Hyundai launched the Bayon recently with prices ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom), as another midsize SUV positioned alongside the Creta. Like other Hyundai offerings, it is decently loaded with features, but it still misses out on six things compared to rivals.
1. Powered co-driver’s seat and boss mode
The Hyundai Bayon is offered with an 8-way powered driver’s seat, but the co-driver’s seat is only manually adjustable. In contrast, rivals like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Renault Duster, Nissan Tekton, Honda Elevate, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq offer this convenience feature. The Creta improves the functionality of the powered co-driver seat by offering a boss mode, which helps rear-seat passengers slide and tilt the front passenger seat for more legroom and knee room. Interestingly, the Sierra gets a manually adjustable co-driver’s seat like the Bayon, but offers manual boss mode, which the Bayon misses out on.
2. Powered tailgate
At 505 litres, the Bayon gets the largest boot in the segment. However, the boot door is manually operable only, unlike rivals like Maruti Victoris, Tata Sierra, Renault Duster and Nissan Tekton, which get a powered tailgate. Such a feature on the Bayon would definitely have made the large boot easier to access, adding to the SUV’s practicality.
3. Dual-zone climate control
The Bayon offers automatic climate control, although only from the mid-spec trims. A major miss, however, is dual-zone climate control, which has become very common in the segment. In fact, Hyundai’s own Creta and the relatively newer Seltos offer such a feature, even with variants priced under Rs 16 lakh. Rivals like the Tata Sierra, Renault Duster, and Nissan Tekton are other midsize SUVs offering dual-zone climate control.
4. Rear sunshades
Rear sunshades, although niche in the segment, elevate the comfort of rear-seat passengers, especially in the hot and humid Indian climate. This feature is not available on the Bayon, but rivals like the Creta, Seltos and Sierra offer it.
5. Wireless phone charger for rear seat passengers
The Hyundai Bayon offers a wireless phone charger from the mid-spec HX5 trim. However, Hyundai has been offering the Creta with an additional wireless phone charger for rear-seat passengers, which is placed near the rear AC vents. The Bayon makes do with a Type-C port and a 12V socket for the rear-seat passengers.
6. Head-up display (HUD)
A head-up display facilitates a safer drive by projecting important driving information onto the driver’s line of sight. Such a feature is offered on the Seltos, Sierra, Victoris, Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder, but is missing on the Bayon.
