Hyundai ecomods the 2010 Accent: raises MPG to fight with Fit & Yaris

[MetroMPG]

Hyundai is taunting the hybrid marques, saying:

How did [we] improve Accent’s EPA fuel economy for 2010 without adding thousands of dollars to the price like a hybrid does? The answer is the introduction of the high mileage “Blue” edition

Taunting is fun, but they're not even close to hybrid fuel economy, so it falls a little flat.

They deserve some credit for moving into a tie with Toyota Yaris for best highway fuel economy in the class - 36 mpg (US) - but it only makes me wonder why they didn't go for first place. Seriously, duh!

(Of course, the most meaningful highway comparison would be speed vs. mpg in top gear data for all these models, rather than the EPA's fake "pretend drive to Grandma's house" that its test currently represents. Maybe one of these vehicles actually shines better than others as cruising speed rises well above the current EPA average of 48 mph in the test.)

Accent city economy - 27 mpg (US) - is lower than Yaris (29) and Fit (28).

Anyway, enough editorializing! On to the ecomods!

They applied several of the same mods to the Accent "BLUE" that they did to the Elantra BLUE:

• lower friction engine components,
• an optimized thermostat
• lower-rolling-resistance silica tires,
• a “smart” alternator management system
• revised transmission gear ratios
• lowered ride height
• improvements to the underbody airflow management
• EcoShift indicator (manual 5-speed)
• “eco indicator” on automatic transmission

What's interesting is they're offering the Blue model as the least expensive one in the Accent lineup.

See also: Hyundai ecomods the 2010 Elantra - MPG up by 8% city, 6% hwy

More info: http://www.hyundainews.com/Media_Kit...ss_Release.asp

[cfg83]

MetroMPG -

...
lower friction engine components,
an optimized thermostat
lower-rolling-resistance silica tires,
a “smart” alternator management system
revised transmission gear ratios
lowered ride height
improvements to the underbody airflow management
EcoShift indicator (manual 5-speed)
“eco indicator” on automatic transmission
...

I like that they are incorporating a belly pan of some kind. We need pictures! These mods are similar to what Fiat has done in Europe, just tune the car for MPG. In a way it seems like the manufacturers are just returning to the late 1980's.

I also like the Accent design better than the Elantra. My Mom says it looks like a slipper. Ha ha, if I ever got one, I could name it "The Slippery Slipper".

CarloSW2

[Old Mechanic]

Wonder if better aero hubcaps would help?

regards
Mech

[basjoos]

I wonder what the rpm of the engine is at 60mph. The Fit and Yaris are both buzzbombs at highway speeds.

[McTimson]

A friend of ours has an 08 or 09 Accent, and I've driven it a few times. My main issue was the high RPM gear changes, and high RPM at highway speeds. I don't remember how high it was, but I knew it was too high. It's good to see that they've addressed that issue.

[tjts1]

GM needs to hire whoever is running hyundai.

[MetroMPG]

Mech: I'm betting those chunky alloy wheels aren't standard on the Blue. But smooth hubcaps would help no matter what - just more if the starting point are those alloys.

Mike: I bet even with the new gearing the thing still revs way too high. Why manufacturers won't offer a true MPG friendly top gear on a manual transmission is beyond me. If I need more power, I'll downshift!

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by tjts1

GM needs to hire whoever is running hyundai.

Let's not forget that the Cobalt XFE that GM already modded beats all of these cars - Fit, Yaris & Accent - in highway MPG @ 37.

Props where props are due.

[igo]

It is good to see hyundai is making models with mpg tweaks like gm did to the cobalt. I would have preferred if they got right the first time tho

[shovel]

Originally Posted by tjts1

GM needs to hire whoever is running hyundai.

I've felt this way for years... Hyundai was rubbish in the early days but as soon as they went to dark factories and designing their own cars instead of rebranding Mitsubishi castaways they started making some seriously high value cars. And have you driven a Genesis coupe?

I owned a '99 Accent GS (taken out by a "harley edition" F150 with just 45k on the clock ) - bought brand new - and even with the automatic transmission it returned 45-48mpg on the highway, all day every day, without any special driving - just stomp the gas and violate speed limits. Driving from Phoenix to Merced CA several times per year I would fill up once in Barstow and arrive in Merced with >1/3 tank left over.

This Accent Blue might be one to keep an eye on in the used market a couple years from now. I know I'll be keeping an eye open.