Is called Bayon the new B-Suv that Hyundai designed specifically for the European market, on sale since the summer. In this way, the Korean manufacturer’s offer in the small crossover segment doubles: compared to the Kona the measurements are practically the same, with the exception of the height which in the case of the Bayon stops at 1.49 meters, configuring a more streamlined line.
Speaking of the name of the new Hyundai, it is inspired by the city of Bayonne, capital of the French Basque Country. Speaking of style instead, the pencil of Luc Donckerwolke he traced taut and dynamic lines, giving the car a strong and purely urban character. The most daring solutions are certainly those used for the front, with the optical groups divided into three parts and combined with the air intakes, but also the arrow-shaped C-pillar. The same theme is taken up by the rear lights, which are positioned at the lateral ends of the car body. The differentiation from the Kona, therefore, seems to have been achieved. Compared to the latter, however, the Bayon will cost less and will have a price list that will start from less than 19,000 euros.
Moving inside, the design becomes more ordinary, but still original. It is all developed horizontally, including the infotainment system screen which measures 10.25 inches. The latter is practically the same as the Kona; it is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (also wi-fi) and includes the Bluelink services of the Hyundai ecosystem. Among the most interesting options are the Bose audio system and the wireless charging pad for smartphones. The other 10.25-inch display is the instrumentation display, which can be configured and customized in several ways. Speaking instead of space on board, the Bayon promises good comfort even for five passengers – it is 4.18 meters long with a wheelbase of 2.58 meters – while the trunk has at least 411 liters of useful space.
In terms of safety, Bayon has a complete package of driver assistance systems. While waiting to know which ones will be included in the individual configurations, Hyundai has announced that automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and lane maintenance will be standard on all versions. As for the engines, there will be no diesel, but the petrol of the Kappa series. At the top of the range is the engine 1.0 T-GDi mild hybrid (with 48 Volt system) 120 or 100 hp, which can be combined with the 6-speed intelligent manual gearbox (6iMT) or the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (7DCT). The 100hp version is also available without the lightweight hybrid. In addition, an 84 bhp 1.2 naturally aspirated engine is also available, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The traction, unlike the Kona which also offers 4×4 variants, is exclusively front.
