2022 (72) Hyundai BAYON 1.0 TGDi [120] 48V MHEV Premium 5dr

The improved version of Hyundai's Bayon offers yet another option at the more affordable end of the small SUV segment. Jonathan Crouch takes a look

Ten Second Review

Hyundai's entry-level crossover model is this car, the Bayon, here usefully updated. It takes established engineering from the brand's i20 supermini and delivers it with the trendier crossover vibe that customers for small cars increasingly want. Plus there's also the advantage of a more sophisticated and more spacious cabin than you'd get with a conventional small hatch. This is a much-copied formula of course, but this Hyundai delivers it with value and a class-leading warranty.

Background

You'd be forgiven for not knowing that Hyundai has an entry-level SUV, the Bayon. Most of the headlines get taken by the brand's only slightly larger Kona crossover model, but if you don't need that car's Hybrid or EV drivetrains, then the Bayon offers most of what you want at a significant price saving. It's basically a crossover version of the company's i20 supermini, which used to offer an SUV-style iX20 derivative. Launched in 2021, the Bayon more credibly succeeded that rarely-purchased variant but has been quite a rarely seen sight on our roads since. Perhaps that will change with this facelifted model.

Driving Experience

Curiously, probably the most significant change with this updated Bayon is a backward step; the mild hybrid-assisted engine it had at its original launch has been swapped out for an unelectrified version of the same 1.0-litre T-GDi three cylinder petrol unit. Other markets get the option of this engine with 120PS, but here it comes only in its base 100PS form. This powerplant can be matched either with the brand's clever 6-speed 'iMT' Intelligent Manual Transmission (with 172Nm of torque) or a 7-speed dual clutch DCT automatic gearbox (200Nm). As before, there are three selectable driving modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' or 'Sport' - with the latter offering a rev matching function for the iMT manual gearbox. That iMT set-up allows the car to enter into two possible levels of coasting depending on the conditions, the first leaving the engine idling and the second turning it off completely, though it will of course spring to life again the moment your foot touches the throttle. Refinement at cruising speeds is pretty well judged, though not quite up to the standards set in this class by, say, a Volkswagen T-Cross or a Peugeot 2008. Move onto fast secondary roads and the little three cylinder engine's characteristically vibrant soundtrack is a little more evident and this, together with the slightly firm ride and well-judged body control, might encourage you to throw the thing about a bit, were you to be running late for your gym session or the school pick-up. The car certainly changes direction quickly at speed and clings on tenaciously through tight turns. Unfortunately though, the rather lifeless steering rack fails to communicate back much of what's happening beneath the front wheels and that slight firmness to the ride quality is unwelcome when you return to the city limits and encounter the usual speed humps and tarmac tears. What Hyundai's engineers still need to learn is the art of producing a small SUV with a ride and handling balance better suited for all kinds of roads - the kind of benchmark currently set in this segment by the Ford Puma and the Nissan Juke. In suburbia, where that light steering comes into its own for easy manoeuvring, you might initially need to adjust to the feel of the way that this car decelerates and brakes itself: there's a marked slowing when you come off the throttle as the mild hybrid system's generator works against the falling engine revs to create electricity and the pedal need a firm prod if it's to generate instant retardation. But it's something you quickly adjust to in a car that demands little of you and delivers more in terms of drive dynamics than you might expect.

Design and Build

From the outside, you might think this facelifted Bayon was an all-new model, because the front end visage is quite different. There is now much more of a Kona-style look, with a new headlight signature that runs the width of the front. Plus the bumper's been revised for 'a more rugged appearance' and the grille's been restyled too. Other changes include revised 16 or 17-inch wheels and a restyled bumper under the arrow-shaped tail lamps. A two-tone roof is optional. The interior isn't quite the avant-garde design-fest you get in a Kona, but it now looks considerably more sophisticated thanks to the standard inclusion of a pair of 10.25-inch screens. As an option, the instrument display can be configurable with different graphics that change with drive mode. The infotainment screen features 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto', along with over-the-air updates and the latest version of Hyundai's Bluelink telematics system. Plus it can be linked to a premium 8-speaker Bose audio system. LED interior lighting has also now been added, with the option of multi-colour front ambient lighting. As before, the rear seat reaps the benefit of a relatively long 2,580mm wheelbase, which allows back seat folk 882mm of legroom. As for the cargo area, well there's a 411-litre boot, which can be extended to 1,205-litres with the split-folding rear bench pushed right flat.

Market and Model

Prices start at around £22,500 and there's a choice of 'Advance', 'Premium' and 'Ultimate' trim levels with a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Even base 'Advance' trim gets you quite a lot - specifically 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, a rear spoiler, interior mood lighting, air conditioning, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera and a 'drive mode select' driving modes system. There's also a 10.25-inch 'Driver's Digital Supervision' instrument cluster screen. And infotainment's taken care of by a 10.25-inch 'Display Audio' central screen with a DAB audio system, plus smart device integration including Bluetooth with voice recognition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Mid-range 'Premium' trim adds to that with 17-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, heat for the front seats and steering wheel, automatic climate control air conditioning with auto windscreen defog, an automatically dimming rear view mirror, LED headlamps with multifaceted reflectors, LED rear combination lamps and electric folding door mirrors. Top 'Ultimate' trim gives you a two-tone black roof, smart key keyless entry, a BOSE premium sound system, Blind Spot Collison Warning (BCW) and Lane Follow Assist (LFA).

Cost of Ownership

The Bayon's efficiency figures are very little different to those of the i20 supermini it's based upon. So, from this 1.0-litre engine, that means WLTP-rated readings of 51.4mpg on the combined cycle and 125g/km of CO2 (it's 124g/km for the auto). A strong buying incentive is the five year unlimited mileage warranty that comes as standard. It's backed up by breakdown cover that last the same length of time and free annual vehicle health checks over this duration. True, rival brand Kia claims to better this package by offering a similar seven year deal, but there, you're limited to 100,000 miles. Insurance is group 14.

Summary

With the Kona small SUV selling well in the showrooms, you might question whether Hyundai really still needs this car. It does - and the brand is far from being alone in offering a pair of very compact Crossover contenders in this segment. At the time of this updated model's launch in early 2024, Vauxhall, Honda and Toyota were all also taking much the same approach - which works fine providing the two products in question are fundamentally different, as is certainly the case here. This improved Bayon manages to make good use of its i20 underpinnings and engineering while remaining very much its own car; we'd certainly expect it to out-sell its small hatch showroom stablemate. In recent times, the brand has certainly produced more memorable designs than this, but most of them are far more expensive. This car delivers just enough design flair to satisfy its fashion-orientated target audience and keep pace with an increasingly talented set of rivals. Will that be sufficient for long term success in this rapidly evolving segment? It'll be interesting to see.