Hyundai Previews the All-New 2018 Accent

Hyundai has steadily spread its new design language across its lineup, but one model that’s avoided the change is the entry-level Accent. This all will end in 2018, and we just got our first glimpse at what the new Accent brings to the table.

While most of the details are still under wraps until the Orange County International Auto Show kicks off, the teaser images give us a great idea of what we can expect.

Look for the 2018 Accent to take on all that comes with the new design language. This means a sharp, new face that includes a six-sided grille with horizontal slats, widened headlights, a new apron with a distinct front splitter, and chrome-surrounded fog-light housings. The rear is a little less definitive, as there is only one image that shows part of the updated taillights.

What also remains unknown is its powertrain. Hyundai could go small-displacement turbocharged under the hood and push the Accent to new heights in performance and efficiency. That’s quite unlikely, though, as I wholly expect Hyundai to retain the Accent’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine but tweak it to deliver a little better fuel economy. This also will likely come with a few-horsepower drop in output, but that’s far from the biggest concern for this class.

The inside is another unknown. While I don’t expect the 2018 Accent to make take leaps and bounds in luxuriousness, I do expect the 2018 model to boast a slightly more premium appearance inside. Maybe a little more soft-touch material will do the trick.

We’ll learn all about the 2018 Accent on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, so stay tuned for updates.