• Similar to the Hyundai i20 inside
• Hard plastics in obvious places
• But it’s been nailed together well

How is the quality and layout?

The layout’s great. We love the simple push-button climate controls and the physical switches for items like lane assist and the heated seats. It’s far more approachable than the new MINI Aceman’s entirely touchscreen-led cabin.

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However, the Hyundai feels quite low rent. The funky shapes and snazzy mood lighting look great, but that illusion crumbles the second you poke any of the trims. They feel flimsier and cheaper than the Skoda Kamiq’s, even if they have been screwed together with care. Look at the price. Now ask yourself if you could live with it.

Infotainment and tech

When the Bayon was launched, the cheapest models were fitted with 8.0-inch touchscreen – but now, every car gets the same 10.25-inch unit. The extra space on the screen makes it much easier to read navigation instructions, especially when using Waze.

We also like that the system is mounted high up on the dashboard, as it means you don’t need to divert your attention too far away from the road to interact with the screen. And, if you’d rather not pair your phone to the car, you don’t sacrifice too much convenience as Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services can give you live traffic info and details about items in your calendar once you’ve linked your Google or Apple account to it.

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We’re a bit disappointed you can’t have the Bayon with wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This isn’t such an issue on the two cheaper trims, but the top-spec Ultimate model has a wireless charging pad – and not having wireless phone mirroring here seems like a massive oversight. If you’re shopping for a top-spec Bayon, consider getting a wireless Android Auto adapter at the same time. You’ll love the added convenience.

Comfort

• Reasonable space inside for four
• Poor driving position if you’re tall
• Rivals offer greater comfort levels

The Bayon’s plastics might be a little disappointing, but its seats are agreeable enough. They’re wide and accommodating, which is great if you like to lounge your way to the office but challenging if you prefer to take the twisty roads, as you’ll fall out of them.

We’d have liked some lumbar support, too. The backrests are almost completely flat. Still, the seat bases are supportive, and the fabric upholstery is hard-wearing. So, the Bayon’s interior should stay looking fresh well into its old age.

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The driving position isn’t fantastic if you’re tall, though, chiefly because the steering wheel doesn’t telescope out of the dashboard far enough. So, you’ll need to get used to either scrunching your legs under the dashboard or overstretching for the wheel.

Its engine is also quite noisy – and the noise becomes much more noticeable the harder you work it. That problem is compounded by the engine’s lack of grunt, as you need to spin it quite quickly to overtake or join motorways. It is quite characterful, but you’ll surely grow tired of the racket on a long journey.