Following its North American debut in Toronto, the 2018 Hyundai Accent made its first U.S. appearance at the Orange County Auto Show.

The all-new fifth generation Accent now features Hyundai’s latest cascading grille and a general design that borrows a lot of elements from the bigger Elantra.

Riding on a new chassis that features more high-strength steel and 32 percent more rigidity, the new Hyundai Accent also promises to offer improved ride comfort, handling and stability, as well as better safety in the case of an accident.

The new Accent also offers a roomier interior, thanks to the longer by 0.4 inches wheelbase and the wider by 1.2 inches body. The dashboard has a driver oriented layout and hosts a new infotainment system that comes with either a five- or a seven-inch touchscreen display. The quality is also better, with Hyundai using lots of soft-touch materials in key points.

The sole engine option is the 1.6-liter Gamma four-cylinder petrol unit, mated to a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic transmission. Power output is rated at 130hp and 119lb-ft of torque. Models fitted with the automatic also gain a Drive Mode Select feature, with Normal or Sport being the driver’s options.

Hyundai’s latest model also benefits from features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, dual USB ports and an auxiliary port, as well as Forward Collision-avoidance Assist. Blue Link customers will also get Remote Start with Climate Control and integrations for Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

The 2018 Hyundai Accent will arrive in dealerships in the fall of 2017.

PHOTO GALLERY