Hyundai Bayon to Rival Maruti Fronx – What Looks Better on Paper?

The speculations are rife about the Korean carmaker prepping a Maruti Fronx rival for our market

In this post, we are comparing the Maruti Fronx with the upcoming Hyundai Bayon on the basis of the information available to us at the moment. Note that many reputed media houses are speculating that Hyundai is planning to bring its global model to our shores. The compact SUV segment is already among the most crowded spaces in India. The Maruti Fronx is already the second vehicle from the largest car marque in the country in this segment after the Brezza. Kia also offers two models in this space – Sonet and Syros. It looks like Hyundai will soon join that list by offering the Venue and Bayon.

Hyundai Bayon vs Maruti Fronx – Specs

What is quite interesting to note is the fact that Hyundai could finally introduce its made-in-India 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine with the Bayon. It will be hybrid-ready, which is in line with Hyundai’s future electrification plans. As expected, it will be more powerful than the 1.0-litre turbo mill available in the i20 and Venue but less powerful than the 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine on offer with the Creta, Verna and Alcazar. This will put it in the sweet spot between these two segments. Also, one will get the opportunity to select between manual and automatic transmissions. More details regarding the exact powertrains and power and torque figures will surface in the coming months.

On the other hand, even the Maruti Fronx comes with all sorts of powertrain options to cater to the needs of varied customers. These include a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol mill and the former engine with the choice of CNG. The power and torque outputs stand at 90 PS / 113 Nm, 100 PS / 147 Nm and 78 PS / 99 Nm, respectively. With the NA petrol, there are options of a 5-speed manual or an AMT, while the turbo petrol mill can be paired with a 5-speed manual and an automatic transmission, and the CNG variant is available with a sole 5-speed manual transmission. Maruti claims great mileage figures of 21.79 kmpl with the petrol manual and 28.51 km/kg for the CNG. Hence, there isn’t much to compare between the two cars in this regard.

Hyundai Bayon vs Maruti Fronx – Interior, Features and Safety

Let us now move on to the inside of the two cars. The international version of the Hyundai Bayon comes with all the latest tech, safety and convenience amenities to pamper the occupants. That is true with just about every car model the Korean auto giant sells, even in India. In fact, Hyundai cars often bear the tag of being among the most well-equipped products in their respective segments. The global model of the Bayon comes with:

• 10.25-inch Touchscreen Infotainment Display
• 10.25-inch Driver’s Instrument Cluster
• ADAS
• Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates
• Four-spoke Steering Wheel
• Wireless Charging
• Connected Car Tech
• Automatic HVAC
• Ambient Lighting
• USB Type-C Charging Ports
• 8-speaker Premium Bose Sound System

On the other hand, the Maruti Fronx comes with a variety of new-age functionalities, including:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 9-inch Touchscreen Infotainment Display with SmartPlay Pro
• Onboard Voice Assistant with “Hi Suzuki” Command
• Over-the-Air (OTA) Update
• USB and Bluetooth Connectivity
• 6-speaker ARKAMYS Surround Sense Audio System
• Tilt Adjustment for Steering Wheel
• Electrically Foldable ORVMs
• Keyless Entry
• Wireless Charger
• Cruise Control
• Paddle Shifters
• Steering-Mounted Controls
• 60:40 Split Rear Seats
• Height Adjustable Driver Seat
• Front and Rear Adjustable Headrest
• Automatic Climate Control
• LED Multi-Reflector Headlamp
• 6 Airbags
• Electronic Stability Program
• Hill Hold Assist
• Reverse Parking Sensors
• All 3-Point ELR Seat Belts
• ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts
• Manual IRVM (Day/Night)
• Head-Up Display
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
• Hill Hold Assist

Design Comparison

The Hyundai Bayon embodies the latest design philosophy from the Korean auto giant. At the front, it gets a connected LED light bar on the edge of the bonnet with the new 2D Hyundai logo in the centre. Down below, it gets a massive grille with a glossy black finish, while the main LED headlamp clusters are positioned on the extreme edges. Finally, we see a silver skid plate section to mark an imposing road presence. On the sides, it gets elegant dual-tone alloy wheels, a rising shoulder line, black side pillars, faux roof rails and relatively creaseless side body panels. Finally, the tail end contains vertically mounted LED taillamps connected via a thick LED light bar, a roof-mounted spoiler, a shark fin antenna, and a sporty bumper with a rugged element towards the lower end. Overall, it is a modern-looking product with a distinct appearance.

On the other hand, the Maruti Fronx uses the Baleno’s platform but comes with a proper crossover look. It follows Maruti Suzuki’s latest design theme with slim LED DRLs on the bonnet linked by a chrome strip above a large grille. The main headlamps sit low on the bumper, which also gets a clear skid plate. From the side, it shows chunky wheel arches with black cladding, body skirting, smart alloys and faux roof rails. The rear looks striking as well with a shark-fin antenna, connected LED tail-lamps, a sporty bumper and a bold skid plate. In the end, styling is subjective, and different buyers will favour different designs.

My View

Since we know that the official announcement regarding the Hyundai Bayon is not out yet, it is a bit difficult to comment on which one is better. Hence, I will update this section once the vehicle is officially launched and we get to know about the exact specifications, features, design, dimensions, safety and pricing.

Also Read: New Kia Syros vs Maruti Fronx – Which One To Buy?