When you think subcompact, interesting design doesn't immediately come to mind. Look at cars like the Yaris, Fit and Nissan Versa, and you won't be wowed. Buyers in this segment have been basically told that with the bottom-basement sticker price comes ho-hum looks, and who are you to complain?

However, tides are changing, and the Accent is the second of a new wave of aggressively styled yet affordable small cars along with the Fiesta and upcoming Kia Rio.

The front end mimics the larger compact Hyundai Elantra's look, but the smaller dimensions of the Accent are most noticeable in profile and the rear of the sedan. Its short trunk lid and wraparound taillights highlight how much shorter the car is versus the Elantra.

The four-door hatchback is a bit better-looking and seems like a more cohesive, upscale design. It doesn't look unique from the side and could be confused with any number of other hatchbacks on the market, but the rear hatch itself has a very small window and lots of sheet metal below it that's framed by two very tall taillights.

It's a bold look for an inexpensive car.