New Hyundai Bayon arrives with Robocop styling and £22,480 starting price

• Small tweaks to the exterior
• More standard interior tech
• Prices start from £22,480

The Hyundai Bayon has been facelifted for 2024 and prices start from just £22,480. While that’s around £1,000 more than the outgoing car, the Bayon remains one of the most affordable small SUVs on the market, undercutting the likes of the Volkswagen T-Cross and Toyota Yaris Cross.

The fresh styling tweaks help to establish a stronger visual connection to the Bayon’s bigger siblings, such as the Hyundai Kona, and complement a revised equipment list that sees entry-level models get even more standard kit. With more small SUVs on the market than ever before, Hyundai hopes to further differentiate the Bayon from its rivals with unique styling, respectable boot space and that competitive starting price.

What’s new for the facelifted Hyundai Bayon?

The changes to the facelifted Bayon are fairly minor, but the first thing you’ll notice is the Hyundai Bayon’s new exterior. A full-width lightbar now spans across the front, providing a similarly futuristic look to that of the bigger Hyundai Kona. The lightbar sits above a new bumper and grille arrangement, trading the curves of the outgoing model for straight lines and sharp angles. Not much has changed at the rear, other than a slightly different lower bumper, now body-coloured rather than black plastic.

Other things to note on the outside are new 16 and 17-inch wheel designs, and four new paint colours: Lumen Grey Pearl, Meta Blue Pearl, Lucid Lime Metallic and Vibrant Blue Pearl. 

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The interior has remained unchanged and is essentially a carryover from the i20 supermini. The pair of 10.25-inch infotainment and driver’s displays are now fitted as standard across all models, complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s still a comprehensive list of driver assistance and safety features.

What engines are available for the Hyundai Bayon?

There’s still only one engine available in the Hyundai Bayon, carried over from the outgoing model. It’s a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit with mild hybrid assistance, available in 99bhp or 118bhp guises. As standard, both variants come with a six-speed manual gearbox, but pay extra and you can have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic fitted instead. The manual gearbox uses Hyundai’s ‘intelligent’ iMT eClutch, a system that allows the engine to switch off while coasting, saving fuel.

How much does it cost and when can I order one?

Hyundai has confirmed that the new Bayon will cost from £22,480 in entry-level Advance specification – around £1,000 more than the outgoing car. Even this model gets a fair amount of standard kit, including automatic LED headlights, a rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, along with the aforementioned 10.25-inch infotainment display. 

Middle-tier Premium spec ups the price to £23,880, but adds automatic climate control, automatic wipers, front parking sensors and heated front seats and steering wheel. For all the bells and whistles, including wireless smartphone charging, an electric sunroof and an upgraded sound system, you’ll want the Bayon Ultimate, which costs from £25,280.

Swapping the standard-fit six-speed manual gearbox for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic adds another £1,250 to the price tag for all models.

UK customers can place an order now, with the first examples expected to be delivered later this year.

Make sure to read our list of the best small SUVs to find out what the new Hyundai Bayon will be up against when it goes on sale.