a lot of pricier machines I can think of. After picking up my tester, I immediately drove six hours on the highway, and found it comfortable and relaxing inside. This isolation from the sound of the road and the wind is not usual for such an inexpensive car.

The handling is reasonably sharp, with variable assist power steering lightening the load while navigating parking lots. The brakes are strong, with four wheel antilock discs available. For instance, while stopping quickly and steering around obstacles in snow, the Accent never steps out of line. The back end never outpaces the front, and the Accent goes just where you point it under braking / steering maneuvers. Such moves, when required, can be a hair raising experience in small, inexpensive machines, though the Accent inspires confidence through its handling and brakes.

Pricing starts at $14,000 for the GL model with manual transmission, and tops out at $17,645 for a loaded GLS with automatic. What Hyundai has done with this new Accent is taken the conception of what a small car could do, laid it out on the road, and run it over. Then, they ran it over again. The roominess, comfort, features, and ride quality, backed by the

2006 Hyundai Accent GLS (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

100,000 km warranty, making the new Accent even better than ever. Save some money, about $950 worth, by learning to switch your own gears and opting for the manual transmission. As well, if you are a recent graduate, you may qualify for a $500 discount off the price of the car as well. Add to this the fact that the Accent was awarded the prestigious Strategic Vision's 2005 Total Quality Award for Best Small Car Ownership Experience, and you have yourself a sure bet for a car that will be a reliable sidekick for years to come.