In 2000 the second generation Accent was released on the market and by 2003 it already got one minor facelift when it was also codenamed the LC2.
The sedan would receive another facelift in 2006 while the hatchback continued to sell only in Canada. The car performed much better in unofficial safety tests than previous generations and even pre-facelift models, a sign that the design of the chassis had evolved. It was available with upgraded engines - 84 HP 1.3-liter and 105 HP 1.6-liter - as well as two gearboxes, a 5-speed manual and an optional 4-speed automatic.