2021 Hyundai Bayon
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Hyundai has a new small SUV aimed at crossover-loving Europe
by Tudor Rus, on March 12, 2021, 14:00
If it is not broke, do not fix it. The world's appetite for crossovers and SUVs is still going strong and as long as people will buy these high-riding people carriers, carmakers will do everything in their power to milk the trend.
Hyundai is one of those carmakers and the milking will now be done via its new Europe-headed crossover, the Bayon. This is everything you need to know about the car that is supposed to poach customers from the likes of Ford Puma and Nissan Juke.
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The Bayon is a B-segment SUV/crossover, which means it will slot beneath the Kona in Hyundai's European lineup. Hyundai's intention with the new Bayon is to offer the same tech and safety package available for its larger SUVs, but at an affordable price.
Even if we covered the Bayon's front logo, it would still be easily identifiable as a Hyundai. There are a lot of Kona styling cues baked into the front end, and since were picking apart the design chapter, the rear end is reminiscent of the Ioniq. Ask Hyundai, however, and they will tell you that this approach is part of the Sensuous Sportiness design philosophy.
Depending on trim level, the Bayon can be configured with 15-inch steel wheels or 16- and 17-inch alloys.
Step inside and you will be greeted by an interior that looks copy/pasted from the likes of i20 supermini. That is not a bad thing, mind you. The i20's cabin geography looks good and places a lot of focus on ergonomics. Sure, you will encounter harsh plastics pretty much everywhere you look but the build quality is close to impeccable and the cabin is airy, well laid out, and brimming with technology.
The instrument cluster is based on a 10.25-inch configurable screen and you get another 10.25-inch screen acting as the infotainment system (that is optional, though). This is basically the same setup seen in the i20, which should entail graphics that are easy on the eye, clear and logical menus, as well as a lag-free experience most of the time.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also on the menu, with optional features also including a Bose sound system, a wireless phone-charging pad, and up to three USB ports.
2021 Hyundai Bayon dimensions
1,490 mm (1,500 mm with 17-inch wheels)
Front legroom
Rear legroom
183 mm (with 17-inch wheels)
411 l (VDA) or 1,205 l with the rear seats folded down
The entry-level engine is a 1.2-liter MPi (multi-point injection) unit with 84 horsepower on tap, which connects to a five-speed manual transmission. Hyundai, however, is making a lot of noise about its Kappa family of engines, namely the 1.0-liter T-GDi mill available in the i20 and in the new Bayon.
The powerplant can be had with either 100 or 120 horsepower in conjunction with a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. Transmission options include a six-speed intelligent manual and a seven-speed dual clutch aggregate. The former can disengage from the engine when the gas pedal is released by the driver, allowing the vehicle to coast for less emissions and better fuel efficiency.
The 100-horsepower version of the 1.0-liter T-GDi mill can also be had without the 48-volt mild-hybrid technology and customers can also decide to pair it with the regular six-speed manual or the seven-speed DCT.
Not that it matters a lot given who will buy the new Bayon, but Hyundai is also offering a rev matching feature inspired by its N models. The quickest Bayon will take you from naught to 100 kph (62 mph) in 10.4 seconds on to a top speed of 185 kph (115 mph).
2021 Hyundai Bayon specifications
1.0 T-GDi 100 PS 48V 1.0 T-GDi 120 PS 48V
Bore x stroke [mm]
71 x 84 71 x 84
Maximum power [ps/rpm]
100 / 4,500 ~ 6,000 120 / 6,000
Maximum torque [kgf·m/rpm]
17.5 / 1,500~4,000 17.5 / 1,500~4,000
6iMT/7DCT 6iMT/7DCT
0-100 km/h [s]
Top speed [km/h]
We expect the new Bayon to make its market debut in the summer of 2021, although Hyundai is tight-lipped on this topic as it is when it comes to pricing. If we were to offer an educated guess price-wise, the Bayon could start from around 20,000 euro in Germany.
Assistant Content Manager - Automotive Expert - tudor@topspeed.com
Tudor's first encounter with cars took place when he was only a child. Back then, his father brought home a Trabant 601 Kombi and a few years later, a Wartburg 353. At that time, he was too young to know how they worked and way too young to drive them, but he could see one thing – each of them had a different ethos and their own unique personality. As time went on, he started seeing that in other cars as well, and his love for the automobile was born. Read full bio
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Cars / Hyundai / Compact cars / 2021 / Crossover / New cars