U.S. News & World Report named the Hyundai Accent 2021’s Best Subcompact Car for the Money.
The Accent is best known for its low price, but what about its longevity?
How long do Hyundai Accents last?
A Hyundai Accent will last 200,000 miles with regular maintenance. Based on driving an average of 13,500 miles per year, you can expect a Hyundai Accent to last about 15 years.
Continue reading to find out how the Hyundai Accent compares to similar subcompact cars.
We will discuss how expensive they are to maintain, and how well they hold their value.
Table of Contents

How Many Miles Do Hyundai Accents Last?
A Hyundai Accent will reach 200,000 miles with proper maintenance.
Owners have been known to brag about stretching their Hyundai Accents out to 300,000 miles.
Their pride, however, proves this milestone to be the exception rather than the rule.
How Long Do Hyundai Accents Last Compared To Similar Car Models?
The Hyundai Accent will last longer than most subcompact vehicles.
Mojo Motors noticed Accents were “staying on the roads longer” and compared the Accent to the Kia Rio, “one of the highest mileage cars available.”
They considered the choice between a high-mileage Accent and a similar Rio to be a toss-up.
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Are Hyundai Accents Reliable?
The Hyundai Accent is a reliable subcompact compared to other similar models.
RepairPal ranked the Hyundai Accent #5 out of “The Top 10 Most Reliable Subcompact Car Models.”
- Toyota Yaris
- Toyota Prius C
- Mazda 2
- Honda Fit
- Hyundai Accent
- Kia Rio
- Mitsubishi Mirage
- Mazda MX-5 Miata
- Nissan Versa
- Chevrolet Spark
This 2020 J.D. Power comparison shows the Accent closer to the top of the subcompact category.
Model |
Quality and Reliability |
Overall Rating |
Chevrolet Sonic |
93 |
86 |
Hyundai Accent |
90 |
82 |
Kia Soul |
89 |
85 |
Kia Rio |
87 |
81 |
Chevrolet Spark |
85 |
81 |
Honda Fit |
82 |
80 |
Nissan Versa |
82 |
81 |
Mitsubishi Mirage |
82 |
79 |
Compared to other cars in its class, the Hyundai Accent scored a higher “Quality and Reliability” rating and a comparable “Overall” rating.
These ratings show that Accent owners may be more motivated to maintain their cars, extending both longevity and mileage.
What Year Is The Most Reliable Hyundai Accent?
Accent Model Years |
Quality and Reliability Rating |
Overall Rating |
2021 |
90 |
82 |
2020 |
90 |
82 |
2019 |
87 |
82 |
2010 |
79 |
77 |
2008 |
83 |
79 |
2007 |
80 |
79 |
These model years caused the fewest owner complaints and were part of the best design generations (1, 3, and 5).
Hyundai Accent Generation |
Model Years |
PainRank at CarComplaints |
5 |
2018-2020 |
0.31 |
4 |
2011-2017 |
5.78 |
3 |
2006-2010 |
2.9 |
2 |
1999-2005 |
3.65 |
1 |
1995-1998 |
0.34 |
The fourth generation Hyundai Accents, manufactured between 2011 and 2017, seemed to be the least reliable, earning the highest PainRank at CarComplaints.com.
Consumer Reports recommended avoiding the fourth generation because the 2012 redesign proved to be unsafe in crash testing.
Are Hyundai Accents Expensive To Maintain?
The Hyundai Accent is an inexpensive car to maintain compared to similar models.
Let’s see how the Accent compares to other vehicles in its class.
Model |
Average Annual Repair Costs |
Average Annual Repair Shop Visits |
Probability of a Severe Issue |
Honda Fit |
$390 |
0.4 |
8% |
Chevrolet Spark |
$434 |
0.3 |
12% |
Kia Rio |
$434 |
0.2 |
9% |
Kia Soul |
$437 |
0.2 |
9% |
Hyundai Accent |
$444 |
0.2 |
8% |
Nissan Versa |
$456 |
0.4 |
10% |
Mitsubishi Mirage |
$457 |
0.1 |
9% |
Chevrolet Sonic |
$536 |
0.4 |
11% |
All Subcompacts |
$456 |
0.3 |
12% |
RepairPal found the Accent to have “excellent ownership costs” when compared to other subcompact cars.
The Accent has a lower average annual repair cost and is less likely to need major repairs.
Are Hyundai Accent Parts Expensive?
Replacement parts for the Hyundai Accent can be expensive.
In fact, some owners have complained that parts seem to go bad on the Accent more often than normal.
The brake pads, for example, tend to need repeated replacements.
As with any car, some parts will need replacement at some point in the car’s life.
Let’s look at the cost of replacing the Hyundai Accent’s parts.
Hyundai Accent Part |
Average Part Cost |
Replacement Cost (Average Part + Labor) |
Alternator |
$425-$519 |
$522-641 |
Anti-Lock Braking Control Module |
$1,060 |
$1,122-1,138 |
Battery |
$160 |
$192-$201 |
Air-Conditioning Condenser |
$237-$458 |
$332-$578 |
Brake Pads |
$123 |
$178-193 |
Clutch |
$612-$675 |
$1108-$1301 |
Cylinder Head Replacement |
$1,245-$1,347 |
$2,000-$2,299 |
Fuel Pump |
$717-$973 |
$807-$1086 |
Headlight Bulb |
$25 |
$60-$69 |
Spark Plug |
$70-$88 |
$107-$137 |
Starter |
$289-$384 |
$371-$488 |
Do Hyundai Accents Hold Their Value?
The Hyundai Accent holds its value well when compared to similar subcompact cars.
This 2020 J.D. Power comparison shows the “Resale” rating for the Accent and similar subcompacts.
Model |
Resale |
Honda Fit |
85 |
Kia Soul |
83 |
Hyundai Accent |
78 |
Chevrolet Sonic |
75 |
Kia Rio |
74 |
Chevrolet Spark |
76 |
Nissan Versa |
70 |
Mitsubishi Mirage |
73 |
The Hyundai Accent holds its value now, but it may lose value without improved reviews.
Kelley Blue Book reviewed the Hyundai Accent, and the experts gave the car a competitive 4.4/5 rating.
The consumer review was not so generous, giving only a 3.0/5.
The Accent held strong consumer ratings until 2018, when the consumer rating fell from 4.5/5 in 2017 to 3.0/5 in 2018.
The expert ratings in that time have not changed much.
RepairPal‘s editors rated both the Hyundai Accent and the Honda Fit with 4.5/5 for reliability.
Only 42% of consumers gave the Accent a 4/5 or 5/5 rating, while the Honda Fit earned 81%.
Consumer ratings like this could hurt the Accent’s reputation and market price.
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External Links and References:
- https://autoreviewhub.com/best-subcompact-cars/
- https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hyundai/accent/2021/overview/
- https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/3250
- http://www.hyundaiproblems.com/models/accent/
- https://www.jdpower.com/cars/compare-cars
- https://repairpal.com/reliability/hyundai/accent
- https://repairpal.com/reliability/subcompact-car
- https://www.motorbiscuit.com/the-most-durable-automobiles-on-u-s-roads/
- https://www.motor1.com/reviews/419124/hyundai-maintenance-cost/
- https://www.vehiclehistory.com/questions/how-long-will-a-hyundai-accent-last-94595
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Accent
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J480tzwICN4