Hyundai Accent VS Suzuki Swift
Hyundai Accent
Likes
- Big alloys and new nose make it better looking
- Phone integration unlocks Apple/Google Maps
- Plenty of useable torque from 1.6-litre engine
Dislikes
- Suspension can be jarring occasionally
- Lacks refinement outside of the city
- Standard safety package lacking
Suzuki Swift
Likes
Dislikes
Summary
Hyundai Accent
While there are plenty of things that somehow improve with age (art, wine, the seemingly ageless Will Smith, to name but a few), the Hyundai Accent is sadly not one of them.
But then, neither does almost any new cars. With new technology, entertainment and safety features launching daily, and with engines that are getting cleaner, more efficient and smoother all the time, a once all-new model can be left looking positively antique in just a handful of years.
But it’s definitely even worse than normal over at Hyundai; the Korean manufacturer that continues to make great forward strides with every new model. From the members of its fast and frantic N Division to its polished SUVs, to the all-new i30 small car, Hyundai is going from strength to strength with neck-breaking speed.
All of which creates a little problem for the pint-sized Accent, which - having launched back in 2011 - is now starting to feel its age. And unlike the Fresh Prince, it isn’t holding up quite so well.
So in lieu of an all new version, Hyundai streamlined the existing Accent family into one value-packed model in 2017, taking the axe to the Active and SR models and replacing both with a single, Sport trim level, which is available in sedan and hatchback guise.
And in creating the Sport, Hyundai aims to blend the best of the Accent range into one handy package. So have they taught this old dog new tricks?
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 1.6L |
| Fuel Type | Regular Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 6.3L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Suzuki Swift
You’ve set a new-car budget ceiling of $30,000. Your preference is for a small five-door hatch rather than the ubiquitous ‘compact SUV’ and with fuel price surges now a painfully regular part of life you like the idea of a hybrid.
Well, here are two well-credentialed, just-released contenders fitting that description ready to vie for your attention.
MG’s all-new MG3 replaces a model that’s dominated the light car segment in recent years and brings a new hybrid variant to the party. And Suzuki's Swift is an Aussie small car favourite with this recently launched sixth-generation version adding a mild-hybrid to the range.
We’ll get into how these city-sized newcomers shape up in terms of performance, economy, safety, practicality, value and more. So, stay with us to see which one has the best chance of filling that small car-sized space on your driveway.
Read more about MG3 and Suzuki Swift
- New cut-price small hybrid SUV confirmed: 2025 MG ZS Hybrid locked in for Australia to rival the Hyundai Kona, Haval Jolion and Toyota Corolla Cross
- Look out, Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic and MG ZS: Hybrid-powered Suzuki Fronx set to finally replace Suzuki Ignis in Australia
- New-car bargain gems: The Nissan X-Trail, Suzuki Swift and - controversially - Subaru WRX and Honda Civic are among the hybrids, SUVs, electric cars and hatches we'd buy | Opinion
- MG 3 2024 review: Hybrid+ Excite
- Suzuki Swift 2024 review: Hybrid
| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 1.5L |
| Fuel Type | Hybrid with Premium Unleaded |
| Fuel Efficiency | 4.3L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
Hyundai Accent 6.8/10
It might be getting harder and harder to hide its age, but there is still plenty to like about Hyundai's cheapest car. Those who really love to drive need not apply, and nor should long-distance travellers, but the Accent Sport's alloy wheels, true smartphone integration and plenty of power and USB points will thrill its younger owners, while its long-range warranty and cheap servicing costs don't hurt either.
Still, if you think you can stretch to an i30, you should definitely drive one first.
Would you opt for a Hyundai Accent Sport, or step up to an i30? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
Suzuki Swift/10
This is close, with things like safety and these cars’ amazing fuel efficiency too close to call.
In terms of performance, practicality and the ownership package, the MG has the edge. But not by much, and when it comes to driving comfort and dynamics and critically, value for money, the Suzuki takes the lead.
