Hyundai Bayon – Back to Basics

Hyundai Bayon 1.0 T-GDi 100 hp 48V i-Motion – €21.695

The Bayon seems a bit misunderstood. This is primarily due to its remarkable appearance, which is of course standard on all versions. However, the positioning also does not seem clear to everyone. However, that is not so bad, because the Bayon is in practice a lot below the clearly larger Kona. Also in terms of price, by the way, because where a Kona starts at €25,835, a Bayon is yours for €21,695. The SUV brother of the i20 is therefore also quite affordable compared to its competitors. For example, a Yaris Cross costs at least €24,395 and Volkswagen has deleted the basic versions of the T-Cross and Skoda Kamiq. With that, you are now at least €25,890 (Skoda) or even €27,740 (Volkswagen) for those models.

So it starts well for the crazy-shaped Hyundai. For the entry-level price, a 1.0 T-GDi with mild-hybrid technology is ready, which not every competitor can say. The block is linked to a manual gearbox and produces 100 hp in every Bayon. The version is called i-Motion and it is only available in combination with the manual gearbox. This version is clearly recognizable from the outside, because it is the only Bayon that does not have light metal. Whether the owner really is a knick-knack becomes apparent when the Bayon in question is made in a uni-white form. Hyundai offers no fewer than two of these non-metallic white tones, which are unique. The difference between Polar White and Atlas White is barely visible in the configurator, but you can definitely see it in real life. However, Hyundai is still a bit behind some competitors when it comes to lighting. The Bayon still gets halogen headlights as standard, while more and more other cars in this segment are always sent on the road with LED. Even the daytime running lights do not get LEDs with the entry-level version, while that is the case with the rest of the range.

analog

On the inside, it is also easy to distinguish an entry-level Bayon. This is in fact the only version without fully digital instruments and the only version without a central touchscreen. Instead, we see analog clocks with a small screen in the middle and buttons for radio controls with a small, monochrome screen in the middle. Cruise control, four electric windows and air conditioning are present, which means that there is no longer any question of real frugality as far as we are concerned. On the other hand, it is not a fat pot, because the air conditioning is just a manual variant and the cruise control is not adaptive. Also in terms of audio it is not over, because only the front speakers are mounted. The always black upholstery looks nice and the steering wheel is simply covered with a leather-like material. The lack of a center armrest is a pity.

Nevertheless, the second version of the list, the Comfort, makes a clearly better impression. This version gets larger and alloy wheels, both screens with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, slightly nicer exterior lighting, a wireless phone charger, extra speakers, parking sensors and a center armrest. This makes the car almost ‘finished’, for a price that is still friendly at €24,095 for this segment.