Verdict
The Hyundai Bayon isn’t the most spacious small SUV, although boot space is good, but it’s a rounded package that rides well enough and offers a punchy, electrified powertrain that helps performance and efficiency. On this early first drive of a European-spec car, it seems like it could be a contender in the crowded compact crossover class.
Small SUVs are a big selling niche, and while Hyundai has its Kona compact crossover, there’s still room in the line-up below this for an even smaller model, the Korean firm believes.
Hence this, the Hyundai Bayon. It’s an i20-based small SUV to rival the likes of the Ford Fiesta-based Puma, and it certainly has presence thanks to the car’s funky styling, with the large grille and narrow running lights that are rapidly becoming a trademark of Hyundai’s SUVs.