Your particular priorities may drive a different decision, but in this head-to-head our nod goes to the Swift Hybrid Plus.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
| Rating | 7.9 | 8.0 |
Design
Hyundai Accent 7/10
It looks good, the Accent, just not quite as good as its bigger Hyundai brothers. And that’s got to sting, if only a little bit.
Words like "subtle", "restyled” and “enhanced design” pepper the Accent’s media information, and so we’re not talking massive changes. But the exterior of the Sport looks sharp, especially in the 'Pulse Red' of our test car. Other colours include 'Chalk White', 'Lake Silver', 'Phantom Black', 'Sunflower' (yellow), and 'Blue Lagoon', but there’s no green, orange or grey paint available.
First, though, don’t let the whole 'sport' thing fool you. You’ll find no Fast and Furious body kit, nor is there much in terms of a rear spoiler, side skirts or a rear diffuser. Instead, a silver-framed mesh grille (a smaller version of the one that adorns the i30) blends into the headlights that then sweep back into the body, while subtle power lines create a little dome in the bonnet, starting at the edges of the Hyundai badge and getting wider as they sweep back across the bonnet.
Side on, the alloys are clean and simple, and a single style crease runs the length of the body, intersecting both door handles on each side. At the rear, though, the concave body styling doesn’t quite work so well, ending up looking busier than the rest of the car, and leaving it with too much body and not enough rear window.
Inside, as you can see from our interior photos, there is plenty of hard plastic, but there have been some design flourishes that give them a nicer texture and go some way to disguising the fact they’re hard enough to be used as a weapon in a roadside road rage dispute.
But it’s a simple and clean design, with patterned cloth (what, you were expecting leather seats at this price point?) seats, an uncluttered centre cluster and a sparing use of silver highlights that break up the black of the dash and doors.
You can also option everything from tailored floor mats to interior lighting, forming a kind of personalised premium package for the Accent Sport.
Suzuki Swift
In terms of exterior design the MG is a mix of hard character lines and sharp angles, for example in the headlights and tail-lights as well as vents front and rear.
Suzuki follows an evolutionary approach when it comes to the Swift’s design. Cover this latest version’s badges and thanks to its chunky proportions and upright stance, any half-decent car-spotter will still pick it.
A relatively high waistline gives the Swift a solid look while our test car’s two-tone premium ‘Frontier Blue Pearl’ paint (an $1145 option) with black turret enhances the signature ‘floating roof’ effect.
The MG3’s interior is clean and simple with the tone set by a twin-screen setup; a 10.25-inch multimedia display in the centre and a 7.0-inch instrument cluster in front of the driver.
But it’s dark, from the roof lining, to the dash, to the seats. And in this part of the market you can forget about soft-touch cabin materials, the plastics are hard save for some padding across the centre level of the dash.
By comparison the Swift’s interior is conventional with a relatively small media screen artificially enlarged by a broad gloss plastic frame. Analogue instruments, albeit with a multi-function digital screen in the centre (including a digital speedometer) look dated by comparison and the layered dash treatment appears fussy next to the MG’s layout.
Some grey and cream elements lighten the tone but, again, it’s a world of hard plastic surfaces inside the Suzuki.
Always a subjective call. We’re giving the design gong to the MG for its more contemporary approach, but I like the Swift, too, analogue instruments and all.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |||||||
| Rating | 8.0 | 7.0 | ||||||
Practicality
Hyundai Accent 7/10
It’s every bit as practical as you might expect, the Accent Sport, given that you’re unlikely to be using something this size as a pseudo moving van anytime soon.
The 4155mm long, 1700mm wide and 1450mm high (the sedan is 4370mm long) Accent Sport's interior dimensions feel spacious up front, and while the front seats are a little too flat, the cabin feels airy and light. There are two cupholders up front, too, and there’s room in the front doors for extra bottles.
Like all Hyundais, the little Accent boasts most of the technology options favoured by younger buyers, like a USB point, an aux connection and two 12-volt power outlets all housed in a tiny storage bin underneath the centre console. There’s a sunglass holder, too, integrated into the roof.
