Hyundai Bayon 2026 (2024 - )

Hyundai has unveiled an updated specification for the Bayon, launching a streamlined two-trim strategy alongside an enhanced 1.0-litre T-GDi 90PS mill. 

The refreshed Bayon lineup pulls together features from earlier grades into a couple of well-equipped editions. The Black Line replaces the Advance, while a new Tech Line version takes the flagship role.

Our motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay got behind the wheel of the new Bayon in Tech line guise.

In the Tech Line, as driven here, zero to 62mph is dealt with in 11.9 seconds, which is hardly astonishing but perfectly adequate for such a small 90PS engine. The Bayon's top speed is 108mph.

The gear changes in the six-speed manual are smooth and deliver passable, but hardly buttock-clenching, acceleration from the engine.

The Bayon sits lower to the ground than most crossovers, and you likely won't notice the difference compared with driving a small, standard hatchback, but this helps limit body roll in the bends. That doesn't mean it handles well, though.

While the Bayon's compact size makes it reasonably agile, it's not much fun to drive, and the steering wheel offers little feedback. The wheel is light, though, making the Hyundai effortless to steer - especially around villages and town centres. Furthermore, the ride is comfortable at all speeds, meaning it’s fine for motorway commutes, shopping trips or the school run.

Sure, at higher speeds, tyre rumble and wind din are moderate, but most foes don't perform substantially better in this regard.

The Bayon carries forward Hyundai’s daring crossover design, showcasing LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, and roof rails as standard across both trims. 

The Black Line 1.0T 90PS with a six-speed manual gearbox starts at £23,795 and offers greater comfort and convenience than the previous Advance trim. This version features striking dark exterior design elements, including 16-inch black alloy wheels, black door mirrors, a black beltline finish, and privacy glass. It also comes equipped with new comfort features like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The 1.0T 90PS unit with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is also available for the Black Line.

Starting at £25,295, the Tech Line 1.0T 90PS with a six-speed manual transmission enhances the Black Line with added comfort, convenience, and refinement. This trim includes standard features such as 17-inch silver alloy wheels, a chrome beltline finish, keyless entry with an engine start/stop button, wireless phone charging for compatible devices, automatic air-conditioning, automatic wipers with a rain sensor, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, front parking sensors, and a front armrest. The Tech Line can likewise be specified with the 1.0T 90PS seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

For those desiring a touch of luxury, the Tech Line can be upgraded with the Tech Pack, an optional £1,000 enhancement comprising a BOSE premium sound system with tweeters, an external amplifier, a centre speaker, windscreen acoustic film, and an electric tilt-and-slide glass sunroof.

Both trims come with a comprehensive range of safety and driver assistance technologies as standard, including Lane Keep Assist, Lane Follow Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists), High Beam Assist, automatic headlights with a dusk sensor, and cruise control with a speed limiter. Additionally, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines are standard. 

At the same time, the Tech Line adds features such as front parking sensors, automatic wipers, automatic air conditioning, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a windscreen auto-defog function.

Finding a comfortable driving position in the Bayon is a piece of cake, even without the luxury of electric seats.

Visibility is praiseworthy, and the front - and rear-seat legroom and headroom aren't bad for four up. Five people will cope – but a quartet will be comfier. It is reasonably wide too, so unless you have a couple of passengers with broad rugby-playing shoulders, room shouldn't be an issue.

The Black Line trim features a black dashboard, headlining, and upholstery, while our Tech Line offers a broader selection of interior finishes. This includes a black dashboard paired with black upholstery, a combination of black and grey dashboard with black upholstery, or a black dashboard and upholstery accented with Vibrant Blue details. 

Both trims are equipped with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a similarly-sized touchscreen satellite navigation system, which supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, LIVE Services, and Mapcare. Additionally, they both come with multi-colour ambient lighting and LED interior illumination.

The modern Bayon comes equipped with 411 litres of cargo space, making it among the most practical cars in the category, thanks to the generous boot capacity, which is usually found in bigger SUVs

If you need extra space for shopping or for taking your children on weekend trips, the Bayon will always have enough room.

Enhancing this practicality is the 'intelligent trunk' cover. This is a thoughtful feature that makes loading and unloading easier. It helps keep your stuff neatly concealed from view while allowing stress-free access to everything. 

The substantial boot size, combined with the intelligent cargo management system, provides the flexibility to meet the needs of various lifestyles, ensuring that the Bayon is a very handy vehicle for both city driving and long weekends.

The Tech Line variant achieves 47.8mpg and emits 134g/km of CO2 when combined with a manual gearbox. This is okay, but there are more economical cars of this size out there.

According to the current Vehicle Tax Rates for the 2026/27 tax year, vehicles with emissions between 131 and 150 g/km incur a charge of £560 for the initial 12 months. This amount is typically included in the car's "on-the-road" (OTR) purchase price as set by the dealer. After the first year, the initial rate comes to an end. From then on, the tax rate reduces to a flat £200 per year for petrol vehicles, including the Bayon.

The Hyundai Bayon is regarded as a dependable and sensible compact crossover. Built on the proven mechanical framework of the reliable Hyundai i20, it steers clear of significant mechanical issues and takes advantage of Hyundai's solid five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
 

The extensively updated Bayon, which, as you've read, we've had the chance to drive, certainly stands out as a strong competitor in its class.

However, it's worth noting that Hyundai is also developing a fully redesigned second-generation Bayon. Although the facelifted model is currently on sale, the all-new iteration is expected to be unveiled and made available in the UK next year.

In the meantime, despite a few weaknesses here and there, if you're currently searching for a budget-friendly family vehicle and often have a couple of adults in the back seats, you'd struggle to find a small car that meets your needs as well as the latest Hyundai Bayon.