Bringing home the Bayon

Hyundai’s smallest SUV yet has the necessary tools to succeed, but first it has to prove itself against tough rivals from Citroën and Ford

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NEW

Citroën C3 Aircross

Puretech 110 Shine Plus

List price £21,500 Target Price £18,839

Even in range-topping form, Citroën’s recently refreshed small SUV costs less to buy than its rivals here. Can it compete in other areas too?

NEW

Hyundai Bayon 1.0 T-GDi Mild Hybrid 120 Premium

List price £23,245 Target Price £22,179 Based on the i20 small hatchback, the Bayon is an all-new contender in this class and comes with mild-hybrid power. We’re testing the most powerful model in mid-range trim

Ford Puma 1.0

Ecoboost Hybrid 155 ST-Line

List price £23,745 Target Price £22,277 Our current favourite small SUV is going to be difficult to beat; it’s fun to drive and packs the biggest punch of this trio

IT’S FUNNY HOW minor things have a big impact on desirability. Let’s face it: small SUVs are really just small hatchbacks with jacked-up suspension and a few trinkets loosely inspired by what you’d find on a proper 4x4. And yet somehow they’re in a completely different fashion league than their more conventional-looking compatriots.

The Ford Puma – our 2020 Car of the Year – is a case in point. It has sold like hot cakes since its launch, even throughout a certain worldwide pandemic; Ford can’t build enough of them. But could the Puma’s reign at the top of the class be in jeopardy?