2012 Hyundai Accent

[RangerMankin]

Hello All,

This is my first post here at CleanMPG.com and I'm happy to have found a community to help in my pursuit of maximum gas mileage.

I'm looking to get a new 2012 Accent (not available here in Baltimore yet) and wanted to know if anyone has any insight into hatchback versus sedan.

I'm inclined to go with the hatch for maximum cargo room but wanted to know if anyone has observed a strong difference in MPG?

[MaxxMPG]

Welcome to CleanMPG!
I don't believe anyone here has the hatch just yet, but there are a couple of 2012 Accent sedan owners.
The GS hatch is in stock at three dealers in Long Island, NY, having just appeared in inventory since late last week. So they should be coming to your area soon.
On the EPA/DOE spreadsheet, the Accent is listed by transmission - automatic vs manual - but not by body style - hatch vs sedan. The model tested is listed as a four door sedan. Both body styles share the 30/40 EPA ratings.

There are two possibilites: 1) The hatch hasn't been tested yet because of it's late introduction, or 2) The hatch and sedan both have the 30/40 rating because their actual dynamometer results are close enough that they round out to the same figure.

Either option - sedan or hatch - Hyundai owners here (myself included) don't have too much trouble beating the EPA numbers, so choose the model that best meets the need (hatch does offer more cargo area and a bit more rear headroom within a smaller footprint), and start slashing your fuel expenses.

[RedylC94]

Originally Posted by RangerMankin

I'm looking to get a new 2012 Accent (not available here in Baltimore yet) and wanted to know if anyone has any insight into hatchback versus sedan.

I'm inclined to go with the hatch for maximum cargo room but wanted to know if anyone has observed a strong difference in MPG?

As a long-time owner of a hatchback and a former owner of sedans, I would certainly vote for the hatchback. Hatchbacks do have a few minor drawbacks, but they have a huge advantage when it comes to cargo versatility.

In general, for designs available as both sedan and hatchback, there probably are small differences in fuel consumption, due to differences in weight and aerodynamic drag coefficient. However, the official EPA-DOE ratings usually do not list both versions, unless the hatchback and sedan differ in model name (e.g., VW Jetta vs. Golf-Rabbit).

If you buy either version of the 2012 Accent, please let us know how you like it. That's one of the likeliest candidates to replace my own old car.

[999.9mpg]

When I bought my 2012 Accent, they didnt have any hatchbacks at all. I wasnt particulary interested in the hb, but can see why folks would want one. That said, the sedan has a ton of trunk space and does not come with a spare tire and you can remove the cover that would conceal the spare and have that extra room as well. Plus, the sedan is a 60/40 split bench in which both rear seats fold down. Im not sure how much actual cargo room that equates to but it seems quite roomy. As for the sedan, Im thrilled with it and I regularly get 40+ mpg in the city with AC using moderate driving behavior. Good luck!

[jcp123]

I almost think I should have bought a '12 Accent instead of my Rio...but then again, I don't want to get stuck in a first-year model of anything.

[joesgot4]

i just bought a 2012 hyundai accent hatch friday! i will have some numbers to post probably tuesday! i know my car is new but i love the way it drives nice and tight and very comfortable ride for a small car! its not loud either! at 2000 rpms it going 61 mph! only noticed 2 things that i will have to get used to! when backing up its kinda hard to see out the rear side and in town in eco active mode the auto tranny seems a little confused( it could be me thats confused cause i haven't got used to it yet) also the accelerator pedal is very sensitive ,but im sure i will master it soon! i'm going for a highway run monday about 200 miles of flat interstate! so i'll have some numbers soon! MAXXMPG(chris) can probably tell you more than i can! he is my main info source about technical data on automobiles! he also has a 2011 hyundai elantra!
later troy

[MaxxMPG]

Originally Posted by joesgot4

only noticed 2 things that i will have to get used to! when backing up its kinda hard to see out the rear side and in town in eco active mode the auto tranny seems a little confused( it could be me thats confused cause i haven't got used to it yet) also the accelerator pedal is very sensitive ,but im sure i will master it soon!

