Hyundai trumps Nissan by offering cheapest new car on sale in U.S.
11/26/2008, 1:27 PM
By Andrew Ganz
Nissan’s $9,990 Versa sedan held the “cheapest car in America” crown for just a handful of weeks until today’s announcement that Hyundai would cut the price of its Accent hatchback to $9,970. The crown-wearing Accent is not a new model, but merely a reduced price 2009 Accent GS, unlike the stripped down Versa.
The Accent GS is only offered with a manual transmission at that price point – stepping up to the automatic transmission Accent GS means buyers will have to fork out $12,070, a fairly hefty sum for the luxury of having your gears shifted for you.
Equipment levels are hardly upscale, but they do include six airbags, variable intermittent wipers, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and even a spoiler. Like the Versa, air conditioning and a radio are extra-cost options, but that’s the price you pay for spending less than $10,000 on a new car.
Previously, the 2009 Accent GS retailed for $11,070.
11/26, 1:29 PM
posted by:
beemerdude
LLN: … a fairly hefty sum for the luxury of having you gears shifted for you.
11/26, 1:30 PM
posted by:
projectzr1
ya clearly the grammatical errors are in need of work.
But 20 bucks? i guess every little dollar counts with this kind of thing.
11/26, 1:35 PM
posted by:
swamp donkey
LOL $20 buck wtf
11/26, 2:01 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
I can go to Vegas and have my gears shifted for me for about $100.
11/26, 2:06 PM
posted by:
Borat
The question to ponder: which one will less reliable? How much extra problems $20 will bring?
11/26, 2:26 PM
posted by:
A4
id rather buy something used with a radio.
11/26, 2:42 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Who needs a radio when you’re rowing through the gears of a Hyundai Accent listening to that magical engine note. Just pretend you’re Lewis Hamilton every time you leave the house and soon you’ll be wondering where the guy with the pit board is as you round the last corner on your way home.
11/26, 2:48 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
They obviously undercut it by $20 just so that when people come in the dealerships they can say “Hey! check out the new Accent currently ranked as the cheapest car you can buy!”
It’s marketing 101 and although it sounds gimmicky millions of Americans would love to buy the cheapest car available.
11/26, 2:59 PM
posted by:
freeyellow2000
WTF is Hyundai thinking $2100 more for AT. That outrageous. Most are only $700-1000 for having the AT option.
11/26, 4:02 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
FreeYellow, Hyundai is thinking that people won’t do their homework.
Between the two, I’d take the Versa. As ugly as the Versa is, it’s certainly more appealing than the Accent. And the looks difference alone is worth $20.
11/26, 8:26 PM
posted by:
Vosotros
Wonder how much they’re losing on these given the hefty price drop. But, really, how many base model 5-speed accents do they sell a year?
11/26, 8:48 PM
posted by:
DrFill
A leopard never changes it’s spots
Hyundai can’t let go of the bottom of the market for more than a couple of weeks without breaking out in a sweat
Now that’s pride for ya
DrFill
11/26, 8:56 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
You said what I originally thought, Dr. Fill.
11/26, 9:14 PM
posted by:
DrFill
I wish Hyundai would just wake up and drop dead already
Leave us alone!
You want to be a bottom-feeder
You want to be Lexus
You stink at both
Go home!
Go!
You won’t be missed
DrFill
11/26, 9:41 PM
posted by:
JoshyLofty
what about the Kia Rio, with no power steering, no radio, 2 speed wipers, & itty bitty donut size rims & tires it goes for 5500 where i live, Dallas, TX. does that not happen around anywhere else? cuz last i checked 5500 was less than 9K.
11/28, 5:15 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Is that for the 2009 model year, Joshy?
11/29, 3:35 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Wrong move, if Hyundai wants to be taken seriously.
You’ll sell this under the same roof as the genesis?
BTW the ‘89 excel cost $8,685 in today’s dollars.