Hyundai Bayon Review

Looking for a style-centric and high-riding model that's easy to drive and practical? The Hyundai Bayon could be a good option

Strengths & weaknesses

The Hyundai Bayon is a small SUV that’s a similar size to the brand’s Kona, but it has more of a focus on style than its sibling. It’s a smart-looking small car that is similar in shape and price to the Seat Arona and Ford Puma.

There are loads of alternatives to the Bayon, as it’s a really popular type of car right now. There’s also the Volkswagen T-Cross, Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008, Citroen C3 Aircross, Vauxhall Mokka and more. Unlike some of its rivals, the Bayon is petrol-only and there are no electric or hybrid engine options.

Both engines are 1.0-litre petrol motors, with 100hp and 120hp respectively. They both use something called mild hybrid tech, which isn’t to be confused with a real hybrid car that has an electric motor. Mild hybrids simply have a more powerful starter motor and a higher-voltage battery that provide a tiny boost to the engine to help with efficiency.

From behind the wheel, there’s no noticeable difference between a normal petrol engine and one with mild hybrid tech. The Bayon is easy to drive, then, and since there are automatic and manual gearboxes available, the model range is good. There really aren’t any models to avoid, as they’re all fit for purpose.

It’s well equipped for the money as well, plus the interior is practical and easy to live with. Some of its rivals are better in other areas, but the Hyundai will really appeal as a used car because of its long warranty and practical cabin.

Should I get a Hyundai Bayon?

Easy to drive
Eye-catching looks
Practical and easy to live with

Not very exciting to drive
Interior is a little drab
Top-spec model is pricey

The Hyundai Bayon is a stylish and easy-to-drive small SUV, and its long warranty, practical interior and efficient engines mean that it’s a great choice for a lot of people. It’s a bit dull to drive, so if that matters to you then it won’t be ideal - the Ford Puma and Seat Arona are more fun.

The Bayon is well equipped and since the only engines available are 1.0-litre petrol units, there’s no wrong answer when it comes to which model you pick. The only caveat is that the top-spec model isn’t as good value for money as the lesser versions, so it’s not worth spending the extra to get that version.

Hyundai Bayon (2021-present): models explained

Hyundai Bayon

BuyaCar prices from £13,495
Monthly finance from £235.68*

Hyundai Bayon

There’s only one version of the Hyundai Bayon. It’s a small SUV based on the same parts as the Hyundai i20, which is a supermini (like the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo). The Bayon has a bolder look than the i20 and the other small SUV Hyundai offers, the Kona, with an unusual rear end and a large lower grille at the front that helps it to stand out.

The engines are both 1.0-litre petrol units and they have 100hp and 120hp, and are available with either an automatic or manual gearbox. The engines make it pleasant to drive, as they’re easy to use and punchy enough to keep up with traffic. Fuel economy is around 53mpg for all models in the entire range, which is reasonable.

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Which Hyundai Bayon to buy: trim levels

Trim Equipment Deals
SE Connect Limited stock: This is the entry-level model and is only available with the 100hp engine. It comes with 16-inch wheels, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a 10.3-inch digital driver's display and an eight-inch touchscreen media system with a smartphone link.
Premium From £15,450: The mid-spec model is a nice step up, as it adds 17-inch wheels, tinted windows, LED headlights and a larger 10.3-inch touchscreen on the dashboard.
Ultimate Limited stock: Ultimate adds some extra trim to the Bayon and a premium stereo system but it’s quite expensive and doesn’t add much extra over the lesser versions, so we’d avoid this model.

 
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Best Hyundai Bayon engine

There are only two engines in the Hyundai Bayon, and both are 1.0-litre petrol motors. Really, they are the same basic engine, but Hyundai tunes one for 100hp and the other for 120hp to create more choice. Both have the same fuel economy of around 53mpg, and they are both pleasant to drive - there’s enough power even in the 100hp model so you don’t really need to move up to the 120hp version.

We’d go for the easy-to-use manual model and save some money, but the automatic gearbox is fine too if you want a more relaxing driving experience when caught up in traffic jams.

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Best Hyundai Bayon model for…

The Bayon range is pretty limited, as there are only two engines and three trim levels, but you may want to choose a different model depending on your circumstances. We’ve picked out a few here as examples for some different types of buyer.

Hyundai Bayon 1.0 T-GDi 100hp SE Connect: The entry-level model is the best value in the range, as the engine is great and even the basic trim level includes loads of standard kit. It’s a great choice.
Hyundai Bayon 1.0 T-GDi 100hp Premium: You might want to move up to the Premium version if you have a bit more budget for a family car, as the tinted windows are good for summer trips and the larger screen on the dash makes the car feel a bit more upmarket.
Hyundai Bayon 1.0 T-GDi 120hp Premium: The fastest model is the 120-hp version, as you would expect. Both the manual and automatic versions take 10.4 seconds to go from 0-62mph, so neither is exactly fast - the Bayon isn’t a sporty car and it isn't supposed to be one.
Hyundai Bayon 1.0 T-GDi 120hp Ultimate DCT: There’s really no need to go all-out in the Bayon. Even entry-level models have loads of standard kit and the Ultimate model starts to look like poor value for money when compared to lesser versions.

