Hyundai Bayon review

Overview

The Bayon is a small road-focused crossover rather than an off-road alternative to a full-size SUV. This review selects a 2022 UK SE Connect with the original 100 PS turbo petrol, 48 V mild-hybrid assistance and six-speed intelligent manual gearbox. The later facelift and removal of mild-hybrid powertrains are separate developments. The selected entry grade makes a sensible everyday proposition because it includes useful parking and phone equipment without requiring a more expensive Premium or Ultimate example. Its appeal is a manageable footprint and a practical cabin, not luxury or high performance. A used buyer should establish the exact powertrain and luggage arrangement before comparing it with a conventional hatchback or a newer Bayon advertisement.

Exterior and interior

The original body has angular rear lamps, a contrasting protective lower treatment and a relatively modest overall stance. It should not be bought on an assumption that all small crossovers offer a dramatically higher driving position. Sit in the actual car and compare entry, seat support and visibility with your current hatchback. SE Connect uses cloth upholstery and manual air conditioning, while heated seats and the more elaborate lighting belong to higher equipment levels. Check the rear lamp housings, wheel edges and lower body trim after parking incidents. Inside, inspect door pulls, seat adjustment and the climate controls. The cabin's straightforward finish may suit frequent family use, but worn fittings and weak ventilation remain purchase defects rather than evidence of ruggedness.

Practicality

Five doors and a conventional rear bench make the Bayon easier to assess than a fashionable three-door alternative. Try child seats and rear passengers behind your own driving position, and make sure belts, head restraints and rear-seat latches remain usable together. Luggage figures need unusual care: the original generic manufacturer material gives 411 litres, but a dated 2022 manufacturer brochure distinguishes a smaller mild-hybrid compartment, while later material and independent descriptions vary again. RoadMatch uses the conservative 334-litre battery-specific reference with an explicit foreign-market caveat, not a resolved UK measurement. Inspect the actual underfloor equipment and load your normal bags or pushchair. Check the parcel shelf and hatch seal. Roof rails do not grant unlimited carrying capacity, and a crossover shape cannot compensate for a load bay that is wrong for your household.

Driving experience

The original Auto Express assessment and RAC's public review support an everyday, comfort-minded road role rather than a sporty or off-road identity. RoadMatch has not driven the vehicle. Try this manual on a route containing parking, broken urban surfaces and a sustained faster section, concentrating on ride consistency and seat comfort. The sixteen-inch entry-grade wheels are worth preserving unless a different tyre package has a clear benefit. Assess steering centring, straight-line braking and how naturally the intelligent clutch behaves in traffic. A driver unfamiliar with coasting or stop-start may need time to understand normal operation, but shuddering, warning lights and difficult gear selection still need investigation. Compare the car with an ordinary hatchback before paying a crossover premium.

Performance

The original technical material identifies the 100 PS version, equivalent to approximately 99 bhp, with a six-speed iMT gearbox. The manufacturer technical-data index gives 10.7 seconds for 0–100 km/h, matching the card's 0–62 mph convention; current non-hybrid figures are not substituted. This is a small turbo petrol with electrical assistance, not a full hybrid capable of electric-only driving. On a demonstration, check response from low speed and sensible in-gear progress with the passengers you normally carry. Use appropriate gears for hills and overtaking instead of expecting effortless acceleration from any engine speed. The stronger 120 PS and dual-clutch versions are different configurations. A smooth, predictable example matters more for this role than a small difference in a brochure sprint.

Fuel economy

Mild-hybrid assistance can recover energy and support the petrol engine, but it does not remove the need for fuel or make every short trip economical. There is no plug-in range to compare with an electric car. Exact official mpg is omitted because accessible original tables and later model revisions are not sufficiently cleanly aligned for this UK example. Budget with an explicit annual-distance assumption and revise it using your own ownership records. Cold urban journeys, loaded motorway travel and tyre changes can produce different results. Verify emissions and tax treatment using the individual registration. The right comparison is the complete annual cost against a suitable conventional petrol car, including the acquisition price and maintenance, rather than treating the hybrid label as a guaranteed saving.

Reliability

RoadMatch's reliability judgement has moderate confidence and is editorial, not a measured failure rate or a publisher's score. Request dated servicing evidence and inspect the oil level, coolant condition and charging system before relying on remaining warranty. The 48 V installation and electronically controlled clutch add specific diagnostic questions: ask whether faults, software work or replacement components have been recorded. Test repeated cold and warm starts and ensure stop-start behaviour is understood rather than simply disabled for the demonstration. Inspect uneven tyre wear and MOT advisories for neglected alignment or suspension. Check the rear camera and screen after a restart. A clean-looking cabin cannot establish mechanical health, and a qualified inspection is particularly worthwhile where servicing is incomplete or warning history is unclear.

Safety

The exact Euro NCAP Bayon 2021 record is available and distinguishes the tested non-mild-hybrid car from the mild-hybrid variants included in its applicability table, including right-hand drive. This is historical assessment evidence, not a claim that the individual vehicle passes a current protocol, and no numerical rating is reproduced. The original UK launch specification describes forward-collision and lane-support equipment. Confirm the correct warning sequence and obtain repair and calibration evidence after windscreen replacement or frontal damage. Check child-seat fit and restraint condition independently. Use GOV.UK's recall procedure and ask Hyundai to confirm VIN-specific campaign completion. Driver assistance remains support for an attentive driver, especially in rain, poor markings or situations the system does not recognise.

Technology and features

SE Connect includes an eight-inch audio display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument display, rear parking sensors, reversing camera and ordinary cruise control. These are supported by the original UK equipment release rather than imported from a newer trim name. Bring your own phone and demonstrate connection, calls, audio and navigation projection through repeated starts. Check the camera in poor light and each sensor's response with a safe stationary test. Heated seats, heated steering wheel and upgraded headlights belong to higher trims, not a universal entry-grade promise. Built-in navigation, premium audio and adaptive cruise should not be assumed either. A useful modest system is preferable to an impressive advertisement whose functions cannot be shown on the actual car.

Running costs

The £10,500–£14,500 buying band is RoadMatch's planning estimate dated 3 October 2026, not a live valuation or a set of dealer quotations. An illustrative 10,000 miles at 50 mpg and £1.50 per litre costs approximately £1,364 in petrol. Add £200 tax planning and £550–£1,150 for routine servicing, MOT and wear to reach a rounded £2,100–£2,700 allowance. Insurance, depreciation, finance and major repairs are excluded. Check actual tax and obtain personal insurance terms; remaining warranty depends on the car's dates and compliance with its conditions. Investigate any clutch or mild-hybrid warning before allocating the full budget to purchase. Camera or collision-system repairs may exceed the routine reserve, so documented condition should influence value more than trim accessories.

Advantages and disadvantages