Compare the2022 Hyundai AccentVS 2022 Chevrolet Spark

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Accent has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Spark doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Accent SEL/Limited’s blind spot mirrors use wide-angle convex mirrors mounted in the corner of each side view mirror to reveal objects that may be in the driver’s blind spots. The Spark doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

Both the Accent and the Spark 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, available crash mitigating brakes and daytime running lights.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, its “Acceptable” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Accent the rating of “Top Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Spark has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Accent comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Spark’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Accent 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Spark. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Spark ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Accent’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Spark’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Accent for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Spark.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Accent has a standard 100-amp alternator. The Spark’s 80-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Accent has a standard 640-amp battery. The Spark’s 375-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Accent first among small cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Spark was rated second in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 11 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Accent’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (120 vs. 98) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (113 vs. 94) than the Spark’s 1.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Accent gets better mileage than the Spark:

			MPG
Accent
	Auto	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	33 city/41 hwy
Spark
	Manual	1.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/38 hwy
		ACTIV 1.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/37 hwy
	Auto	1.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		ACTIV 1.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/37 hwy

The Accent has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Spark (11.9 vs. 9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Accent’s brake rotors and drums are larger than those on the Spark:

	Accent	Spark
Front Rotors	11 inches	9.3 inches
Rear Drums	8 inches	7.9 inches
Opt Rear Rotors	10.3 inches

The Accent SEL/Limited has standard antilock four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Spark. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Accent Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Spark (205/45R17 vs. 185/55R15).

The Accent Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Spark’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Accent Limited has standard 17-inch wheels. The Spark’s largest wheels are only 15-inches.

Suspension and Handling

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Accent’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the Spark (101.6 inches vs. 93.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Accent is 4.8 inches wider in the front and 5 inches wider in the rear than on the Spark.

Passenger Space

The Accent has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Spark can only carry 4.

The Accent has 7.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Spark (90.2 vs. 83).

The Accent has .4 inches more front legroom, 3.5 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom, 2.8 inches more rear hip room and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Spark.

Cargo Capacity

The Accent has a much larger trunk than the Spark with its rear seat up (13.7 vs. 11.1 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Accent Limited’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Spark doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

The Accent offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Spark doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Accent SEL/Limited has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Spark doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The Accent’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. The Spark LS doesn’t offer power windows.

The Accent’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. The Spark LS doesn’t offer power locks.

The Proximity Key with Pushbutton Start standard on the Accent Limited allows you to unlock the driver’s door, trunk and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Chevrolet Spark’s available Passive Entry with Keyless Start doesn’t unlock the trunk.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Accent has standard extendable sun visors. The Spark doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Accent offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Spark doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Accent Limited’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Spark doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Accent has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Spark doesn’t offer rear vents.

With standard voice command, the Accent SEL/Limited offers the driver hands free control of the radio by simply speaking. The Spark doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Accent is less expensive to operate than the Spark because typical repairs cost much less on the Accent than the Spark, including $200 less for a water pump, $91 less for a muffler, $64 less for front brake pads, $2 less for a fuel pump, $60 less for front struts, $414 less for a timing belt/chain and $544 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Accent, based on reliability, safety and performance.