With the Kona, Hyundai already has a small SUV in its range. The similarly cut bayon, however, sets different accents.
The SUV range in Germany is growing and growing. Hyundai has also found another gap in the model range and is now filling it with the mini-crossover Bayon. In terms of price (from just under 16.800 euros) and technically, it is below the Kona brand brother of the same size, but primarily targets city dwellers with a sense of design.
While Hyundai uses a special SUV platform for the Kona with all-wheel drive and diesel options as well as a complex rear axle, the Bayon shares the technology with the inexpensive i20 compact car. At around 4,18 meters, the crossover is a good hand's breadth longer, while its height increases to 1,50 meters. Thanks to the steep front with narrow daytime running lights and high shoulders, the Bayon also looks significantly beefier than the i20.
Even if the Korean remains closer to the classic sedan than a real SUV in terms of dimensions, it still offers a slight crossover feeling. Above all, the slightly raised seating position sets it apart from typical small cars. And also in terms of trunk volume, it adds a few liters, almost reaching compact class level with 411 liters. The luggage compartment cover, which can be clicked into place vertically behind the rear bench seat, is practical in this context if, for example, larger potted plants have to be transported upright.
In the cockpit, the Bayon is based on the i20 and adopts its modern layout with the digital instruments that are standard, at least in the higher equipment. That looks contemporary and more adult than usual in this class. The choice of materials in the pre-production vehicle does not yet correspond to that of the finished car, but experience with the i20 suggests that Hyundai will not reach the top price shelf.
The Bayon prototype is already fully convincing on the road. The test copy was equipped with the top drive, an 88 kW / 120 PS strong 1,0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine, which wrested a good amount of driving pleasure from the small crossover with its brisk acceleration and proper pulling power. The automatic double-declutching function also contributes to this, as it lets the engine cheer up briefly when changing gears, as is otherwise known from sports cars. The sympathetic gag is a by-product of the 48-volt support, which actually serves to save fuel and enables, for example, the intermittent sail with the engine switched off. A manual six-speed gearshift and a dual-clutch transmission with seven gears are available as transmissions for this engine. Alternatively, the Koreans offer a 75 kW / 100 PS variant of the three-cylinder turbo and a 1,2-liter naturally aspirated engine with four cylinders and 62 kW / 84 PS as the basic engine.
With a base price of 16.790 euros, the Bayon is at the lower end of the Hyundai SUV range. Standard in the “Pure” model include air conditioning, radio, lane departure warning and emergency brake assist. For 2.000 euros more, there is the "Select" level with 16-inch alloy wheels and leather steering wheel. Above this are the levels “Trend” (from 21.490 euros) and “Prime” (from 24.290 euros), which offer almost everything in terms of technology and comfort features that are usually available in the small car class - right through to sound systems and LEDs Headlights.
If you compare the Bayon prices with those of the Kona, which is actually higher up, the differences are small. The advantage of the new results from everything from the inexpensive entry-level engine, which it does not give for the Kona. If you equip the two sister models with the same drive, they cost about the same at 20.000 euros. It remains to be seen whether Hyundai will increase the gap again in the future with a price increase for the Kona. Regardless of this, it is worth taking a look at the i20, the Bayon's small car brother. It is available with an identical engine for 17.500 euros.
The bottom line is that the Bayon has found its niche in the Hyundai range. As a stylish city car with a lively engine, it is the jacked-up and upgraded small and second car, while the Kona with more powerful engines, optional electric drive and all-wheel drive technology qualifies for higher tasks.
Technical data:
Five-door, five-seat mini-crossover, length: 4,18 meters, width: 1,78 meters, height: 1,49 meters, wheelbase: 2,58 meters, trunk volume: 441 liters
1,2-liter four-cylinder petrol engine, 62 kW / 84 PS, maximum torque: 118 Nm at 4.200 rpm, five-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: no information, Vmax: no information km / h, Average consumption: kA l / 100 km, CO2 emissions: kA g / km, efficiency class: kA, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 16.790 euros.
1,0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with turbocharging (optional 48-volt hybrid technology), 74 kW / 100 PS, maximum torque: 172 Nm at 1.500 to 4.000 rpm, six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: kA s, Vmax: kA km / h, average consumption: kA l, CO2 emissions: kA g / km, efficiency class: kA, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 19.990 euros.
1,0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine with turbocharging and 48-volt hybrid technology, 88 kW / 120 PS, maximum torque: 200 Nm at 2.000 to 3.500 rpm, six-speed manual / seven-speed automatic, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: kA s, Vmax: kA km / h, average consumption: kA l, CO2 emissions: kA g / km, efficiency class: kA, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 23.290 euros.
Brief description:
Why: sympathetic, beefy design, modern cockpit, lively top engine
Why not: high surcharge compared to an i20
What else: Kia Stonic, VW T-Cross, Ford Ecosport