Hyundai's smallest crossover is called the Bayon and is a Europe-only affair. Unveiled in 2021, it comes to life at the Izmit factory in Turkey and has just received a mid-cycle refresh.
Between us, we already knew the Hyundai Bayon was in for a facelift, as we spotted a prototype doing its thing in the open last year. However, we didn't expect it to feature so many visual updates, meaning that the trippy vinyl stickers did their role.
You will easily recognize it without a side-by-side comparison, as it now has a light strip between the slim DRLs that sit above the main clusters. The headlamps were also updated, and the bumper is new, featuring a wider and shorter grille and a bigger central lower air intake. The taillights and tailgate look the same, and it has a new rear bumper with fresh reflectors and reversing lights.
The Korean automaker says the refreshed Bayon can be ordered in a total of nine exterior colors. The palette includes the new Meta Blue Pearl, Lumen Gray Pearl, Vibrant Blue Pearl, and Lucid Lime Metallic. A black roof is available with certain hues, and the new 16- and 17-inch alloys round off the makeover on the outside.
Blink, and you will definitely miss the changes on the inside. Nevertheless, Hyundai claims the 10.25-inch infotainment system and 10.25-inch digital gauges are standard across the range. There is an optional digital instrument cluster with different graphics that can be equipped to the subcompact crossover.
Photo: Hyundai
The list of goodies does not end here, as the 2024 Hyundai Bayon also comes with the updated Bluelink telematics, a wireless charging pad, smartphone integration, two USB-C sockets, a USB-A port, multi-color ambient lighting, and a Bose sound system with eight speakers and a subwoofer.
In the safety department, the model that sits below the Kona comes with lane following assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction turning, navigation-based smart cruise control, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, driver attention warning, leading vehicle departure alert, and 4G-based second-gen eCall.
Specifications for the United Kingdom have yet to be released, yet the outgoing pre-facelifted iteration is offered with two engines, making 100 and 120 ps (99-118 hp/74-88 kW), and as many transmissions, including a six-speed manual and a seven-speed automatic. Pricing starts at £21,570 ($27,298), and in all likelihood, the facelifted model will become a bit pricier to justify the added standard gear.
As we already told you, the Bayon is only sold in Europe. Hyundai's most affordable crossover in the United States is the platform-related Venue, which starts at $19,800 for the 2024 model year. The Kona comes from $24,100; for the Kona Electric, you are looking at a minimum of $32,675 before destination and dealer fees.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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