Hyundai Accent SR on sale from $18,990

The sporty Hyundai Accent SR hatch has joined the local division’s updated city-car line-up.

Previewed by a concept at last year’s Sydney motor show, the new Accent SR is unique to the Australian market and becomes the third model in the car maker’s SR sports range after the Volster SR Turbo and the recently launched i30 SR.

At $18,990 for the six-speed manual and $20,990 for the six-speed automatic, the Hyundai Accent SR effectively replaces the Elite hatch in the line-up. Powering the Accent SR and the upgraded Accent Elite sedan is a 1.6-litre direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 103kW of power at 6300rpm and 167Nm of torque â€" 12kW/11Nm more than the 1.6-litre petrol unit in the entry-level Accent Active.

Teamed with the manual transmission, the direct injection engine matches the less powerful unit for combined cycle fuel consumption (6.1 litres per 100km), while the six-speed auto variant is marginally thirstier than its four-speed Active equivalent (6.6 versus 6.4L/100km).

Standard features of the Hyundai Accent SR include 16-inch machined-face alloy wheels, projector headlights, LED daytime running lights, rear spoiler, cruise control and SR badges on the rear hatch and over the front wheel arches.

Like its SR siblings, the Accent SR also benefits from sports-oriented suspension tuned in Australia by local engineers in collaboration with specialists from Hyundai in Korea. Hyundai Australia claims the suspension revisions deliver “sharper turn-in, quicker response and enhanced body control” while “improving on Accent’s supple ride”.

The Accent SR is available in five colours, including the SR-exclusive Sonic Silver metallic finish.

The entire Hyundai Accent range has earned the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating and is covered by a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, three years capped-price servicing and 12 months roadside assistance.

Hyundai Accent sales are down 15 per cent so far this year in Australia, from 5629 to 4807.

Hyundai Accent manufacturer’s list prices:

• Active manual â€" $16,990
• Active auto â€" $18,990
• SR manual â€" $18,990 (hatch only)
• SR auto â€" $20,990 (hatch only)
• Elite auto â€" $20,990 (sedan only)