Hyundai tried to offer a car for the younger generation and imagined the three-door version as a hatchback with a bigger trunk and a sporty image.
The Korean carmaker was not very sure about its future on the market since there were too many customers reluctant to the new brand. But, the low price policy and high features inside its cars made it a bargain acquisition. Last but not least, the Mitsubishi engines helped too. The 1998 Excel was the last to be offered on that name before changing to Accent.

Its styling was still bland, with a rounded shape. It might be one of the best examples of biodesign made by a carmaker who didn’t have a good car design experience. Its oval, slim headlights, and the slot that acted as a grille were the first signs of a carmaker that didn’t really know how to put body parts on a car and look good. The three-door version looked somehow sportier thanks to its longer rear quarter panels and the extended trunk line behind the rear window, in a Ford Escort style.

Inside, there was a significant improvement in material quality over its predecessor. The cloth seats with velour and plastic door panels were better fitted and didn’t rattle all the time. There was just a shy try to enhance the cabin by using light-gray colors and pastel color pattern on the seats. Since it was built as a hatchback, the carmaker installed a split-folding rear bench.

Under the hood, Hyundai installed two engine choices: a 1.3-liter and a 1.5-liter unit. Mitsubishi supplied both versions.