This car is one of the smallest I've ever had but it still is able to pick up and pass some larger slower moving vehicles on major highways. There is plenty of leg room in the front and the back and overall the comfort level is very good. I have made numerous 8 hour trips with the car and never feel uncomfortable while sitting. The gas mileage is terrific but not if I use the AC. However, right off the bat I had several sever mechanical issues with the car. It had to towed three times within the first six months of my ownership. All repairs were covered under the extended warranty that I purchased but If I hadn't purchased it I would have paid almost $3000. Even with those issues I have to say I enjoy driving the car. The car did very nicely last winter in the significant amount of snow we had here. I do believe the fact that I purchased high quality, expensive, snow tires also helped.

I've had this guy for about 10 months now and have put over 20,000 miles on it. I tend to get between 32 and 38 mpg depending on if I do more city or highway driving. I love the armrest on the front driver side seat, but have had passengers complain about lack of passenger side arm rest. I think the cup-holders could be moved forward just a hair to avoid being directly under the arm rest, but they are adequately sized. This car is easy to park, because of size, but I have not heard complaints about roominess and I have been able to pack quite a bit of stuff into this car. The car packs a good amount of power for the fuel efficiency and size and I have no trouble with driving in high speed interstate traffic. The hatchback version does have some annoying blind spots which are slightly mitigated by the extra blind spot mirror on the driver side mirror. I love the multiple audio options, even on the standard model. I've used the mp3 cd, usb and auxiliary inputs as well as the satellite and all work flawlessly. The only very annoying issue is I wish there was just a hair more ground clearance, because I have run into places where I hear the car scrape on pavement and either have to drive super careful there or avoid it all together. All in all I love this sporty looking guy for being a balance of power, size, efficiency, and features. There are a few small quirks, but they do not greatly detract from the whole package and it would make a great inexpensive commute car or first car.

The Accent is a good choice for a starter car. The trunk is amazingly roomy and the back seats fold back. Gas mileage is great - a $30 tank will get me from Chicago to St. Louis. The ride is smooth enough, but not luxury-car level. The speakers are good and the seats give enough room for even tall passengers. You do want to consider the height of the car (it is very low to the ground) and cruise control (does not come installed) from the lot. It is a fun car!