Hyundai introduced the second generation of the Accent in 1999.
It was a big improvement over its predecessor and brought the sedan version as an essential sales factor.
Hyundai was still young on the car-market when it introduced the second generation of the Accent. From its previous models, the Korean carmaker understood that it could win a place at the table only if it could offer more features for the same money. The second generation did even more than that.
While the first generation was a bland, rounded car, the second generation featured a grille that looked like a mouth with teeth. The angular headlights and sharp lines made the car look more aggressive. It was available in two body versions with three and five doors hatchback and a sedan with four doors. Hyundai noticed that the small-segment three-box vehicles were highly appreciated in many markets and tried to offer them at a reasonable price.
The interior was heavily improved over its predecessor with better materials and a roomier cabin due to the longer wheelbase. It was not a big difference, but it was the difference between pressed knees and touching knees for the rear passengers. The carmaker installed a standard AC-unit and power-windows at the front for the Accent sedan. For selected markets, such as the north side of Europe and Canada, the Accent was not just a cheap transportation device. It was a car.
For the powertrain, Hyundai installed a 1.3-liter gasoline engine for the base level and a 1.5-liter unit. The latter was available with an automatic transmission as well.