The visibility to the rear is something we will all have to get used to because the thicker roof pillars are needed for current side impact and rollover regulations. The mandatory rear seat headrests don't help either. Fortunately, Hyundai provides large side mirrors and properly adjusting them mitigates the blind spots. Many new cars sacrifice visibility for style and provide small triangular side mirrors that don't offer the viewing angles needed without moving your head. Hyundai mirrors are rectangular and larger than most (and swivel against the car body so you can fold them in to avoid losing them when parked on narrow streets).

The transmission confusion is normal for adaptive automatics for the first 10 or 20 times you drive the car. Driving in a consistent manner helps a great deal. With the Eco on, the car will upshift more aggressively, and wait before downshifting. So the delayed downshift and then upshift as soon as the throttle is reduced will be felt as confusion, but it's just doing its thing. By reading traffic far ahead and keeping the gas pedal steady, the gear hunting is eliminated, and the Eco mode will be more effective. Because of the small engine and tall gearing, even a strong wind gust or slight upgrade can trigger a downshift, and it's normal for these cars. I was watching the gage on my Elantra reading 95% engine load in 6th gear on the highway while going up hill. It reached almost 99% before it dropped to 5th gear. Although you can drive by 'seat of the pants', a Scan Gage or Ultragauge is a great help because it allows the driver to see when these limits are being reached, and so the driver can decide if it is wiser to change the gas pedal position and allow further loss of speed or allow the downshift to occur.

I had to laugh when I saw you write that "the accelerator pedal is very sensitive". Try driving one with a stick. The gas pedal, until you get used to it, has an "on/off" feel to it, and even the best stick drivers will stall a new Hyundai until they get the hang of it. For the automatics, you will spot the "never drove a recent Hyundai" test drivers easily. They're the ones launching from the traffic light like they just robbed the bank two blocks back. I deal with the accelerator by placing my foot diagonally on the floor just in front of the gas pedal, where my toes touch the pedal, and then twist my foot to press down or let up. And even then, I am not the first from the light because I have to press gently to avoid giving it too much pressure to overcome the spring tension built into the pedal assembly. The advantage to having your foot resting on the floor rather than the pedal - I can hit some serious bumps/dips and the TPS (throttle position) stays rock solid, meaning the inertia of your right leg doesn't cause the gas pedal to move as you drive over sharp dips or bumps in the road.

[2RR2NV]

Originally Posted by MaxxMPG

I had to laugh when I saw you write that "the accelerator pedal is very sensitive". Try driving one with a stick. The gas pedal, until you get used to it, has an "on/off" feel to it, and even the best stick drivers will stall a new Hyundai until they get the hang of it. For the automatics, you will spot the "never drove a recent Hyundai" test drivers easily. They're the ones launching from the traffic light like they just robbed the bank two blocks back.

WHAT? you mean we're NOT supposed to leave black strips on the asphalt pulling away from stop lights? LOL

j/k.

[tbb10785]

I'm new to the forum but thought I'd post a note to this thread on the new Accent.

I purchased a 2012 Hatchback July 22 and have just rolled over 1,300 miles. FYI,between my two jobs and personal errands I drive about 40,000 miles per year.

Mine is an automatic in the GS trim level, which has all the bells and whistles needed for me to be happy. Of course I'm upgrading from a 1995 Subaru Impreza with 230,000 :-)

I'm tracking my mileage at http://www.fuelly.com/driver/tbb10785/accent Current average over 4 tanks is 38.4 mpg

Oh, my driving takes me from West Virginia (my home), through Virginia and Tennesse to my second job which is close to Asheville, North Carolina (trip made twice per month). My other job is visiting 7 hospitals in West Virginia mainily on the off weeks from my NC job. Kinda weird employment situation but it works.

Take care,

Bruce

[tbb10785]

Over 12,000 miles on my Accent as of today. Actual MPG over my 44 fill-ups is averaging 39.4

This is down about .5 mpg due to (I think) front aero damage from a raccon I hit about 3 weeks ago. I just got the damage fixed on Friday and my driving on Monday seems to back up to par.

The car is working great and my almost 40 mpg average is attained without doing any drastic hyper-miling techniques. Mostly driving 65mpg on the interestate instead or the posted 70, and if posted lower than 65 setting the cruise to the lower speed. Plus, I try to coast to a stop if traffic permits and timing the stop lights so you rarely come to a complete stop.