Earlier this year, we reported that the Hyundai Accent could be well on its way to coming back to Philippine showrooms. The Land Transportation Office’s Memorandum Circular database has hinted at that, so there’s a good chance the South Korean automaker could return to the subcompact sedan market.
That’s good news for the segment given that it’s been rather stagnant for the last couple of years. The last true, all-new model was the Nissan Almera when it was launched way back in October 2021.
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Now, there’s a bit of an update. The LTO has listed a second variant for the Hyundai Accent. This suggests that there might be two trim levels incoming for the small sedan.
Initially, it was the Premium model that was certified by the LTO. Now, the Standard version has been added. Per the document, It doesn’t seem much different from the Premium. Piston capacity is exactly the same at 1,497cc, along with dimensions, ground clearance, and dry weight. However, we did notice that the Standard rides on 15-inch wheels, whereas the Premium comes with a 16-inch set.
Curiously, the mysterious ‘TU’ tag is also present in the Standard. It’s possible shorthand for turbo, but we won’t jump into conclusions just yet. But if that’s the case, the boosted 1.5-liter engine available in India makes 158hp and 253Nm. Realistically, we reckon it’s the non-turbo model that’s coming here. That one puts out a decent 113hp and 144Nm, exactly the same as the Stargazer.
Hyundai Philippines has been on a roll this 2025. By the time you read this, the Hyundai Creta is fresh off its local launch. And let’s not forget that the company just brought in three more variants of the Elantra during the Manila International Auto Show.