The backseat is sparse but spacious enough, with enough room for adults to sit behind adults in comfort - at least in the two window seats. That’s about it back there, though, with no technology options, vents or air-con controls.
Boot space is a useable 370 litres in hatch guise, but luggage capacity grows to 465 litres should you opt for the sedan, with both of those figures measured in VDA. Optional roof racks and rails (and other offical accessories like a rubber cargo liner, mud flaps or dedicated bike, snowboard and surfboard carriers) help increase the pint-size Accent’s load-lugging ability.
As does a handy (and optional) cargo liner that helps separate your groceries, sitting neatly under the cargo cover that shields you luggage from prying eyes outside. Perhaps unsurprisingly, you can’t get a factory-offered bull bar.
There are two ISOFIX attachment points, one in each window seat, as well as three top-tether points across the back row.
Suzuki Swift
At just over 4.1m long the MG3 is around 250mm longer than the Swift and not surprisingly its wheelbase is 120mm up on the Suzuki.
And there’s more than enough room up front in the MG and storage is good with bins in the doors and space for medium-sized bottles, as well as multiple cup/bottle holders in the centre console with movable dividers to structure the spaces as you see fit.
There’s a box between the front seats with a sliding tray inside it, alongside another partitioned oddments space and there’s a decent glove box.
For power and connectivity you’ve got USB-A and USB-C sockets with a 12-volt socket between them.
Important to note the MG’s steering column only adjusts for height which is a throwback to the 1990s, while the Swift’s adjusts for rake and reach, as you’d expect.
In terms of storage in the front of the Suzuki there are bins in the doors with room for bottles and cup/bottle holders in the centre console with an oddments tray in front of them (this becomes the wireless charging tray in the top-spec GLX).
No centre box/armrest between the front seats, just a low surround for the (manual) handbrake with a single cupholder at the back of it, more for backseaters than those in the front.
Again, there’s a generous glove box and this time around for connectivity there are two USB-A sockets (one for media) and a USB-C with a 12V next to them for power.
The rear of both of these city cars is surprisingly accommodating. Sitting behind the driver’s seat set to my 183cm position I have good foot, leg and headroom in each. Slightly less shoulder room in the Swift, which, after all, is 62mm narrower than the MG3.
Telling that neither car has map pockets on the front seat backs or a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. But there are door bins in the MG3 with room for bottles while the Suzuki’s back doors have wells in them with just enough size for a mid-size bottle.
Big tick for the MG’s adjustable air vents for those in the back seat, with a small oddments tray and an additional USB-A outlet for power underneath it.
Boot space is surprisingly close with each of these minis able to hold the large and small cases from our three-piece luggage set. The MG3 offers 293 litres of volume with the Swift at 265L.
Worth noting the Suzuki’s rear seat splits and folds 60/40 for extra space and flexibility while the MG’s is a not as flexible single-piece folding backrest.
When it comes to a spare tyre, a repair/inflator kit is your only option for both of these cars, which is less than ideal.
Dimensions | MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift |
Length (mm) | 4113 | 3860 |
Width (mm) | 1797 | 1735 |
Height (mm) | 1502 | 1520 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 2570 | 2450 |
Boot volume (L) | 293/983 | 265/589 |
USB front | 1 x C / 1 x A | 1 x C / 2 x A |
USB rear | 1 x A | ⛌ |
Cupholders front | 2 | 2 |
Cupholders rear | ⛌ | 1 |
Bottleholders front | door bins | door bins |
Bottleholders rear | door bins | bottle tubes |
Adjustable rear A/C vents | ✓ | ⛌ |
12-volt socket | 1 x front | 1 x front |
Rear map pockets | ⛌ | ⛌ |
Spare tyre | repair kit | repair kit |
Glove box | medium | medium |
Front centre box/armrest | ✓ | ⛌ |
| Rating | 8.0 | 7.0 |
Price and features
Hyundai Accent 7/10
The price list for the Hyundai Accent range - available only in single, Sport trim - starts at $15,490 for the six-speed manual version, and will cost $2k more ($17,490) for the six-speed auto version, with those prices identical for hatch and sedan versions. So, not much of a walk through a valley of trim levels, then.
