- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He Ar
Hyundai Bayon. Korean-style France
Unveiled in March 2021, the Hyundai Bayon compact SUV is based on the i20 hatchback, and is actually its version with a higher ground clearance. The exterior of the compact vehicle is inspired by other Korean SUVs, that is, it looks a little unusual, it has as many as three engines to choose from and a maximum ground clearance of 165 to 183 mm. Sales of the model began in the summer, and deliveries outside of Europe are not planned. The new Bayon has not yet been delivered to Israel, but it still deserves our attention.
Israeli buyers can purchase the Bayon’s "sibling", the 2019 Hyundai Venue SUV. It comes with a 1.6 liter petrol engine with 123 hp, which is complemented by a CVT, front-wheel drive. The SUV can accelerate to 186 km/h, and the average fuel consumption is 5.1 liters per 100 km.
Exterior
The Hyundai Venue with a length of only 3,995 mm is the most compact SUV among the global models of the South Korean company, Hyundai. It is sold to Israel, America, India and South Korea. But for Europe, it was decided to make a different car. It was even named appropriately, after the city of Bayonne in southwestern France. In fact, the Bayon is a cross-version of the third-generation Hyundai i20 hatchback, but with its original body, similar to the more expensive SUVs from Hyundai. The vehicle has a wheelbase of the same length as the original (2,580 mm), but the model itself is 140 mm longer and equals to 4,180 mm, 11 mm wider (1,775 mm) and 1,490 mm high (which is 40 mm more). The ground clearance of the compact SUV equipped with 15-inch wheels is also ‘childish’, 165 mm, but with the largest wheels with a diameter of 17 inches it grows to 183 mm. There are nine body colors available for the model.
Interior and lighting
The 2021 Hyundai Bayon interior is more spacious than that of the i20, but the design is exactly the same: a 10.25-inch digital dashboard and a media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions (size 8.0 or 10.25 inches, depending on the version). The list of options includes several seat upholstery variants and ‘adult’ offers: smartphone wireless charging, Bose sound system with eight speakers. The trunk volume of the small vehicle is quite good: 411 liters under the trunk rack, which is 60 more than that of the i20. And with the rear seats folded down, the trunk will hold 1,205 liters.
Engines and chassis
The hatchback and the SUV share the same powertrains. A 1.2-liter 4-cylinder engine with simple fuel injection produces 84 hp and is coupled exclusively with a 5-speed manual transmission. A 1.0-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder direct injection GDi engine develops 100 hp and can be coupled with two transmissions: a 7-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission. You can also install an engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid superstructure (for a surcharge). The most powerful modification produces 120 hp, and it is a hybrid. These vehicles are equipped with an iMT transmission with a smart clutch pedal. It is electronically controlled, providing coasting motion when the accelerator is not pressed.
The SUV is only front-wheel drive. But the new Hyundai Bayon has automatic braking systems, lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring system, as well as adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts the speed based on the navigation system data.
