After teasing the world with the first images of the refreshed 2020 Accent two weeks ago, Hyundai has now released all the details surrounding its sub-compact sedan.
The launch, which was supposed to have been done at one of the Accent’s most important markets, India, was scrapped due to the government’s lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 there. So instead, Hyundai opted to release all the information online.
Known as the Verna in India (and also in Hyundai’s home market of Korea), the 2020 Accent gets a redesigned frontend that uses more geometric patterns and lines. The new cascading grille is now larger—shaped similarly to the ones seen in the new Sonata and Elantra, new side view mirrors with LED turn signal repeaters, and at the back, a rear bumper with a built-in diffuser and LED taillights. On higher-end variants, LED headlights with daytime running lights are standard, as are diamond-patterned 16-inch wheels with 195/55 R 16 tires, while the turbo swaps the dark chrome grille for a high-gloss black one along with a twin-tip muffler design at the back.
Inside, the 2020 Accent gets improved touchpoints with more chrome, and two available color schemes—two-tone beige-and-black or all-black for the turbo. New for this update include new gauges with a full-color 4.2-inch multi-function display, a larger 8-inch infotainment screen with a 6-speaker Arkamys system, Qi wireless charging, passive keyless entry with smart trunk function, auto-dimming rearview mirror, vented front seats, and automatic climate control with built-in ionizer and rear vents.
For this refresh, Hyundai has given the Accent three possible engine choices. It starts off with a 1.5-liter normally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine with 115 horsepower and 144 Nm of torque. Moving up, there’s a 1.5-liter U2 common rail direct injected diesel with 115 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. Finally, there’s a 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 120 horsepower and 172 Nm of torque. All engines can be paired with a 6-speed manual, but the normally-aspirated gasoline gets a CVT, the diesel a 6-speed automatic, and the 1.0-liter turbo a 7-speed dual clutch with paddle shifters.
For safety, all variants now get dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors as standard equipment. On the higher trim models, it gets 6 airbags, stability control, front parking sensors, rear parking camera, tire pressure monitoring system, and rear disc brakes.
The 2020 Accent (Verna) has gone on sale in India with prices starting at 817,867 Indian Rupee (~ P 554,850) and tops out at 1,407,871 Indian Rupee (~ P 955,155.52). With India serving as the Philippines’s source of Accents, it’s just going to be a matter of time when it makes it to the local market as well.
