Compare the2022 Toyota CorollaVS 2021 Hyundai Accent

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Corolla has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Accent doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Corolla has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Accent doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Corolla’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Accent doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Corolla (except L/Manual)’s optional cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Accent doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Corolla’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Accent doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Corolla and the Accent have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla is safer than the Hyundai Accent:

	Corolla	Accent
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	187	290
Neck Stress	243 lbs.	250 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	27%	56%
Neck Stress	165 lbs.	198 lbs.
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	93 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla is safer than the Hyundai Accent:

	Corolla	Accent
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	92	194
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.3 inches
Abdominal Force	129 G’s	258 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	527
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	84 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	635 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	35 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	880 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 121 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Accent last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.

Warranty

There are over 50 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corolla’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Corolla’s reliability 37 points higher than the Accent.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 7th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Hyundai is ranked 6th.

Engine

The Corolla’s standard 1.8 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 19 more horsepower (139 vs. 120) and 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (126 vs. 113) than the Accent’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Corolla SE/XSE’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 49 more horsepower (169 vs. 120) and 38 lbs.-ft. more torque (151 vs. 113) than the Accent’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Corolla has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accent (13.2 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Corolla higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Accent (3). This means the Corolla produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Accent every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Toyota Corolla comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Accent.

A standard “hill holder” feature keeps the Toyota Corolla from rolling backwards on a steep slope. The Accent doesn’t offer a hill holder feature.

The Toyota Corolla has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The Accent doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

Brakes and Stopping

The Toyota Corolla has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Accent. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Corolla stops much shorter than the Accent:

	Corolla	Accent
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	173 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corolla has larger standard tires than the Accent (195/65R15 vs. 185/65R15). The Corolla SE/XSE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Accent (225/40R18 vs. 205/45R17).

The Corolla SE/XSE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Accent Limited’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corolla SE/XSE has standard 18-inch wheels. The Accent’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Toyota Corolla’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Accent only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Corolla has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Hyundai Accent has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Corolla has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Corolla flat and controlled during cornering. The Accent’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Corolla’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Accent (106.3 inches vs. 101.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Corolla is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Accent.

The Corolla Apex handles at .89 G’s, while the Accent SE pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The Corolla has 2.2 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear hip room than the Accent.

Ergonomics

The Corolla’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Accent has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Corolla’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Accent’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Accent can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Accent has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the SEL/Limited.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Corolla detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Accent doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corolla XLE/XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Accent doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Corolla has a standard Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Accent doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Corolla XLE/XSE’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Accent’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Corolla XLE/XSE offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Accent doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Hyundai Accent isn’t available as a four door hatchback or wagon.

Economic Advantages

The Corolla will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Corolla will retain 51.42% to 52.65% of its original price after five years, while the Accent only retains 45.68% to 46.74%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corolla is less expensive to operate than the Accent because it costs $319 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Corolla than the Accent, including $20 less for fuel injection.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Corolla as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Accent isn't recommended.