Yes, you could be forgiven for asking “how much!?”, given that’s a little more than we’ve grown accustomed to paying for the cheapest - and on perennial runout - Hyundai model, but there are enough standard features on offer to sweeten the deal. Besides, the inevitable drive-away pricing deals will almost certainly improve the value equation, too.
Outside, expect 16-inch alloy wheels and LED indicators integrated into the side mirrors - though there aren't projector headlights, daytime running lights or any of the other, more high-end appointments.
Inside, you’ll find cloth seats, cruise control, air-conditioning, a power window for everyone, powered mirrors, steering wheel controls and a digital clock.
Finally, the tech stuff is covered by an Apple CarPlay-equipped (meaning you can use your iPhone’s GPS as your navigation system) 5.0-inch touchscreen that pairs with a stereo with four speakers. Android Auto is also available, via a 15-minute software upgrade done through the dealer. The screen is too small to use for in-depth stuff, like searching for a phone number, but it mostly does the job just fine.
It also means that, as well as a CD player, you’ll get radio, Bluetooth, MP3, podcast and Spotify access, all played through the car’s sound system. You can forget a subwoofer or DVD player, though, unless you opt for an aftermarket multimedia system.
Sure, that’s not the most comprehensive list of goodies - there aren’t deeply tinted windows, no sunroof and the touchscreen is rather small, and while there’s central locking that allows keyless entry, there's no push-button start.
But then, $15,490 isn’t much in the world of new cars, and so to score alloy rims, powered everything and genuine phone integration (all things that will attract your future buyers - and protect your resale value - should you sell it second hand) is not to be sneezed at.
Suzuki Swift
In line with your budget these cars come in under $30K, before on-road costs… one of them, only just.
There are two MG3 Hybrid+ grades, the top-spec Essence and the entry-level Excite we’re testing here that just slips under the price cap at $29,990.
Sitting in the centre of three variants, the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus wears a 10 per cent lower price tag than the MG at $26,990 and there are some standard spec differences you should know about.
Both feature 16-inch alloy wheels, six-speaker audio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and fabric upholstery, however the MG’s central multimedia screen is bigger and its air-conditioning is auto climate control, where the Swift’s is manual.
But the Suzuki scores a few significant wins like LED headlights compared to the MG’s halogens, heated front seats, digital radio and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Not to mention keyless entry, built-in nav and wireless Apple CarPlay.
The Swift also includes auto headlights with self-levelling and auto high-beam. Both boast heated exterior mirrors and the MG’s auto fold. But now we’re splitting hairs. Taking its lower cost-of-entry into account the Swift Hybrid Plus comes out in front in terms of price and features.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
Price (MSRP) | $29,990 | $26,990 |
Multimedia screen | 10.25-inch | 9.0-inch |
LED headlights | ⛌ | ✓ |
Android Auto / Apple CarPlay | ✓ | ✓ (wireless Apple) |
Heated front seats | ⛌ | ✓ |
Upholstery | fabric | fabric |
Audio | six-speaker | six-speaker |
Nav | ⛌ | ✓ |
Digital radio | ⛌ | ✓ |
A/C | auto (single zone) | manual |
Keyless entry | ⛌ | ✓ |
Leather trimmed steering wheel | ⛌ | ✓ |
Auto rain-sensing wipers | ⛌ | ⛌ |
Alloy wheels | ✓ | ✓ |
Privacy glass | ⛌ | ✓ |
Steering column adjust | height | height & reach |
Wireless charging | ⛌ | ⛌ |
| Rating | 7.0 | 9.0 |
Under the bonnet
Hyundai Accent 6/10
The one Accent on offer is powered by a single engine; a petrol-sipping (there’s no diesel, LPG or turbo), 1.6-litre motor that will produce a solid-sounding 103kW (138 horsepower) at 6300rpm and 167Nm of torque at 4850rpm. They are good specs, and it stands up to most competitors in an engine vs engine models comparison. It pairs with a choice of six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic transmission.
