Hyundai to launch new Ford Puma rival

• 2021 Hyundai Bayon will be an alternative to the Ford Puma and Peugeot 2008
• The new Hyundai crossover will be based on the popular i20 hatchback
• The Bayon will reach showrooms in the summer with a starting price of around £20,000

Hyundai has revealed the all-new Bayon. The 2021 crossover is based on the i20 hatchback and will sit below the Kona in Hyundai's SUV line-up. 

The Bayon promises a roomy interior, sharp styling and mild-hybrid petrol engines to tempt drivers out of key rivals, like the Ford Puma, Renault Captur and SEAT Arona.

At the top of the Bayon range is the 1.0-litre T-GDi engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system and 100PS or 120PS. This can be coupled with the six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 1.0-litre T-GDi engine with 48V also comes with three drive modes to optimise the engine response and steering performance based on driving conditions. There's no diesel option, though.

Pushing hard on the connectivity and tech front, Hyundai has developed the BlueLink smartphone app - meaning owners can create user profiles, see where they’ve parked the car and sync the system with a calendar app to get route information on the go.  The new model also gets slim LED daytime running lights, a maximum ride height of 183mm, skidplate and black lower-body cladding.

The Bayon’s interior offers a not so exciting choice of black or grey (well, two-tone grey cloth upholstery), while a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel is standard. A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen can be specified as an upgrade on the standard 8.0-inch display, too.

LED ambient lighting for the footwells, storage cubbies and door-handle surrounds are also available, along with a Bose sound system, wireless device charging and wireless smartphone mirroring.

Front-seat passengers will get 1072mm of legroom, while the rear seats offer 882mm, and the 411-litre boot can be extended to 1205 litres with the split rear bench folded flat. At 4180mm long, 1775mm wide, and 1490mm tall (or 1500mm with 17-inch wheels), the Bayon dimensions strike a balance between a compact exterior and a roomy interior that'd be perfect for small families. 

As with all Hyundai models, the Bayon will get a five-year warranty from new. The small crossover will arrive in UK dealerships in summer, with entry-level prices expected to start at £20,000 - a small premium above the i20 that the new model is based on.