Smart ForTwo Comes Out on Top in Roof-Strength Test

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released the results of its first crash test to determine roof strength for small cars. Only one of the six cars tested — the Smart ForTwo — earned the top rating of Good. The Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mini Cooper and Toyota Yaris earned Acceptable ratings, while the Chevy Aveo managed only a Marginal rating.

These new tests are important because they will be included in the 2010 Top Safety Pick awards that IIHS hands out. The roof tests require a car to withstand a force four times the vehicle’s weight per 5 inches of crushed area. That produces a strength-to-weight ratio. A ratio of 4 is the minimum to earn a Good rating, 3.25 is minimum for an Acceptable rating and 2.5 for Marginal. Anything below that is a Poor. The Smart Fortwo earned a 5.4 rating.

IIHS points to rollover crashes accounting for 10,000 deaths a year as the main reason to add the roof test to its side, rear and frontal crash tests. However, IIHS points out that while a strong roof helps prevent injuries after a rollover, the cars themselves should be more stable to prevent such accidents. The Smart ForTwo has a three-star rollover rating from the government, while the Fit, Cooper and Yaris have four-star rollover ratings.

Last year, 84 vehicles earned Top Safety Pick status, including the Honda Fit, which looks to lose that status with its score of Acceptable in the roof test. 

2010 Hyundai Accent Blue, 36 mpg

For the 2010 model year Hyundai is updating its lowest priced model, the Accent, in a number of ways. Chief among them is a new trim level called Blue that gets 28/36 mpg city/highway. That’s up from 2009’s best Accent mileage of 27/33 mpg.

All other Accent models — like the SE shown above — also get mileage bumps of one to two mpg and Hyundai has added an “eco” indicator to all 2010 models that lights up when you’re driving efficiently.

The Accent Blue will also be the base trim of the Accent line, costing “around $10,000” according to Hyundai. It goes on sale this fall.

One other new feature is an iPod/USB port on all trims. 

Hyundai Advances Dealers Cash for Clunkers Funds

The government hasn’t finished registering dealers for its Cash for Clunkers program yet, and rules for how funds will be distributed haven’t been released to the public or dealers. Hyundai isn’t waiting, however. The company is supplying cash funds to dealers now in advance of CARS going into effect. In fact, it already paid one car shopper last week for turning in a 1995 Ford Explorer while purchasing a new Hyundai Elantra Touring.

Hyundai is being aggressive with its latest incentives, as the company is one of the few to see sales success since the economic downturn. It’s still offering its Assurance plan, and this month it launched a gas incentive good for $1.49-a-gallon gas for a year.

You can check out our up-to-date guide to Cash for Clunkers here, as well as a full list of eligible vehicles (by mpg) here.

Hyundai Expedites Benefits of Cash for Clunkers (AutoRemarketing.com)

Hyundai Accent Cheapest Car in America, Again

In a sign of the times, Hyundai has announced that the base trim level of its Accent subcompact will start at $9,970, a cool $20 less than the 2009 Nissan Versa’s price, which was announced earlier this month.

What do you get for your $9,970? Exactly the same two-door hatchback Accent GS you got last year. There is no reduction in content but there wasn’t much to begin with. There is no a/c, no stereo and it sports 14-inch steel wheels with covers. There are seat-mounted side airbags and roof-mounted curtain airbags. Air conditioning is part of a $1,600 option package with a stereo and tilt steering wheel. Nissan charges $1,000 for air conditioning on its base Versa.

But the big news is that the price is significantly less than the previous $11,070 that you’ll still find listed on our site and on Hyundai’s. That’s how quickly Hyundai must have reacted to Nissan’s price drop.

The prices of the better-equipped Accents, you know with air conditioning, remain unchanged so the deal really only appeals to those with few needs in a new car. The Accent gets 27/33 mpg city/highway. 

Hyundai to Launch Efficiency-Focused 'Blue' Lineup

Hyundai will soon debut gas-conscious variants of its Accent and Elantra compact cars: the 2010 Accent Blue and 2010 Elantra Blue, it announced at the L.A. auto show. Available in summer 2009, the models take a page from GM's playbook; the Detroit-based automaker recently launched a handful of "Xtra Fuel Economy" cars and trucks. Like the XFE models, Hyundai's Blue models use readily available technology to achieve better gas mileage.

To boost fuel efficiency, Blue models get more slippery aerodynamics, new engine tuning, low-rolling-resistance tires and a unique final-drive ratio. Official gas mileage estimates aren't yet available, but the current Accent and Elantra get up to 26/35 mpg city/highway and 25/33 mpg, respectively.

Hyundai says the Accent Blue and Elantra Blue will also be the least expensive versions of these two cars. Pricing hasn't been announced, but the 2009 Accent starts at $11,070, while the 2009 Elantra's base price is $14,120.

2009 Hyundai Accent, Tucson Get Better Mileage

Hyundai is following in the footsteps of GM, making slight engine tweaks to add a few mpgs to some of its 2009 models. Even though they feature different four-cylinder engines, both the 2009 Hyundai Accent and 2009 Hyundai Tucson see bumps in average fuel economy.

The Accent sees the biggest bump in fuel economy, with increases of anywhere from 3% to 8% depending on the transmission type. The thriftiest models are the automatics, which now get 26/35 mpg city/highway, with the manual transmissions getting 27/33 mpg. Those numbers are right in line with the Chevy Aveo and Scion xD. Otherwise, the only changes to the Accent are the addition of cruise control and a moonroof to the SE’s Premium Package, and cruise control also being added to the Popular Equipment Package.

The Tucson gets a new grille treatment that makes it look a bit more like the bigger Santa Fe, plus new wheels and a few other alterations besides improved fuel economy. Now rated at between 18/23 and 20/26 mpg city/highway for both four-cylinder and V-6 models, the Tucson’s improvement is in the 4%-6% range. Also new is a 200-watt Kenwood stereo and navigation system that won’t be immediately available, but will eventually be standard on Limited models and optional on all other trims. Moonroofs are also standard on both the two- and four-wheel-drive Limited V-6, but there will be no four-cylinder Limited model for 2009.

An Intern's Used-Car Gold

The recent trend of folks choosing efficiency over size in the new-car market isn’t without benefit to a few people. What am I (a humble intern) talking about? My sweet, slightly used 2006 Hyundai Accent with an automatic transmission and air conditioning, of course. If you haven’t figured out my plan yet, I’m trying to sell the thing and am using KickingTires as a selfish plug to do so. 

Here’s my angle: Automakers are having trouble producing enough hybrids for people looking to save on gas, so those out-of-luck people should come groveling to me for this Korean jewel. The new Accents’ sales were up 70% in June, so I figure it should be a slam dunk making money on my 2006.

Aside from my assumptions, though, has the current crisis really turned small cars into gold and my baby Accent into an investment? Kelley Blue Book executive editorial director Jack R. Nerad says think again.

Four Will Enter, One Will Leave: The Final Two

Our first installment pitted the all-new Suzuki SX4 against the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent. We put the Accent and SX4 to pasture in round one, leaving the Fit and Versa to duke it out. Who’s the last man standing? Read on.

Four Will Enter, One Will Leave: Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Suzuki SX4

At last week’s media rally, staffers Bill Jackson and Kelsey Mays tried four entry-level cars — the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Suzuki SX4 and Hyundai Accent. Since most people don't rush out and buy four cars, each from a different manufacturer, we thought we'd narrow the field down to an overall winner.

In true beauty-pageant fashion, we'll start with the third runner-up.