 

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Hyundai Bayon rivals

Ford Puma

BuyaCar prices from £12,995
Monthly finance from £199.83*

Seat Arona

BuyaCar prices Limited stock

Volkswagen T-Cross

BuyaCar prices from £14,895
Monthly finance from £197.27*

There are absolutely loads of rivals for the Hyundai Bayon, as it’s one of the most popular kinds of car at the moment; a small SUV. As it’s one of the more stylish models around, you would probably also want to consider the great-to-drive Ford Puma and the really practical Seat Arona.

Other rivals include the Volkswagen T-Cross and Skoda Kamiq, which are also really practical and sensible options. There’s the great-value Renault Captur and Citroen C3 Aircross, plus the smart-looking Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka, too, both of which are available as electric cars. If you want an electric Hyundai there’s the Kona Electric, as well.

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Hyundai Bayon practicality: dimensions and boot space

Hyundai Bayon dimensions

The Hyundai Bayon is 4.2m long, 1.5m tall and 2m wide (including the door mirrors), which is about the same size as the Seat Arona, which is 4.1m long and 1.55m tall. You can read more about the car’s full dimensions, as well as its weight and towing capacity, in our dedicated dimensions article linked to below.

The Bayon is a small car but it’s practical for its size. Adults will be able to fit into the rear seats, which isn’t always the case in small cars like this, and there’s a good amount of headroom as well. The rear seats are more than big enough for kids.

CLICK TO READ OUR FULL STORY ON HYUNDAI BAYON DIMENSIONS

Length 4,180mm Width 1,775mm
Height 1,490mm Weight 1,120kg - 1,255kg

 

Hyundai Bayon boot space

All versions of the Bayon have the same amount of boot space, which is 334 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,205 litres with them folded down.

This means that the Bayon is not as roomy as the Skoda Kamiq, which has 400 litres of space with the seats up and 1,395 litres with them folded down, but that’s one of the largest small SUVs around. The Bayon still has a good amount of room in the boot and it’s fine for most trips. 

CLICK TO READ OUR FULL STORY ON HYUNDAI BAYON BOOT SPACE

Seats up 334 litres Seats down 1,205 litres

 

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Hyundai Bayon reliability

The Hyundai Bayon is too new to appear in reliability surveys such as the Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but in the 2021 version of that poll, Hyundai’s other small SUV, the Kona, came in 1st place.

This means that we would expect the Bayon to be among the most reliable small SUVs on the road, and this is backed up by Hyundai's long warranty (see below).

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Hyundai Bayon warranty

The Hyundai Bayon comes with a five-year warranty, and you can drive as many miles as you want in that time - the warranty won’t run out.

This is very generous and means that Hyundai is extremely confident in its cars’ reliability, as it doesn’t expect to get many warranty claims from owners. Most small SUVs come with a limited-mileage, three-year warranty only.

5 years Unlimited miles

AVERAGE REPAIR COST PAID BY WARRANTYWISE: £577 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON USED CAR WARRANTIES

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Used Hyundai Bayon: should I buy one?

The Hyundai Bayon makes a very good used buy if you are looking for a small SUV. It’s likely to be very reliable and since even the entry-level model is really well-equipped, you can’t really go wrong with any model you might find on the used market. It’s also practical, smart-looking and easy to drive - all things that are very important to most small SUV drivers.

The Bayon is a bit dull to drive - the Ford Puma is much more fun - and there are more practical options, such as the Skoda Kamiq. Still, the Bayon is appealing in other ways and if you love the way it looks then it’s a top option, especially for second-hand buyers.

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Best Hyundai Bayon deals

Hyundai Bayon
Hyundai Bayon BuyaCar prices from £13,495
Monthly finance from £235.68*

You don’t need to look any further than the entry–level Bayon to get a great car. The 1.0-litre engine is pleasant to use and returns good fuel economy, plus the manual gearbox is light and easy to use. There’s plenty of standard equipment, too.

If you want the larger wheels, tinted windows and LED headlights of the Premium model, it’s worth moving up - it won’t cost too much more. The 100hp engine is still the one we would choose, as it’s cheaper than the 120hp versions and still drives very well.

Choose an automatic model if you drive in traffic a lot. It makes things a bit easier and more relaxed, although you will pay more for this - especially if you also choose the more powerful 120hp engine.

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*Representative PCP finance - 2018 Ford Fiesta 1.0 ST-Line Hatchback:

  PCP representative example     APR rates available    
  Cash price £12,000 APR 7.90%   Value of loan From  
  Fixed monthly payment £218.12 Annual mileage of 8,000pa   £25,000+ 6.9%  
  Total cost of credit £2,755.55 Term 48 months   £12,000-£24,999 7.9%  
  Optional final payment £4,285.79 Loan value £12,000   £8,000-£11,999 8.9%  
  Total amount payable £14,755.55 Deposit £0   <8,000 9.9%  

 

BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.