Under the hood, the 2006 Hyundai Accent has what the company claims is the most powerful engine in its class, a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces an estimated 110 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 107 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. The engine is mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic. The 2006 Hyundai Accent rides on a MacPherson strut suspension up front, and a coupled torsion beam suspension in back, controlling standard 14-inch or optional 15-inch wheels. Front disc, rear drum brakes bring the Accent to a halt.

The real performance question, however, is safety – and the Accent enjoys a huge bump in standard safety equipment, including dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and outboard rear seat occupants. All Accents come equipped with front seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters, which are designed to tighten the seatbelt in the event of a collision. All seating positions have adjustable headrests that can assist in the event of a rear accident.