Comparison Test: 2009 Nissan Versa vs 2009 Hyundai Accent GS
By Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor
Photos by Kurt Niebuhr
What do you get when you pit the least expensive sedan in the market against the least expensive hatchback? For starters, you get zero radios and six window cranks, but happily, the story doesn't end there -- in the end, you wind up with more than you'd likely expect from this humblest of segments.
Both choices in our ultra-low-budget-economy-car comparison -- the Hyundai Accent GS Base hatchback and the Nissan Versa 1.6 sedan -- are available for thousands less than you'd pay for a base-model Honda Fit. Of course, sacrifices had to be made in the pursuit of such extreme frugality. The Versa was equipped with optional air-conditioning and antilock brakes, but the Accent wasn't. And as mentioned, neither car had a radio or power accessories like windows, locks and mirrors.
So there is some compromise involved, but with these cars, you won't have to compromise too much -- low price doesn't always go hand-in-hand with low quality.
The Hyundai Accent has quite a distinguished pedigree - the four-door version took top honors as Edmunds' "Most Wanted Sedan Under $15,000" a couple of years ago. We've praised it for its supportive seats and relatively refined ride, and of course, there's that super Hyundai warranty. The Versa is new to the uber-low-budget party. Sensing an opportunity born from these recessionary times, Nissan introduced the 1.6 trim just last year. This newly minted Versa for the value-minded buyer features a more economical engine, a thinned list of amenities and a price tag that's been slashed by a couple grand. Its features list may be sparser, but fortunately, certain key Versa attributes remain, such as a spacious cabin and a comfortable interior.
You might be wondering why we're comparing a hatchback with a sedan. The answer concerns price: Base trims of the Versa sedan and the Accent hatchback have almost identical price tags, which makes them likely to be cross-shopped by the thriftiest new-car buyers. The Accent sedan, on the other hand, costs a couple grand more than the four-door Versa.
Both cars share certain commonalities, such as excellent value and good fuel economy (29 mpg combined for both). But they also differ in certain respects, and by sifting through those differences during our week of evaluation, we anointed a winner.
2nd Place: 2009 Hyundai Accent GS hatchback
Base MSRP (includes destination): $10,645
As-tested price: $10,740
For more information, please read the Hyundai Accent model review
Where It Follows:
ABS should always be a standard feature. The Accent's abysmal 154-foot stopping distance from 60 mph proves it (the ABS-equipped Versa stopped in 132 feet). Associate Editor Mark Takahashi summed it up: "When driving the Accent, wear a helmet at all times." The Versa's optional ABS costs only $250, but unfortunately, Hyundai doesn't make it cheap to upgrade. To get this feature on the 2009 Accent hatchback, you have to take a big step up to the SE trim, which starts at $15,070; ABS is also available as part of a $1,150 option package on the Accent GLS sedan, which has a starting price of $12,920. Happily, the situation is poised for improvement: For 2010, ABS will be available on GS hatchbacks.
The less said about the Accent's materials quality, the better. Takahashi bemoaned its "Fisher-Price" plastics, and the coarse fabric used on its seats makes driving in shorts an exfoliating proposition. As a three-door hatchback, the car's cabin also offers less room and storage opportunities than the four-door Versa's -- it's also obviously harder to climb into the back seat.
Where It Leads:
It says a lot that when he first took a spin in the Accent (without looking at the specs), one of our editors assumed that the car was motivated by a 140-horsepower engine. In fact, the Accent's mill offers just 110 horsepower and 106 pound-feet of torque, but with its light curb weight (2,522 pounds) there's enough juice there to chirp the tires. In track testing, both the Accent and the Versa made the zero-to-60-mph sprint in exactly the same time - 9.4 seconds. However, in everyday driving, the Accent feels peppier and more acquiescent - perhaps a function of its slight horsepower and weight advantage relative to the Versa (3 hp and 61 pounds, respectively). It also helps that when pushed, its engine doesn't wail and moan to high heaven like the Versa's does. All these factors conspire to make the plucky, amenable little Accent the winner in the fun-to-drive horse race.
There aren't any cars in this segment that boast truly quiet cabins, but the Accent's is the least noisy of the bunch. The Versa was plagued with slight whistling from the A-pillar, along with a low engine drone that was present at most speeds. The Accent's cabin did an acceptable job of quelling wind and road noise.
Our taller editors cheered the Accent for its friendly seating position. Unlike the Versa, it has height-adjustable seats, and this made for comfortable times behind the wheel. The Hyundai also offers more maximum luggage capacity (15.9 cubic feet) than the Versa, thanks to its split-folding rear seat. Of course, folding the rear seats cuts the car's passenger capacity to two, which underlines the fact that this three-door hatch is best suited for singles. With the rear seats upright, we were able to squeeze in golf clubs, but we don't recommend it - one editor mentioned that the fit was so tight, the clubs would likely snap once the car was in motion. The trunk is, however, big enough to easily accommodate a suitcase.
