The very first thing anybody asks you about Hyundai’s smallest SUV is the right way to pronounce the title. Formally it’s BUY-on however will that stick? No matter it finally ends up turning into in well-liked parlance, the Bayon has joined a category overflowing with selection.
Stand-out appears
A wedge profile in addition to boomerang-shaped tail lights plus a particular entrance partly outlined by arrow-shaped, ultra-thin lights get this mannequin observed. That’s no small achievement when aside from the boxy Jeep Renegade, few different small crossovers or SUVs have a memorable look.
There are numerous wheel selections, the bottom ones having a 15-inch diameter with 16- or 17-inch options additionally supplied. One other solution to get your self observed is by way of an non-obligatory two-tone roof in what Hyundai calls ‘Phantom Black’.
Associated
How about inside?
Hyundai has additionally made a robust effort by way of area on the within in addition to understated but engaging appears. Plastics are nicer than what’s supplied by many opponents and as for colors, there may be both all-black or a mixture of darkish and lightweight gray.
The touchscreen isn’t too huge or overloaded; a bonus as of late. The HVAC system consists of each bodily and digital controls which in follow is secure and quick-to-operate.
There are two USB ports up entrance, one in all which permits information switch with a 3rd one within the again plus a wi-fi cellphone charger and a Bose sound system. For a automobile of this value, sound high quality can be surprisingly good.
Bluelink
Hyundai’s Bluelink and LIVE app has many helpful options, equivalent to Linked Routing, a cloud-based navigation system, and Stay Parking Companies (contains on-street parking value data along with availability of close by parking area). Calendar integration comes as commonplace too. This implies the motive force can sync their Google or Apple calendar with the automobile’s infotainment system and navigate on to appointments.
Different issues that are a part of Bluelink and LIVE:
- Distant providers: lock/unlock and examine car standing utilizing the app
- On-line voice recognition: management features equivalent to heating and cooling
- Discover My Automobile: find your Bayon in the event you overlook the place it’s parked
- Ship to automobile (POI): seek for native factors of curiosity and ship outcomes to the navi system
- Safety: alarm notification
- Upkeep: diagnostics and car report (e.g. tyre stress and airbags) plus driving data
Roomier than a Kona
Formally, these within the entrance have 1,072 mm of leg room, whereas rear passengers have 882. Boot area is equally beneficiant, 401 litres being actually fairly wonderful contemplating how small the Bayon (4,180 mm lengthy) is. That’s additionally extra commodious than the larger (4,205) Hyundai Kona, which solely takes 356 litres.
How new is new?
Revealed in March final 12 months, in frequent with different automobiles launched in the course of the period of Covid waves and microchip shortages, the little Hyundai’s manufacturing ramp-up hasn’t precisely been textbook. Because it’s inbuilt Turkey, foreign money and inflation challenges will be thrown into the combination. No surprise it’s taking time to construct gross sales momentum.
This new crossover shares a lot with the i20; significantly the inside. Rivals embrace the Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur. Like each of these, there’s no all-wheel drive choice; neither is there an EV or PHEV, one thing which neither Ford (Puma) nor Volkswagen (T-Cross) presents both.
Three or 4 cylinders
There are three petrol engine selections: two variations of Hyundai Motor Group’s 998 cc T-GDi gentle hybrid three-cylinder turbo with 48 V electrics plus a 1,197 cc MPi four-cylinder non-turbo.
Outputs for the T-GDi are 74 kW (100 PS) and 172 Nm (127 lb ft), with costlier variants providing 88 kW (120 PS) with similar torque. Each six-speed handbook and seven-speed DCT transmissions can be found.
The bottom MPi various has 62 kW (84 PS) and 118 Nm (87 lb ft) and comes solely with a five-speed handbook gearbox.
Which engine is finest?
Hyundai UK lent me a Premium mannequin grade 88 kW three-cylinder Bayon with the handbook gearbox, a much better guess than the decrease energy options but – initially at the least – seemingly missing torque.
Studying that holding onto revs doesn’t actually make progress rather more speedy made me alter the way in which I drove. Quickly sufficient, all was OK and consumption within the excessive 40 miles per gallon vary grew to become the norm. A bit extra oomph could be helpful although – how a few PHEV or perhaps a hybrid, Hyundai?
Dynamics & abstract
Even when it may well’t compete with the Puma for steering and common dealing with prowess hardly some other mannequin on this dimension grouping can so it’s not truthful to single out the Hyundai. In actual fact, that is actually a wonderful effort from the Korean producer in most methods and given the selection of a Bayon or a Kona, I’d select the previous.
Bayon pricing begins at GBP20,530 (versus GBP19,035 for its i20 hatchback equal)