There used to be a fairly underwhelming 1.4-litre engine size paired with a CVT auto in the now-axed Accent variant, but this bigger engine is much, much better, and makes for much happier reading on the specifications sheet.
The Accent is front-wheel drive only, with no 4x4, AWD or rear-wheel drive options available. It will serve up a 900kg braked and 450kg unbraked towing capacity, with an optional tow bar/ball fitted. Kerb weight is listed as between 1070kg and 1170kg.
The Accent Sport uses MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension (no sophisticated air systems on offer), and Hyundai doesn’t quote any 0-100km/h, acceleration or speed figures.
Suzuki Swift
Markedly different stories under the bonnets of these two.
The MG3 is a full petrol-electric hybrid with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine working in concert with a separate electric motor on the front axle. Combined outputs are a healthy 155kW/425Nm.
While the Swift is mild hybrid powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with an enhanced starter/generator/electric motor picking up some of the slack in terms of powering the stop-start system and adding 60Nm of torque for a little extra oomph when required. Output stats are 61kW/112Nm (plus 2.3kW/60Nm).
Both send drive to the front wheels, in the case of the MG through a three-speed ‘hybrid’ transmission managing combustion and electric drive simultaneously while the Suzuki uses a continuously variable auto transmission (CVT).
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
Engine | 1.5L 4cyl atmo petrol | 1.2L 3cyl atmo petrol |
Power (kW) | 75 @ 6000rpm | 61 @ 5700rpm |
Torque (Nm) | 128 @ 4500rpm | 112Nm @ 4500rpm |
Power combined (kW) | 155 @ 8000rpm | 'ISG' adds 2.3kW/60Nm |
Torque combined (Nm) | 425 | - |
Transmission | Three-speed ‘Hybrid’ auto | Continuously variable auto |
Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Rating | 8.0 | 7.0 |
Efficiency
Hyundai Accent 7/10
For fuel consumption, Hyundai claims 6.3 litres (6.6 litres for the sedan) per hundred kilometres on the combined cycle. But as with all of these manufacturer-supplied figures, there’s always a some sort of variation in the real world km/l fuel economy.
Just how much variation is dependent on how heavy your right foot is, but after my (admittedly city-based) week with the car, the trip computer had my mileage at 11.0L/100km. If you were to adopt an eco mode driving style, that would surely improve, though.
The Accent’s fuel tank size is fairly small, with a fuel capacity of just 43 litres - perfect for the city, less so for long-distance cruising. Emissions are a claimed 146g (154g in the hatch) per kilometre of C02.
Suzuki Swift
MG claims the MG3 Hybrid consumes just 4.3L of fuel for every 100km travelled on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle, which is amazing for a car with its performance potential, but the featherweight Swift does even better at a miserly 4.0L/100km.
On test, over an extended mix of city, suburban and freeway running we saw the MG sip just 3.9L/100km, with the Swift on 3.8. To all intents and purposes a tie.
Worth noting both cars demand 95 RON premium unleaded fuel and based on our real-world results you can expect a range of around 1250km for the MG3 and 1025km for the Swift, the latter carrying a smaller fuel tank. Brilliant fuel efficiency.
L/100km | MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift |
Official combined cycle | 4.3 | 4.0 |
On test (bowser) | 3.9 | 3.8 |
On test (dash) | 4.3 | 4.3 |
CO2 (Combined cycle - g/km) | 100 | 90 |
Fuel tank (L) | 45 | 37 |
Fuel grade | 95 RON premium | 95 RON premium |
Range - Theoretical (Combined cycle - km) | 1046 | 925 |
Range - Real world (On test - km) | 1250 | 1027 |
Hybrid battery | 1.83kWh | 12-volt/10Ah |
| Rating | 9 | 9 |
Driving
Hyundai Accent 6/10
With its sharp design and gleaming alloys, the Accent Sport doesn’t look like an entry-level model, and nor is it immediately obvious that it’s the cheapest way into the Hyundai family. The downside, though, is it does feel that way from behind the wheel.
