What is this – next generation Hyundai Accent/Verna or Hyundai Elantra/Avante?

This is supposed to be the next generation Hyundai Accent/Verna, snapped by Hyundai Blog reader MarkII. But it also does look very much like some taped up cars that were supposed to be the new Elantra/Avante that were spotted and photographed in the past.

The 2nd generation Accent has been around since 2005 and it’s about time for it to be replaced! It’s definitely not time to replace the Elantra/Avante yet since the latest generation was just launched in 2006 and by right it should only be due for a full model change sometime in 2012? The design cues are quite obviously from the new Sonata, resulting in a nice ‘family look’. The current generation Accent was also sold by Chrysler as a Dodge Attitude in certain markets. But now that Chrysler is in bed with Fiat, not sure if that’s going to happen again with the third generation.

Slowly but surely all the mediocre-looking Korean cars of the early 2000s are being replaced by these pretty good looking ones. For Malaysians who like sedans, cars like the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio represent the earliest entry price point into the marque’s sedan portfolio, although the current Rio on sale in Malaysia is only available as a hatch. If you impress with your cheapest car, when the owner upgrades his income, he is more likely to go with your brand with his next upgrade. Hyundai-Kia needs great Accents and Rios to turn the owners into future Sonata/Optima buyers