Hyundai Bayon Launched At Rs 10 Lakh! A Cup Of Vanilla, Yet With Choco Chips And Sprinkles

At the peak of the Indian festive season and with Diwali coming close, Hyundai launches a new compact SUV called the Bayon at Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards. The Bayon sits above the Venue and below the Creta in Hyundai’s SUV lineup. 

Given the rising demand and competition of SUVs in the segment, Hyundai has decided to take a leaf out of Maruti’s book by launching a second SUV in the same segment. 

Let’s explore what the all-new Bayon is:

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ZigWheels (@zigwheels)

Price

All prices are ex-showroom.

Exterior

The Bayon is among the unique SUVs in the class. Having a crossover shape, it provides the practicality of an SUV without the big look or shape of one. It will connect with those looking for a sportier SUV and something different among the big, boxy shapes which are getting increasingly common nowadays.

The Bayon up front carries the split headlamp setup with the L-shaped DRLs on top of the fascia and the LED headlamps on the upper half of the bumper. The design theme is more horizontal, which makes the Bayon look wider than it is. The faux-silver skid plate at the bottom neatly finishes the Bayon’s look. 

Over to the side, the Bayon’s unique design features here. Most SUVs in the class have boxy shapes, while this has a more approachable and grown-up hatchback-like design. However, exaggerated rear wheel arches and thick cladding give the Bayon some SUV credentials. Meanwhile, the large 17-inch dual-tone wheels, roof rails and the shark fin antenna help give the Bayon its premium appeal. 

The rear end of the Bayon also has a distinct design, making it recognisable even from a distance. The LED tail lamps are shaped similarly to the DRLs on the front, with the brake lamps mounted lower down. What is also unique is the square shape of the high-mounted stop lamp, which has a nice frosted look.

The Bayon is available in a total of 10 colour options: Fiery Red, Atlas White, Ecotronic Grey, Golden Bronze, Titanium Black and Classy Blue. There are two matte-finish colours, which include Titanium Black and Classy Blue. Meanwhile, dual-tone colours include the Fiery Red with Titanium Black Roof and Atlas White with Titanium Black Roof.

Interior

Step inside and the Bayon feels spacious and airy. The dual-tone dashboard (in single-tone colour variants) has a vertical design feel thanks to the rectangular AC vents, which are placed in a portrait orientation. Meanwhile, the matte and dual-tone colours pair with an all-black interior with red accents.

The more you look, the more you feel that Hyundai has taken a practical approach to the Bayon’s cabin. Despite having a curved dual-screen setup, it also has a healthy amount of physical buttons for the infotainment and the climate control.

The seats have a more upright stance, which will feel practical also for the elders in the family. The rear windows sweep upwards unlike in many cars and can make the window feel a touch on the smaller side. However, overall space and practicality seem generous. For perspective, the Creta’s wheelbase is 2610 mm while the Bayon’s is a touch shorter at 2600 mm. This should make the Bayon’s backseat space similar to the Creta’s.

Features And Safety

The Bayon, carrying the Hyundai badge, expectedly comes with a healthy load of features, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also gets a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display.

This comes with an 8-speaker Bose sound system, a wireless charger, connected car technology, automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof, generative AI, and adaptive cruise control. 

The safety list includes ABS with EBD, 6 airbags, Level-2 ADAS, front and rear parking sensors, integrated dashcam, a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring system, a blind view monitor, an electronic parking brake with auto hill-hold, and all-four disc brakes. 

Powertrain

The Bayon comes with one engine option, which includes the familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with a 6-speed manual and a CVT automatic transmission option.

MT- Manual Transmission, CVT- Continuously Variable Transmission (automatic)

The familiar engine has done duty in multiple Hyundai family cars and has proved its mettle for adequate power and reliability. The engine is among the most refined in the segment, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 18.6 kmpl for the CVT transmission. It also complements the CVT automatic gearbox well with reasonably good throttle response, making city and highway driving effortless. 

Meanwhile, Hyundai has cofirmed the arrival of the CNG powertrains for the Bayon which are set to arrive by January 2027.

Rivals

The Bayon goes against a slew of SUVs in the segment. They include the  Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate,  Renault Duster, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Maruti Victoris,  Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Nissan Tekton, Tata Sierra, Tata Curvv, Citroen Aircross X, and the MG Astor.

ZigSays…

The Bayon is Hyundai playing it smart rather than safe. Instead of building a slightly smaller Creta with the same boxy silhouette, it has made something that feels lighter on its feet and more urban, a genuine point of difference in a segment where most rivals look interchangeable. Buyers who find the Creta or Seltos too bulky for daily city use finally have a Hyundai that speaks to them. The tech-first pitch should resonate with younger buyers too, as long as features like the AI assistant prove useful in Indian conditions rather than ending up as showroom talking points.

Where Hyundai has played it too safe is under the hood. The 1.5-litre petrol is dependable, but it’s an odd fit for a car that looks this sporty. With no turbo-petrol for keen drivers and no hybrid or CNG for mileage-focused buyers, the Bayon misses two big camps in this segment. 

That makes pricing everything: positioned close to the top-end Venue, it’s one of the easiest recommendations around; creep into Creta territory, and buyers will rightly ask why they shouldn’t spend a little more for more choice. On paper, the Bayon has the right ideas, and the price list will decide whether it’s a smart buy or just a stylish one.

Would you pick the Bayon over the Creta, or is the missing turbo-petrol a dealbreaker for you? Let us know in the comments below.