Hyundai Bayon Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

If you want a small SUV with lots of impressive technology (such as the standard-fit digital dials, slick infotainment and an array of driver-assist features), the Hyundai Bayon should be on your small SUV shortlist. It's not quite as practical as a Skoda Kamiq or as sporty as the Ford Puma, but it strikes a good balance and represents keen value for money.

The engine choice is limited now with a new Hyundai Bayon to the 100PS 1.0-litre petrol engine. It's a chirpy three-cylinder motor that, like many of its rivals with a similar power unit, make decent progress while being cheap to fuel. The six-speed manual gearbox is fine for most drivers, or there's the option of a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

In terms of trim level, the mid-spec Hyundai Bayon Premium offers a good compromise between desirable equipment and affordability. It comes with nice-to-have features like climate control, automatic wipers, front parking sensors, rear privacy glass, heated steering, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

If you're in the market for a small SUV, you might also want to consider the (very slightly) bigger Hyundai Kona, as well as the Kia Stonic. The Nissan Juke and Renault Captur are two very popular alternatives, while we also rate the Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Cross. The Ford Puma's a slightly more stylish choice, as is the Peugeot 2008, DS 3 Crossback and SEAT Arona. The Toyota Yaris Cross is an excellent small hybrid SUV, too.

Perceived quality is so-so. We doubt the Bayon's interior will fall apart within a few years, but would it have hurt Hyundai to fit a few more soft-touch finishes? There are quite a few hard slabs of plastic dotted around the cabin.

It's not all bad news, though. You do at least get a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob as standard across the range, and it's fair to say even the entry-level Hyundai Bayon Advance could hardly be described as downmarket.

All Hyundai Bayon models come with an impressive 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation system. This is one of the best in the class, with sharp graphics and logical menu layouts. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, too, so you can access your Spotify playlists when you're sitting in traffic. The previous SE Connect trim made do with an eight-inch central touchscreen display, so it's probably worth looking for a Premium or Ultimate model if you're buying used.

The Hyundai Bayon Ultimate also come with a wireless phone charging pad, which is a nice-to-have feature, as is its classy Bose sound system.

The Hyundai Bayon measures 4180mm long and 2023mm wide, while it's 1490mm tall. That means it's one of the smaller small SUVs, if that makes sense, sitting beneath the likes of the Hyundai Kona, Skoda Kamiq and Renault Captur in size.

It doesn't feel cramped inside, though. Sure, a family might be better looking at a Hyundai Tucson instead, but the Bayon is more versatile than the i20 hatchback. There's loads of headroom, while it's wide enough to ensure those in the front aren't awkwardly bashing elbows. You get plenty of interior storage, too, including a generous glovebox and fairly big door bins.

You can squeeze three into the back of a Bayon if you really must, while there are Isofix child seat mounting points fitted to the outer rear seats. Adults will find their knees touching the front seats, while there's no sliding rear bench like you'd get in a Volkswagen T-Cross.

In terms of boot space, the Hyundai Bayon can take 411-litres of luggage, which is decent for this class, or 1205-litres with the rear seats folded down. If you need a bigger boot, we'd recommend a Skoda Kamiq.

The Hyundai Bayon is offered with a 1.0-litre petrol engine with 100PS and a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions. Neither will blow your socks off with their performance as the manual needs 11.3 seconds to deal with 0-62mph, while the auto is a little more leisurely at 12.4 seconds for the same dash.

Previously. Hyundai offered the Bayon with a mild-hybrid engine available with a choice of two power outputs (100PS or 120PS) along with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Don't get too excited about the word 'hybrid' – this isn't a proper ('self-charging') hybrid, rather a 48-volt system which uses a degree of electrical assistance to help out the petrol engine. As such, the car can't travel under electric power alone (aside from, perhaps, as you coast to a stop). It ought to be very efficient, though, and the mild-hybrid setup provides a small boost in performance.

For used buyers, either is a decent choice, while new Bayon buyers will find the 1.0-litre petrol engine is on a par with most rivals for the way it shifts through the gears in town or on the open road. As a result, it's acceptably peppy at lower speeds and offers enough pull on the motorway for comfortable cruising.

Despite only having a little 1.0-litre petrol engine, the Hyundai Bayon's motor isn't as burbly as you'll find in alternatives like the Citroen C3 Aircross.

The mild-hybrid setup in older models is unobtrusive, too, while wind and road noise are relatively well hushed in all Bayons. It certainly seems calmer inside than the sportier Ford Puma.

The Hyundai Bayon failed to achieve the full five-star Euro NCAP rating when it was crash-tested in 2021. That doesn't mean it's fundamentally an unsafe car, though – it was awarded four stars out of five, with NCAP's criticisms including poor pedestrian protection and marginal protection of the driver's chest in a crash.

Standard safety kit includes an autonomous emergency braking system which can detect pedestrians and cyclists, while Ultimate models get a blind spot collision warning system.

Hyundai now equips all Bayons with lane follow assist, which'll keep you central in your lane on the motorway. This was only fitted to the Ultimate trim prior to the Bayon's update in 2024.

While the Hyundai Bayon is too new for any scary reliability horror stories to emerge, the brand generally makes some exceptionally reliable cars. Indeed, Hyundai ranked seventh in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, while we haven't heard of any common issues with cars such as the Hyundai i20 or Kona SUV. A five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty is a big selling point, too.

If you're buying a new Hyundai Bayon, all of the trims sit in group 15E for insurance (out of 50) if they have the automatic gearbox. Opt for the Bayon with the manual gearbox and that slips up one notch to group 16E for the Advance and Premium trims, while the Ultimate version tips into group 18E.

If you want a lower insurance rating, the pre-facelift Hyundai Bayon can be had with a group rating as low as 13, while the 120PS version goes up as high as group 18.

For the first year of ownership, a Hyundai Bayon will cost you £440 for Vehicle Excise Duty, or road tax as most of us know it. This is because the Bayon's 1.0-litre engine emits between 124- and 126g/km of carbon dioxide emissions.

In subsequent years, that falls back to a more affordable £195 per year for road tax, which is what used Bayons will be charged.

There are three Bayon trim levels available: Advance, Premium and Ultimate.

The most affordable is the Hyundai Bayon Advance, which was previously the SE Connect version up to the Bayon's faclift in 2024. Standard equipment on this entry-level car includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, a reversing camera and an 10.25-inch media system with DAB radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. There's also the impressive 10.25-inch digital drivers display.

The mid-level Hyundai Bayon Premium includes 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and automatic climate control. The Bayon Premium also features front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, rear USB charge point, and rear privacy glass.

The top-spec Hyundai Premium Ultimate adds an electric sunroof, windscreen with accoustic film to reduce cabin noise, keyless entry and a Bose premium sound system. You also get a Blind Spot Collision Warning system included.