Driving Hyundai’s Honest SUV Bayon

There’s something undeniably grounding about the way the Kaiserstuhl rises gently from the Upper Rhine Plain, a volcanic cluster wrapped in vines and age, old wine trails. It’s not rugged like the Alps, nor fast like the autobahn. It’s subtle, purposeful, a place that rewards those who appreciate form and function in harmony. It felt fitting, then, to bring the Hyundai Bayon here, a car that doesn’t scream for attention but steadily earns your respect with every kilometer. 

This wasn’t a dramatic road test. No hair, raising speeds or perilous gravel drifts. What I wanted to know was simple: Can the smallest Hyundai SUV live up to its claim of being honest, nimble, and economical, while still managing to offer enough comfort and utility for real, life driving? The Bayon 1.0 T, GDi DCT, with its three, cylinder turbo engine and dual, clutch transmission, looked like it could be the quiet contender in a world of oversized egos. 

And so began a full day’s drive through the narrow vineyard lanes, hilly tarmac routes, and open stretches across the Kaiserstuhl’s varied terrain. 

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A Familiar Size, Refined Intent 

At first glance, the Hyundai Bayon appears as though it belongs in a European old town car park, compact, upright, with dimensions that feel tailor, made for squeezing through half, timbered alleys and tight corner garages. At 4.18 meters long, it’s more hatchback than SUV in footprint, but its elevated seating position and sharper angles give it just enough crossover flavor to appeal to buyers wanting both style and pragmatism. 

From the moment I stepped in and closed the lightweight door with a crisp clunk, the Bayon felt reassuring. Not premium. Not posh. But thoughtfully arranged, cleanly trimmed, and genuinely well, built. The cockpit was bathed in subtle blue lighting, the kind that calms rather than distracts. The digital driver display was crisp, the infotainment intuitive, and everything I needed was within arm’s reach. Heated seats? Yes. Cruise control? Of course. Rearview camera? Naturally. It didn’t feel like a stripped, down entry model. Hyundai had done their homework. 

The Prime trim, tested here, comes well, stocked, even if the price tag creeps close to €30,000. At that price, it brushes up against larger, more powerful rivals, but there’s a simplicity in the Bayon’s proposition that’s increasingly rare. It doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. 

Real, World Drivability and Performance 

Now for the meat of it: how does it drive? Through the early morning mist of the Kaiserstuhl, with the roads still glistening from dew and tractors occasionally edging onto the main road, the Bayon glided forward with composed effortlessness. The 1.0, litre T, GDi three, cylinder engine isn’t about raw power. It’s about balance. With 100 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque, there’s more than enough grunt for everyday use, particularly with the well, calibrated seven, speed dual, clutch transmission that rarely puts a foot wrong. 

Acceleration isn’t thrilling, but it’s effective. It did 0, 50 km/h in 4.2 seconds and hit 100 in 12.1, not sprightly, but acceptable given its efficiency, focused nature. I found the Bayon’s pull between 60, 100 km/h to be reassuring, particularly when overtaking farm equipment or pulling up from sleepy village bends. 

Above 130 km/h, though, things got sluggish. The engine’s willingness fades, and even with kickdown, it seems hesitant to give more. This isn’t a left, lane autobahn cruiser, it’s best appreciated under 120, where the quiet hum of the engine and minimal road noise make it relaxing and unintimidating to drive. 

The 17, inch wheels looked sharp but didn’t help comfort much on patched roads. The suspension was on the firm side, especially over the small, sharp imperfections that Kaiserstuhl’s uneven tarmac revealed. But to Hyundai’s credit, the damping didn’t feel cheap or bouncy. It managed mid, sized bumps and undulations with enough composure to keep things settled inside the cabin. For a car that weighs just over 1.2 tonnes, it never felt hollow. 

Steering, Handling, and That Subtle Urban Charm 

The Bayon’s steering has a nice consistency to it, light at parking speeds, progressively firmer as you pick up pace. There’s not much road feedback, but that’s not the point here. This isn’t a car for carving corners or pretending to be a GTI. In fact, its charm lies in how easily it obeys your inputs without drama. 

I navigated Kaiserstuhl’s tight village turns, some with barely enough clearance between historic stone walls, and the Bayon felt right at home. The turning circle, a neat 11 meters, is incredibly helpful when darting into narrow side lanes or reversing out of vineyard paths. That’s where you realize how much this car is designed with urban and rural precision in mind. 

Downhill, engine braking was minimal and the brake pedal had a bit of initial softness before biting down, still, overall stopping power was solid. We managed repeated hard stops from 100 km/h, and the fade was negligible. Braking distances hovered around 35.6, 35.8 meters, which is respectable for a small crossover. 

Cabin Practicality and Everyday Usability 

Let’s talk space, because small crossovers often promise more than they deliver. The Bayon, however, impresses. At 411 liters, the boot swallows a surprising amount of gear. I packed in a folded mountain bike (front wheel removed), a duffle bag, and still had visibility through the rear window. Folding the rear seats expands capacity to 1205 liters, making it a genuinely usable weekend vehicle, even for a solo cyclist with camping aspirations. 

The rear seats are best suited for two adults, three’s a squeeze, but knee and headroom are better than expected for a car this size. I’m 5’10” and sat comfortably behind my own driving position. 

Up front, visibility is excellent thanks to the slightly elevated ride height and large windows. Lane, keeping assist and blind, spot warnings worked subtly in the background, no hyperactive beeping, just gentle nudges when needed. And while Apple CarPlay requires a cable (annoyingly), the system itself was responsive and cleanly integrated. 

One letdown was the voice command system. It can’t be triggered via voice activation, you have to press a button to start it, which feels outdated in 2025. But apart from that, everything you expect from a modern infotainment setup is here. 

Efficiency Over Ego 

Fuel consumption, the real, world kind, not the brochure fantasy, is where the Bayon quietly wins hearts. Across 155 kilometers of mixed terrain, hill climbs, open stretches, and slow village crawls, I averaged 6.7 liters per 100 km. That’s a 22% deviation from the WLTP figure of 5.5 l/100 km, but completely reasonable considering the route and load. Light, footed drivers will easily pull off mid, 5s. 

With a 40, liter tank, range comes in around 595 kilometers on real, world usage. That’s more than enough for several days of mixed driving or a proper weekend tour through the Black Forest without the stress of frequent refueling. 

Technical Specifications 

All technical information is obtained in real-time from Hyundai’s official sources to guarantee accuracy and reliability.

Conclusion: A Car That’s Modest, Capable, and Unafraid of Simplicity 

The Hyundai Bayon doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. It doesn’t try to outgun turbo diesels or whisper luxury like a premium badge. But that’s precisely why it works. In a landscape full of over, complication, it feels refreshing to drive something that keeps the priorities straight: ride comfort, efficiency, usability, and a quiet, unfussy drivability that suits daily life beautifully. 

Kaiserstuhl brought out its best side, narrow hill roads, sudden gradients, scenic stopovers, all handled with smooth predictability and compact confidence. It may not win awards for innovation or speed, but it will quietly become the backbone of someone’s driving life. And that, honestly, is far more impressive.