Faults:

This is car is good in looks, interiors and engine engineering.

But this car is not manufactured to withstand Indian conditions. All Hyundai cars - Santro and Accent of my friends, have developed serious corrosion in the body. The corrosion is not visible to at the first look. I suggest that all Accent and Santro owners take the car to the work shop, remove all the door panels, lights, jack up the car and personally inspect the car along with the service staff. You will be shocked to see the corrosion that has set in.

My Accent is 3 years old and it has developed corrosion all over - joints, welding points, inside the bumper frame, battery holder, inside the doors and under chassis. I am running pillar to post to get this manufacturing defect rectified and compensated by the company. I have written to CEO - Korea, MD, India and the customer relation department in India. I am waiting for a response for them.

My suggestion is that you buy this car, use it for 18 - 24 months and sell it off. If you own it longer you are in for trouble. The corrosion will eat away at your pocket very badly, month after month.

Unless this problem is looked into, these cars will be a failure in the long run.

General Comments:

Very bad sheet metal used for the body.

Faults:

The car is pretty good, however it tends to be sluggish in second gear. Pick up could be better in second.

Dents easily.

General Comments:

Overall an excellent car. Takes on rough roads very well. Steering handles exceptionally well and driver comfort is good.

Faults:

There are a lot of minor engineering and design defects in the Hyundai Accent sold in India. I have discovered the following defects in the first 5 months after buying my Accent GLS -

1. Right side rearview mirror control stopped working within a week.

2. Left side rearview mirror control stopped working after a month.

I have talked to 2 other owners of Accent and both of them had the side rearview mirror controls stop working multiple times - this seems to be a common defect in Accent.

3. Within one week, the gear stick started wobbling while shifting from 1st to 2nd - adjusted during 1st service.

4. From day one, difficult to engage reverse gear - service manager at the factory workshop told me there is no solution to this problem except to race the engine a bit and then try engaging reverse again.

5. From day one - the horn was very troublesome -horn-pad had to be adjusted during the first service.

6. Both inside front door panels vibrate and make a very irritating sound while playing high-bass music.

7. Cover of front left speaker vibrates badly while playing loud music.

8. Front speakers are under-powered - can't handle a high-power music system.

9. Front seats are EXTREMELY uncomfortable during long drives. There is no lumbar support for the lower back. Seats seem to have been designed for small-built Korean-sized people not more than 5 feet in height.

10. Within two months of purchase, the airconditioning vent in my car started pulling in air from the outside even when fully closed. Adjusted by Hyundai.

11. Right rearview mirror replaced during the first service, stopped working again within 15-20 days.

12. Left-rear seat belt jammed permanently after being used just on one trip. Fixed by Hyundai.

13. Fourth month - right front automatic window stopped working. Entire motorized mechanism had to be replaced.

These defects speak volumes about Hyundai's attention to detail and their engineering. Korean engineering is not comparable to German (Corsa) or Japanese (Baleno) engineering after all.

I really hope that the engine, suspension, gearbox etc. don't have any such problems that start surfacing in a few months.

General Comments:

Buy the car only for the looks - it looks bigger and more expensive than other cars in the category. But watch out -- quality really stinks. There are too many minor, irritating, recurring defects to take away the fun of owning a new car and make you repent at leisure.