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Hyundai Accent SR: Price And Features For Warmed-up Light Hatch

Hyundai's recently launched i30 SR 'warm hatch' has been joined this week by another Australian exclusive, in the form of the $18,990 Accent SR. Like the larger i30, the new top-shelf Accent variant – which replaces the Elite hatch –

Drive Team

03:3915 October 2013

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Hyundai Accent SR: Price And Features For Warmed-up Light Hatch

Hyundai's recently launched i30 SR 'warm hatch' has been joined this week by another Australian exclusive, in the form of the $18,990 Accent SR.

Like the larger i30, the new top-shelf Accent variant - which replaces the Elite hatch - is based on the 'SR' concepts revealed at last year's Australian International Motor Show.

In production form, the Accent SR is driven by the same 1.6 litre GDI petrol engine that drives the Accent Elite sedan, the Hyundai Veloster sports hatch, and Kia's Rio.

Producing 103kW at 6300rpm and 166Nm of torque at 4850rpm, the Accent SR's direct-injected and D-CVVT engine offers 13kW and 11Nm more than the regular Accent Active's 1.6 multipoint-injection heart.

Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available, with fuel consumption rated at 6.1 and 6.6 l/100km respectively.

Again like the i30 SR, the Accent SR benefits from a handful of tweaks, including a retuned suspension setup developed here in Australia, in collaboration with engineers from the company's Korean headquarters.

Along with a sports damper tune, the front spring rates have been increased from 2.4 to 2.5kg/mm, with rear spring rates decreased from 2.0 to 1.9kg/mm. The front stabiliser bar has also been decreased in thickness from 23 to 21mm.

"[Our] engineers evaluated a total of 20 front damper builds and 17 rear damper builds during the refinement process. Importantly, rear dampers were changed from twin-tube to high-performance monotube Mando units," lead development driver, Andrew Tuitahi said.

“The Accent SR features a higher output engine and a new suspension set-up which as a pleasant by-product also make it great fun to drive at a keen price.”

Features with the Accent SR include 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, SR badging, automatic projector headlights with LED positioning lamps, and cruise control.

Standard safety features across the Accent range include Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), four-channel, four-sensor Anti-skid Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and six airbags.