A little harsher, a little more road noise and a little more gruff than Hyundai’s more expensive models (including the very good i30), it’s the unfair victim of the brand’s staggering success, which has left the Accent feeling a bit old-school by comparison.
That said, it's perfectly suited to inner-city life, and if you’re cruising around using minimal inputs, it does it all smoothly and quietly. The steering feels a little slack at slow speeds, with plenty of dead air when you first start turning the wheel, but none of that bothers you much in the city.
The grunt from that engine is refreshingly ample for a small car, and provides plenty of punch to get you moving from traffic lights, while the seating position is high enough that vision is great out of every window (except the rear - you’ll be using the reversing camera for that one).
Take it out of town, though, and the refinement begins to vanish. The engine sounds harsh under heavy acceleration, the transmission can be confused - especially around 80km/h, where moving your foot a fraction can force continual changes up or down, like it's wrestling with a big life decision.
The only other question mark is over the suspension set-up, which for some reason favours sporty firmness in a car unlikely to be asked to achieve anything more dynamic than sitting at 50km/h. The result is a ride that can feel noticeably firm over bad road surfaces.
The Accent’s 140mm ground clearance (not to mention the fact it’s a front-wheel drive city car) should be enough to persuade you not to test its off-road performance. And its turning radius is 10.4m.
Suzuki Swift
MG claims the MG3 Hybrid will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.0sec and it feels quick, especially in ‘Sport’ mode, rather than the ‘Eco’ and ‘Normal’ settings.
No doubt the MG is the quieter of the two and it’s important to point out the MG3 is able to run on pure electric power, while the Suzuki cannot.
Suspension is by struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear and the MG feels bumpier over typical pock-marked and patched urban surfaces. That may have something to do with the MG3’s 1298kg kerb weight and slightly wider and lower profile tyres - 195/55 vs 185/65.
The MG steers nicely through a squared-off steering wheel, a la the ‘quartic’ wheel found in the Austin Allegro and Rover SD1 from the 1970s. Road feel is good.
Disc brakes front and rear do the stopping on the MG with three levels of regenerative braking available. The most aggressive setting slows the car markedly but won’t bring it to a full stop, so no ‘single pedal’ driving.
By comparison, expect the Swift to reach 100km/h in around 12.5sec and first impressions are dominated by the characteristically coarse three-cylinder engine and exhaust sound.
Flick the Sport button on the gear shift and performance becomes more urgent but it can’t match the MG’s punch. That said, you can feel that extra 60Nm of pulling power when you want it.
But it’s the Suzuki’s supple ride and nimble handling that stand it apart. Despite its shorter wheelbase and substantially lighter weight the little Suzuki irons out bumps and thumps beautifully.
The steering is well-weighted, accurate and responsive with excellent road feel. Braking is by disc at the front and, yes, drums the size of a small Tupperware container at the rear.
But jokes aside, in a car this light a good drum brake will work perfectly well and it does here. No levels of regen braking. As soon as you’re off the throttle a small light on the dash lets you know you’re sending energy to the battery.
In terms of miscellaneous observations, the MG’s front seats aren’t as comfy as the Suzuki’s. In fact, all who drove the MG3 noticed the driver’s seat cushion is overly firm towards the rear, pushing into your tailbone.
The driver’s door armrests are hard in both cars and there’s some mild wind noise in the Swift at freeway speeds.
Both are super-easy to park but the Swift is that bit smaller with superior visibility, and neither car has a rotary dial for audio volume with wheel, dash buttons or screen sliders instead.
