Shopping for a small, affordable commuter car is more fun than it used to be. Do you want a subcompact hatchback that can haul lots of gear?

Or perhaps you’d rather have one with a really nice interior and lots of amenities. Or maybe you just want to maximize your fuel economy.

There’s now a pint-size sedan or hatchback to satisfy nearly every taste. Within the traditional subcompact class, the 2016 Hyundai Accent is a fine option for buyers who want a little of everything.

Though there’s nothing flashy about the 2016 Accent, it’s a handsome car in both the sedan and hatchback body styles.

It’s also the sort of car that will impress you with its ability to endure the daily grind with minimal fuss.

For starters, it’s one of the quicker cars in this class, and that’s an advantage you’ll appreciate every time you accelerate up to highway speeds.

Both the automatic and manual transmissions work well, so deciding between them is a matter of preference. What’s more, the Accent rides well on the highway and its cabin stays quiet. So even if your commute is longer, you won’t have regrets about choosing this Hyundai over a larger, more expensive car.

Passenger space is also generous for this class, and transporting a couple of adults in the backseat on occasion is no problem.

With a five-star ANCAP safety rating, traction and stability controls, power windows, keyless entry, Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity and even a full-size spare wheel, the Accent really doesn’t miss out on much.

The interior is also particularly pleasant – especially given the car’s position in the range, as well as offering a cool ‘record’ feature that allows you to dictate notes to the car and record music to the car’s media memory.

Pairing a phone is quick and easy and the audio quality from the Bluetooth is also quite good. There’s a big glove box, good-sized door pockets and a handy ‘phone tray’ that conveniently includes a USB, mini-jack and 12-volt charge points as well.

The cloth seats are comfortable and the driver’s has height adjustment. Materials are above expectation for a car in this price range, specifically the dash top which feels like it belongs in a more expensive car.

The back seat too is comfortable and decently sized. We had four adults in the Accent for a short trip and there were no fights or claims that someone was touching someone so much that we had to turn around and not stop for ice cream.

The Accent’s 370-litre boot is big enough for day-to-day use and expands to 600L when the back seats are dropped forward. The seats don’t fold completely flat though, so you might need to borrow Mum’s wagon for any IKEA trips.

The 2016 Hyundai Accent is another great little first car from a company that made its name in Australia by selling great little first cars.