Best for: Cash-strapped fun-seekers, radio-hating singletons, people seeking an inexpensive car with the least noisy cabin.
1st Place: 2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 sedan
Base MSRP (includes destination): $11,710
As-tested price: $12,090
For more information, please read the Nissan Versa model review and long-term road test
Where It Follows:
Let's get this out of the way: The Versa's performance and handling won't exactly make your pulse race - which is to say, get ready for some yawn-inducing moments behind the wheel. This is a car that's designed for function, not fun, and its engine loudly reminds you of this fact if you try to get bossy with the throttle.
It also misses the mark on more minor issues. The car's window cranks are located low down on the door; this makes them difficult to access, and hard to find in low-light situations. Adjusting the side mirrors requires you to roll down the windows and physically manipulate each mirror, which could be irksome in colder weather; the Accent features interior stalks that allow you to adjust mirror positions within the cabin. Also, the Versa doesn't have a trunk release latch within its cabin. The only way of accessing the trunk is to get out of the car and open the trunk using the key.
Where It Leads:
We'll go out on a limb and say that people shopping in this segment care a lot about practicality; the Versa wins because it's the more practical choice. It's similar in cost to the Accent hatchback (our test car was slightly more expensive primarily because it had air-conditioning, while our Accent didn't) but it offers more room and refinement, and easily transports four in comfort (five in a pinch). The car's tall stature translates into lots of headroom, and there is also ample leg room for both front and rear passengers. Its overstuffed front seats are comfortable and supportive; they offer high seating positions and clear views of the road. They're not height-adjustable, but some customization is available via the sedan's tilt-adjustable steering column (a feature the Hyundai lacked).
Ride quality is less taut and more isolated than the Accent's. This means that the car feels less sporty than the Hyundai, but it ultimately translates into a more refined ride. For the most part, bumps and inconsistencies are kept at arm's length.
As far as materials quality goes, the Versa manages to raise the (very low) bar for this segment. Seats are shrouded in tricot suede that's soft to the touch, and door panels are lined with the same fabric. Though its lack of split-folding rear seats means that the Versa 1.6 has less maximum cargo capacity than the Accent, its 13.8-cubic-foot trunk is roomy enough to guzzle golf bags and suitcases - and you won't have to sacrifice passenger capacity in the process.
Best for: Small families on tight budgets, drivers who love tall seating positions, shoppers looking for the most refinement for the least coin.
The manufacturers provided Edmunds with these vehicles for the purposes of evaluation.
- Posted by
- James Riswick September 14, 2009, 12:00 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Comparison Road Tests, Hyundai, Nissan
If I had $10k to spend on a new car you can bet that I would be looking in the used market. Yeah, you probably wouldn't get a warranty, but at least you wouldn't have to listen to your own thoughts for entertainment
Edmunds: How hard is it to install a radio in these cars? Do they come prewired or do you have to order speakers and wire it all up yourself? It would be helpful if you would answer this question since most people are going to need to add some kind of entertainment to these rides! If they are pre-wired then all it would take is a 100 dollar radio from Crutchfield and their install kit, pretty simple.
Thanks...
dat2 - Excellent question. Both these cars come pre-wired for audio, so yes, an aftermarket upgrade would be pretty simple and inexpensive to pull off.
I'm glad to hear about the ABS becoming standard...it should have been all along for safety sake. I own an SE, and couldn't disagree more strongly about the fabric, which is a high-point for me. The fabric is cross-woven, is attractive, and has a pleasant texture under the hand. I was relieved that I wouldn't have to baby it, as it gives the impression of wearing well. I think only skin that's a little "delicate" would feel bothered by it....sheesh. Maybe Takahashi should cart along satin pillows. The plastics inside are no better or worse than anything else I test drove at this price mark...but better than the Kia Soul's. The SE has a leather-wrapped wheel, shift knob and shifter boot, so maybe that helps enhance the tactile experience. That said, almost anywhere the hand naturally falls feels
pleasant enough, and that's what really matters. I don't normally run my hands over every corner of a car's interior. Why would I? Btw, I saw the Versa, Soul, Yaris, Rio5 and Cube before buying my Accent. Five months in, I am totally happy with my choice.
I love my little hatchback!
Thanks for reporting on these "recession specials." I have to disagree with you on the interior quality of the Accent--while the Versa does have a more expensive feel, the Accent's interior quality is easily comparable to the Fit, Yaris, and Scion xD.
I'd love to know how effective the optional ABS is on the Accent--it sounds like the lack of it is the one thing that keeps the Accent GS from being a good value for young singles.
@hako
@hako,
ABS still isn't standard on any Accent except the SE hatch. It was for '06, but still isn't for '10. The difference is that now if you buy the package that includes power windows, you get ABS on the GS hatch. You'll still have to buy a package including power windows to get it on the GLS sedan, too. No stand-alone option for either. And forget ABS if you want the top-mileage Blue edition. You can't get ABS on it, period.