Considering how much of a wretched piece of junk the old Hyundai Accent was, improving on the car (once known for being offered at a sub-$10,000 sticker price) was an easy task. With such a strong current line-up, the previous Accent was an embarrassing blight on the company’s product range, and competition from the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris meant that Hyundai would have to make sure the next Accent was a winner right from the start.

FAST FACTS 1. The 2012 Accent gets a best-in-class 30/40-mpg fuel economy rating.

2. Making 138-hp and 123 lb-ft of torque it’s well-ahead of its rivals in power.

3. Starting at just $12,445 for a base GLS 4-door sedan, hatchback models retail from $14,595.

From our first drive impressions in the Nevada desert, we’re happy to report that the Korean auto giant has succeeded, producing a car that is more than a match for the Ford Fiesta, one of the subcompact segment benchmarks. We decided to take a spin in a GLS hatchback, which Hyundai is positioning as the top dog, with a sportier look and feel as well as favorable levels of equipment.

• IMPROVED LOOK HARDLY THRILLING
• BIGGER CHANGES INSIDE AND ON THE ROAD
• BEST-IN-CLASS FUEL ECONOMY AND POWER
• SPACIOUS INTERIOR WITH PLENTY OF CARGO ROOM
• THE VERDICT