Accent almost ideal

And while the South Koreans may not have showcased their best football skills at this year's tournament, one thing's for certain – they sure know how to design cars that create a simple driving pleasure and make you feel safe.

Enter the Hyundai Accent. The new model is simple. It is certainly not a flashy car or hotted-up V8 number. But it does the job.

It has all the conveniences a driver needs. It is comfortable, roomy and reasonably priced.

Overall, the four-door sedan offers a smooth and quiet ride.

"But can she go?" was the question family and friends kept asking.

Yes, she can.

Put your foot down and she has good speed with good pick up and lots of zip.

But its best design features centre around safety. The Accent makes you feel safe, and it's like all the details have been designed with you in mind.

I have never really heard of front seat belt pretensioners. They tighten and adjust the shoulder belts to reduce forward movement. What a clever idea.

The anti-skid braking system and electronic brake distribution kept me firmly in control, especially in wet and slippery conditions.

Then there are the dual front airbags and the warning lights reminding you to buckle up, telling you that a door has been left open and advising you to "check engine".

There is even a sunglasses holder so your sunnies are close by and scratch free.

But passenger comfort is just as important as driver comfort so I put my family members to the test. They sat in the back and enjoyed the ride, stretched out in comfort. My eyes lit up when I saw the large boot and storage space. So much room for my shopping bags and shoe boxes!!

And fuel economy is a bonus. A full tank lasted the whole week.

Chuck in front and rear cup holders, airconditioning, heating, power windows and central locking and you have a pretty good package.

But not everything can be so perfect. And this car does have some minor flaws. There is no middle console on which to rest your left arm, stash your CDs, bills, letters and loose change. Lets face it, the glove box can only fit so much.

And every girl loves the radio and the odd sing-along. While the radio system was good, it wasn't great. I guess I'm used to my Blaupunkt and Bose stereo systems.

But overall it's hard to complain.

So now to 2010 where the South Koreans will aim for a stronger performance at the next World Cup.

But in my book, the car-making country is already a world winner.

LOVE IT LEAVE IT

Hyundai Accent

Price: $19,490

LOVE IT

Driving and passenger comfort

Front seatbelt pretensions

Extra boot and storage space

LEAVE IT

No middle console

Standard radio system