If you last drove a compact car years ago, you will be amazed at the driving comfort of the Hyundai Bayon, Mazda CX-3 and Peugeot 2008. But there can only be one best when it comes to comfort.
In the past, smaller cars were mainly suitable for city trips. But small cars are getting big and they have grown in comfort as well. Despite their 17-inch wheels with low tires and the lack of adaptive shock absorbers, the Hyundai Bayon and the Peugeot 2008 glide smoothly over the asphalt.
The Mazda, equipped with 18-inch wheels, is tuned a bit more firmly. But just when the condition of the surface is moderate, the CX-3 performs remarkably well. Unless you drive with a full load, because then the rear suspension is quickly at the limits of its capabilities. The 2008 also suffers from this. The Bayon does that better; its undercarriage seems even more in its element when the car is fully loaded. If we consider all road and load conditions, the Hyundai earns the most points for its suspension comfort, closely followed by the Mazda. The Peugeot surprisingly wears the red lantern. For a comfortable small SUV, you must therefore be in France.
Follow our comparative tests closely and sign up for our newsletter.
Nice seats Hyundai Bayon
The seats of the Hyundai Bayon also deserve praise. Although they cannot be adjusted very precisely, they offer a lot of support and the cushions are best for your buttocks, back and loins. The Peugeot furniture offers little support for a sporty driving style. comfort on long distances could also be improved. The furniture makers of the Mazda CX-3 have screwed together a set of sturdy, but well-fitting seats.
Entry Peugeot 2008
Unfortunately, Mazda’s Sound Insulation engineers have not done a good job. Already at 100 km/h, a lot of wind noise can be heard in the CX-3. The Hyundai Bayon is much quieter and the Peugeot 2008 is not such a noise parrot. Given the high nose with the large, upright grille of the Frenchman, that is quite remarkable. The high sills of the Peugeot 2008 have a negative effect on comfort. This makes getting in and out less easy than you would expect with an SUV.
The full comparative test of the Hyundai Bayon, Mazda CX-3 and Peugeot 2008 is in Car Review 12/2021. Including all exact sizes, consumption figures and performance.