A facelifted Hyundai Accent is going on sale here although Sam Synott, managing director of Hyundai Ireland, insists it has changes "that go beyond a facelift". Apart from a stronger visual impression at the front and rear, the 1.3-litre comes with an enhanced specification including air conditioning as standard on all versions.
Other standard features are front and rear electric windows, a Pioneer CD player, electric mirrors, a new higher quality seat cloth, ABS brakes with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), a three-point rear centre seatbelt and an impact sensing door unlock mechanism.
Four and five-door models are marketed in either standard or GLS form. The GLS specification offers side airbags and a driver's central arm rest. There's also a three-door GT sport model with 15 inch alloy wheels, a rear sporter and leather steering.
Irish ex-works prices start at €15,250 for the standard form. Synott points to a €2,946 average price advantage when the facelifted Accent is compared against all its rivals in the C segment. Taking top volume models in the segment, such as the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla and Opel Astra, he claims the price advantage varies from €5.825 down to €1,395.
The accent has been Hyundai's bread-and-butter in the past eight years. No fewer than 17,000 have gone on Irish roads in that time. The worldwide Accent car park numbers 1.6 million.
Synott says Hyundai here is bucking the downward market trend: "Our sales are 17.3 per cent up."