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AUTO REVIEW: 2019 Hyundai Accent SE

NNPA NEWSWIRE — I was really surprised at the smoothness of the 2019 Hyundai Accent’s ride. For a car this small, the 2019 Hyundai Accent handled really well.

Published

8 years ago

January 16, 2019

Frank S. Washington

For $16,005 as tested, the 2019 Hyundai Accent was not a bad entry-level sedan for those who are cost sensitive.

By Frank S. Washington, NNPA Newswire Contributor, Editor of AboutThatCar.com

DETROIT – Not much was added to the 2019 Hyundai Accent for this model year. The chrome grille became standard.

When you think about it, not much needed to change with the Accent. It is a capable and stylish subcompact sedan.

Powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that made 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque, it was mated to a six-speed manual transmission. This set up actually had a little pep. It was also fuel efficient: The car had an EPA rating of 28 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway and 31 mpg combined.

With winter setting in, the front-wheel-drive on the Accent was really appreciated. Though we didn’t have any white stuff during the week-long test drive, the Accent handled the wet rainy weather without any problems.

We had the SE trim line which basically is the basic car. But these days basic has a new meaning. The 2019 Accent had electronic stability control, a rearview camera with what Hyundai has branded dynamic guidelines and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Inside, there was a beige herringbone cloth interior that was pretty nice. Even the plastic surfaces of the dash, though hard, were given a grainy look. There was a small infotainment screen with a few controls under it.

The 2019 Hyundai Accent had Bluetooth for hands-free smartphone use but no voice controls, navigation system or satellite radio and that was okay with me.

But there were two 12V sockets beneath the dash on the wall of a small storage area and USB and auxiliary jacks between them. The odometer and speedometer were in a field of black with white numerals reversed out. I was struck by their large size; it seemed they were designed for an older driver.

There was a TFT screen between them but because of the black field they all seemed to flow together.

I got in the back seat and found it cramped. No surprise there; it is the same with most subcompact sedans. There was enough headspace but not by much. To be comfortable, the front seats would have to be moved forwards a bit to provide enough leg space for back seat passengers. And it would be a squeeze to get three people sitting abreast in the back seat. But again, the Hyundai Accent is a subcompact car.

I was really surprised at the smoothness of the 2019 Hyundai Accent’s ride. It had a MacPherson strut with coil springs suspension in the front with twin tube gas shock absorbers. In the rear there was a coupled torsion beam axle with tube shock absorbers.

For a car this small, the 2019 Hyundai Accent handled really well. It had a turning radius of slightly more than 33 ft. The manual transmission was really smooth. The clutch pedal could have used a bit more torque to engage. Still, the lightness of the pedal took a couple of days to get used to and then there was no problem.

For $16,005 as tested, the 2019 Hyundai Accent was not a bad entry-level sedan for those who are cost sensitive.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com

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Frank S. Washington

Since 1988, Frank Washington has covered the automotive industry. He has been honored by the Detroit Press Foundation and he has received the International Wheel Award and the Golden Wheel Award. Frank was also a part of a team of reporters that won a National Magazine Award.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

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The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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