Subcompact Car Segment
Highest Ranked: 2005 Hyundai Accent
When most people think about reliable small cars, a Japanese brand comes to mind: Honda, Nissan, or Toyota. According to our latest vehicle dependability study, however, it is Korean automaker Hyundai that builds the highest-ranked small car you can count on. The 2005 Hyundai Accent was growing old when it was new, the last year of a car that would be completely redesigned and modernized for 2006. Offered in hatchback and sedan body styles, the 2005 Accent received anti-lock brakes as an available option. Hatchbacks came in bare-bones Base or sportier GS trim, while sedans were sold in GL trim. Each was powered by a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 92 hp, and the Accent’s powertrain warranty was good for 10 years or 100,000 miles. When you’ve gotta live up to a promise like that, it’s no wonder the Accent tops our dependability list of subcompact cars.
The 2005 Hyundai Accent ranks highest among the five models in the Subcompact Car segment of the 2008 VDS. The Accent achieves an index score of 187 PP100, compared to the segment average of 234 PP100—a difference of 47 PP100, and an improvement of 12 PP100 from last year’s study. Additionally, the 2005 Hyundai Accent performs at or above the segment average in eight of the nine problem categories in the study, including:
- Ride, handling and braking
- Features and controls
- Seats
- Heating, ventilation and cooling
- Vehicle exterior
- Vehicle interior
- Transmission
- Engine
According to original owners of the 2005 Hyundai Accent, the top three problem areas are:
- Noisy brakes
- Wind noise
- Uneven tire wear
2005 Hyundai Accent NHTSA Crash Test Scores (1 to 5 Star scale; 5 being safest):
- Frontal Driver Rating: 5 Stars (2-dr. w/ Side Air Bags)/4 Stars (4-dr. w/ Side Air Bags)
- Frontal Passenger Rating: 4 Stars (2-dr. and 4-dr. w/ Side Air Bags)
- Side Driver Rating: 4 Stars (2-dr. w/ Side Air Bags)/5 Stars (4-dr.w/ Side Air Bags)
- Side Rear Passenger Rating: 4 Stars (2-dr. and 4-dr. w/ Side Air Bags)
- Rollover Rating: 4 Stars (2-dr. and 4-dr. w/ Side Air Bags)
2005 Hyundai Accent EPA Fuel Economy (adjusted to 2008 calculation methods):
- Accent with 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine/manual transmission: 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway/28 mpg combined
- Accent with 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine/automatic transmission: 23 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined
- Accent with 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine/manual transmission: 25 mpg city/30 mpg highway/27 mpg combined
- Accent with 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine/automatic transmission: 23 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined
Ranked No. 2: 2005 Scion xA
Ranked No. 3: 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
Compact Car Segment
Highest Ranked: 2005 Toyota Prius
Technologically sophisticated vehicles that are pioneers in their respective segments are often regarded with a skeptical eye toward dependability. In the case of the 2005 Toyota Prius gasoline-electric hybrid, the results of our most recent vehicle dependability study indicate that this skepticism is misplaced. In the compact car segment, the Prius is the most dependable 2005 model by a significant margin, according to the people that own one. It was available only as a 5-door hatchback with more interior room than most people expected, and could be loaded up with leather and a navigation system to appeal to eco-conscious buyers looking for luxury features in a hybrid. Adopted by Hollywood, accepted by mainstream Americans, and able to get between 40 and 50 mpg without trying too hard, the oddly shaped Toyota Prius proved not only popular but the most reliable model in the compact segment.
The 2005 Toyota Prius ranks highest among the 21 models in the Compact Car segment of the 2008 VDS. The Prius achieves an index score of 141 PP100, compared to the segment average of 210 PP100—a difference of 69 PP100, and an improvement of 33 PP100 from last year’s study. Additionally, the 2005 Toyota Prius performs at or above the segment average in all nine problem categories in the study, including:
- Ride, handling and braking
- Features and controls
- Seats
- Sound system
- Heating, ventilation and cooling
- Vehicle exterior
- Vehicle interior
- Transmission
- Engine
According to original owners of the 2005 Toyota Prius, the top three problem areas are:
- Uneven tire wear
- Instrument panel/dashboard problems
- Wind noise
2005 Toyota Prius NHTSA Crash Test Scores (1 to 5 Star scale; 5 being safest):
- Frontal Driver Rating: 5 Stars
- Frontal Passenger Rating: 4 Stars
- Side Driver Rating: 4 Stars
- Side Rear Passenger Rating: 4 Stars
- Rollover Rating: 4 Stars
2005 Toyota Prius EPA Fuel Economy (adjusted to 2008 calculation methods):
- 48 mpg city
- 45 mpg highway
- 46 mpg combined
Ranked No. 2: 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
Ranked No. 3: 2005 Toyota Corolla
More Research
View Vehicle Dependability Ratings
Read the Press Release
2008 Vehicle Dependability Study
Midsize and Large Cars
Premium Cars
Sporty Cars
Multi-activity Vehicles (MAVs)
Premium MAVs
Pickups and Vans
