2012 Hyundai Accent
2012 HYUNDAI VELOSTER
Base price: $18,999
The 2012 Veloster is Hyundai's take on an affordable sport coupe – this one something of a fastback with three doors. Three doors?
Yes, it's an oddity and that extra door is designed to set the Veloster apart from the crowd and make this Hyundai more sensible for the older, 40-something buyers who just might drive back to their youth in this small, sporty car.
Under the skin you'll find the basic platform of the Hyundai Elantra compact sedan. Except the Veloster is considerably shorter overall and shorter than the Scion tC, an obvious rival.
The engine is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder rated at 138 horsepower. It's a nice, smooth, modern, direct injection engine. A dual-clutch automatic six-speed transmission is optional and it sets the Veloster apart from the tC and the Honda Civic Si.
Hyundai wants the Veloster to stand out as a design icon for the current lineup. The tail is particularly distinctive, but there are other details such as LEDs embedded in the headlight surrounds.
No design comment would be complete without a reference to the third door. It's nicely integrated into the design; you almost need a double-take to spot it. But why not just make the Veloster a four-door and be done with it?
2011 HYUNDAI SONATA
Base price: $22,699
The Hyundai Sonata is a hot-selling mid-size car and for good reason.
Reinvented last year, the Sonata is a well-priced, well-executed family sedan. The car feels solid in every way, boasts excellent fuel economy from its four-cylinder engine and if you want an alternative to the standard model, Hyundai offers hybrid and turbo versions.
The 274-hp 2.0T turbo is the one you want if have a need for speed. There is no six-cylinder Sonata because Hyundai says less than 10 per cent of North American buyers want the bigger, thirstier engine. And the hybrid is the environmentalist's ride.
The Sonata is big enough for family chores, quick enough to be entertaining for all but the most car-crazed suburbanites, and the standard 198-horsepower four-cylinder is fuel efficient (8.7 litres/100 km city and 5.7 highway) using regular gas for the most basic model.
Note: The Sonata has the best fuel economy in its class – better than four-cylinder Camry (9.0 city/6.0 highway), Malibu (9.4/5.9/), Accord (9.8/5.8), and Altima (8.8/6.2), and Fusion S (9.5/6.2).
2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT
(sedan/four-door hatch)
Base price: $13,199
Hyundai sells a sedan version of the subcompact Accent, but the car to own is the four-door hatchback. The car looks good, comes with a fuel-efficient 138-hp four-banger and drives well for an affordable runabout.
Budget buyers will also like the cabin packaging. The Accent hatch has best-in-class cargo volume and that means the Accent bests the excellent Honda fit. The list of standard features is long, too.
But it's the styling that really stands out. Hyundai's current design language – "fluidic styling" – works really well in the Accent. The lines and creases in the body sit nicely in these proportions. This car stands out in the parking lot.
This new Accent is loaded with standard features, a fuel-efficient powertrain, a big cabin and nice looks. Hyundai has a winner here.
2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
Base price: $15,849
The new Hyundai Elantra is shaking up the compact car market in Canada, threatening to overtake the Honda Civic as Canada's best-selling passenger car. The year's not over, yet. But we're going to see a horse race for No. 1 status between these two.
The Elantra trades on its handsome styling, comfortable cabin, strong warranty and a long list of standard features. The cabin is a nice-looking place to travel and is sensibly designed. The interior is big, too, about the size of a Nissan Maxima.
Power comes from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 148 horsepower. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This is a good and very fuel-efficient pairing.
Hyundai builds the Elantra in North America, so the company should have enough supply to duel with the Civic for No. 1 honours in Canada. With better fuel economy and more features for the price than the Civic, not to mention a more aggressive design, Hyundai just might win the sales race among passenger cars.