Overall both of these light hatches offer excellent dynamics and refinement for the money, but the Swift delivers a more relaxed and engaging drive.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
0-100km/h (sec) | 8.0 | 12.5 |
Suspension | strut / torsion beam | strut / torsion beam |
Steering | rack & pinion | rack & pinion |
Wheels | 16-inch alloy | 16-inch alloy |
Tyres | 195/55 | 185/65 |
Spare | repair kit | repair kit |
Brakes | vented disc / disc | vented disc / drum |
Kerb weight (kg) | 1298 | 957 |
| Rating | 7.0 | 9.0 |
Safety
Hyundai Accent 6/10
It’s a pretty straightforward offering here, with six airbags (dual front, front-side and curtain), a reverse camera and the usual suite of driving, traction and braking aids, like power steering, ESP and EBD, headlining a pretty short list of safety stuff.
There are no parking sensors as standard, though, nor will you find AEB, lane departure warning or any other, more advanced features.
The Accent was awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP rating, but the organisation’s demands for safety rating features were less comprehensive when it was crash tested back in 2011.
If you're one who cares about where cars are manufactured, and were wondering where is Hyundai's Accent built, the answer is Ulsan, South Korea. And that’s no bad thing.
Suzuki Swift
Neither of these cars carries a current safety assessment from ANCAP but both do well in terms of active (crash-avoidance) technology.
Big ticket items like auto emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist and rear cross-traffic alert are present and accounted for, which is impressive in the under-$30K part of the market.
Both also feature adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and rear parking sensors. But the MG adds lane change assist.
And if a crash is unavoidable it’s a tie on airbags at six each, with neither featuring the increasingly common front centre bag to minimise head clash injuries in a side impact.
Both have three top tethers and two ISOFIX anchors for child seats across the second row, although squeezing three seats into these small cars would be a feat worthy of Harry Houdini himself.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
AEB | ✓ | ✓ |
Adaptive cruise control | ✓ | ✓ |
Lane departure warning | ✓ | ✓ |
Lane keeping assist | ✓ | ✓ |
Lane departure prevention | ✓ | ✓ |
Lane change assist | ✓ | ⛌ |
Blind-spot monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
Traffic sign recognition | ✓ | ✓ |
Pedestrian and cyclist detection | ✓ | ✓ |
Rear cross-traffic alert | ✓ | ✓ |
Reversing camera | ✓ | ✓ |
Parking sensors | Rear | Rear |
Tyre pressure monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
Driver monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
ANCAP | Unrated | Not tested |
Front airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
Front side airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
Curtain airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
Child seat top tethers | Three | Three |
ISOFIX anchors | Two | Two |
| Rating | 8.0 | 8.0 |
Ownership
Hyundai Accent 8/10
It’s a very strong ownership picture, with the Accent Sport covered by Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and requiring a trip to the service centre every 12 months or 15,000km.
A capped-price servicing plan helps take the guesswork out of your service cost, too, with guide prices at between $245 and $345 per year for the first five years.
For known Hyundai Accent issues and common problems, complaints and faults - including any known clutch, suspension, gearbox, engine, battery or automatic transmission problems - head to CarsGuide's dedicated Hyundai Problems page.
One of the most common mechanical questions asked is whether the Accent uses a timing belt or chain, and the Sport uses a timing belt. Check your owners manual for recommended durations between changing it.
Hyundais traditionally score very well in international reliability rating surveys, which helps protect its second-hand ratings.
Suzuki Swift
MG has just made an aggressive move in extending its warranty up to 10 years/250,000km which puts it ahead of Suzuki’s five-year/unlimited km cover, unless you’re a high-mileage driver.
Roadside assist is provided for five years if you have these cars serviced through their respective authorised networks and both offer fixed-price servicing.
Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000km for the MG3, or 12 months/15,000km for the Swift and costs are line ball… at an annual average of around $400 per workshop visit for each.
We’re giving it to the MG3 by a nose.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
Warranty | 10-year/250,000km | Five-year/unlimited km |
Service interval | 12 months / 10,000km | 12 months / 15,000km |
Roadside Assist | Five years (conditional) | Five years (conditional) |
Fixed price servicing | Yes | Yes |
Annual average | $409 | $391 |
| Rating | 8.0 | 8.0 |