Where is added value compared to i20? Farewell Endurance Test – Hyundai Bayon0

We’ve had Bayon on it for six months, after having had an i20 in the endurance test garage for six months. During the endurance test with the Bayon, the crossover that Hyundai placed between the i20 and the Kona in the range, we could not discover what the added value is of this model compared to the hatchback with which it shares technology and interior. Even now that we drive the two models side by side, it is not immediately clear what the Bayon has to offer. The steering is light in both cases, with little feeling. The i20 does feel slightly tighter on the road when cornering, but it is also not the case that the Bayon feels like an SUV. There is little difference in seat height.

Bayon has more luggage space

Only when you see the luggage compartments open side by side, it becomes clear that the Bayon has more to offer there: it can store 321 liters under the parcel shelf, the i20 only 262 liters. Both have the same handy construction for the parcel shelf. You can slide it behind the rear seat backs, so that it can always go with you in the car. Funnily enough, with all the backrests flat, the i20 offers more space than the Bayon, it is then 1,165 versus 1,115 litres. In the back, both models are reasonably spacious for the compact class, and there is not much difference between them. In short, what does the Bayon add? We now know that: it has a larger luggage space and of course a completely different styling. The Hyundais don’t look as much alike as a Toyota Yaris and a Yaris Cross or a Peugeot 208 and a 2008.

Bayon more crossover than SUV

Now that the question about added value has been answered, we look back at the endurance test with the Bayon. He made a road trip to Bayonne in southwest France, the place name with which Hyundai was somewhat creative for the name of its smallest crossover. Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe are long-established type designations with the brand, also on the butts of SUVs. So is the Bayon, although it has the most crossovers of all. On the long drive to Bayonne, the comfortable chassis of the car proved itself.

Average consumption slightly up after trip to Bayonne

The nice average consumption that we had scored until then went up slightly. Before departure that was 1 in 17 and after the almost 2,500 kilometers of autoroute it climbed to 1 in 16.8 by driving 130 km/h for a long time. The Bayon was also on winter tires during the first three months of the endurance test, which is disadvantageous for consumption. With the Hyundai i20 endurance tester, with the same engine but a dual-clutch automatic transmission, we came out a bit more economical. The winter tires also resulted in less safe handling; during the braking measurement from 100 km/h, the same car on the GoodYear Ultragrip tires needed no less than 49.7 meters to come to a complete standstill. With the Michelin Primacy 4 summer tires, a neat 35.7 meters was enough. That was at 17 degrees, a temperature that can already be on the thermometer at the end of March. It once again shows that driving on winter tires at normal temperatures does not benefit safety.

iMT transmission, manual gearbox that makes sailing possible

The i20 that we brought in for this farewell has the same iMT transmission. That is a manual gearbox with a physical clutch pedal, while in fact a chip operates the gearbox and decouples the engine. The car can also do that itself in Eco mode, and then goes sailing. We’ve written a lot about it already. Especially starting this drivetrain takes getting used to. The lever must be in N, and you must depress clutch and brake. We recently discussed this in the comparison test between the endurance test Bayon and the Kia Stonic. The sturdy, compact Kia is the equivalent of the smallest Hyundai crossover, a battle that the Hyundai won mainly thanks to its beautiful equipment, where the accents are slightly different; at Hyundai these are the safety systems, while Kia opts for more appearance.

Alternative to i20

Conclusion after a longer stay of the Bayon in our endurance test pool? If you find the luggage space of the i20 too tight, or if you do not like the design of that model, the choice is easy. At least, if the additional cost of the Bayon of €2,000 is not an issue. The Bayon can also be interesting if a compact SUV, of which there are so many, is too expensive for you. Many popular models only really start to offer from €30,000, and this Bayon Premium may be a little less SUV-like in appearance, but for just over €27,000 you have all the trimmings.