Hyundai Bayon is a likeable compact SUV

South Wales Argus

25-07-2025

With bags of standard kit, a roomy interior and funky looks, it's a car with plenty to recommend it.
It's also easy to drive around town or on narrow and twisty country lanes thanks to its dimensions and nimble handling.
With a sharp and rugged appearance, the Bayon has a distinctive look, including a wide grille, stylish low-set headlights, and LED lightbar.
The Bayon has sharp creases At the rear, the angular bodywork and full-width tail lights give the car further intrigue, while plastic cladding adds to the SUV look.
The exterior design flourishes don't quite extend to the interior, which is perfectly functional and offers great usability, but you needn't look too far to find some hard, dark plastics dotted around.
That said, some nicely textured surfaces on the dash and inside of the doors provide a visually-pleasing element.
Standard equipment levels are excellent, with even the entry-level Advance version, priced from £23,125, coming with multi-colour ambient lighting, LED headlights and tail lights, rear parking sensors and the 10.25-inch centre screen nav and digital cluster, which is crystal clear and intuitive to use. The system is compatible with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Premium trim, priced from £24,525, brings air conditioning and climate control, front parking sensors, 17-inch alloys, privacy glass, along with heated front seats and heated steering wheel.
The smart front end of the vehicle The Ultimate trim, tested here, starts from £25,925 and includes BOSE premium sound system, blind spot collision warning, smart key with engine start button, wireless charging pad, and a sunroof.
Whichever trim level you opt for, the Bayon comes with the same engine – a 100hp three-cylinder turbo petrol.
It's a willing enough unit, striking a nice balance between performance and fuel economy.
Buyers can choose between a seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox or a six-speed manual, with the latter tested here. It's a slick enough box, with the light clutch pedal further enhancing ease of use.
The handling is trustworthy enough, with body lean and roll well contained when cornering swiftly.
The interior of the Bayon The ride is on the firm side, but that helps the driver feel more in touch with the road when progressing along B-roads, although passengers may not appreciate the fact it doesn't smooth out road imperfections particularly well.
The steering is slightly on the light side, but provides enough feedback to provide a certain degree of driver engagement.
The driver assist safety systems are very eager, sometimes intervening in scenarios that were under control. Depending how you view the world, such keen systems could be seen as intrusive but, equally, could save an inattentive driver from a smash.
In terms of interior space, front seat occupants will have no problem getting comfortable, with the driver benefitting from a high driving position and plenty of steering wheel adjustment.
Rear seat passengers also get generous headroom and decent legroom for a car in this category, although boot space – coming in at 334 litres – is a little less than some rivals.
All in all, you get plenty of car for your money, with equipment levels among the highlights of this impressive all-rounder.
Hyundai Bayon Ultimate
ENGINE: 1-litre petrol turbo, 3-cylinder
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds
ECONOMY: 125g/km, 51.4mpg
PRICE: From £25,925