Compare the2022 Hyundai AccentVS 2021 Volkswagen Golf

Both the Accent and the Golf 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.

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

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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Accent is safer than the Volkswagen Golf:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Accent is 2.1% less likely to roll over than the Golf.

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 Golf was last qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

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 Golf’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Accent 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Golf. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Golf ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Accent’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Golf runs out after 100,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Accent for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the Golf (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

There are over 29 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Accent’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Accent’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Golf’s camshafts. If the Golf’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Accent has a standard 640-amp battery. The Golf’s 480-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 Golf isn’t in the top three 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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 64 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 62 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 18 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

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

The Accent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Golf doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Accent stops much shorter than the Golf:

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 Golf’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Accent Limited has standard 17-inch wheels. The Golf’s largest wheels are only 16-inches.

For better maneuverability, the Accent’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Golf’s (33.5 feet vs. 35.8 feet).

The Hyundai Accent may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Volkswagen Golf.

The design of the Hyundai Accent amounts to more than styling. The Accent has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Golf (.32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Accent get better fuel mileage.

The Accent has .5 inches more front headroom and .9 inches more front legroom than the Golf.

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 Golf doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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 Golf doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Accent’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Golf’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

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 Golf doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 Golf doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Accent is less expensive to operate than the Golf because it costs $227 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Accent than the Golf, including $241 less for a water pump, $105 less for a muffler, $38 less for front brake pads, $355 less for a starter, $300 less for front struts, $103 less for a timing belt/chain and $274 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Accent will be $2126 to $4904 less than for the Volkswagen Golf.

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

The Hyundai Accent outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by 40% during the 2021 model year.