HYUNDAI has given its Bayon crossover SUV a facelift and the new model comes with changes inside and out.

LED headlights and a light bar stretching across the front of the car as well as a new mesh grille design give it a contemporary look.

There's also a new finish to the interior which includes ‘big car' features such as multi-coloured ambient lighting - available in some 64 colours.

We have just been trying out the new Bayon in mid-range Premium trim and priced from £23,880.

That's a competitive figure in the current market and the Bayon is delightfully refreshing among the current trend for hybrids.

It is powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that develops 100ps and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. There's also a proper handbrake - not an electric swith as has become the vogue.

Call it old fashioned but it's a car that proves you don't need a gamut of electronic systems to achieve a decent Euro NCAP score with the Bayon being given a four star rating.

Of course the Bayon has enough technology onboard and that includes lane follow assist, lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance assist for car, pedestrians and cycles, Hyundai's second-generation eCall, intelligent speed limit assist, a rear view camera and parking sensors with additional front parking sensors.

There is sat nav, climate control, a 10.25-inch display screen as well as heated front seats and steering wheel.

All in all there is not a lot missing for a car that costs less than £24,000.

On the practical side, it has enough SUV-style attributes to make the Bayon very suitable for small families with a boot that runs from 411 to 1,207 litres - a good size for a vehicle that measures 4.18 metres in length.

The Bayon performs in adequate fashion with a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of 11.3 seconds and a top speed of 111mph. Fuel economy is rated at 51.4mpg officially and we managed to average more than 49 to the gallon over several hundred miles of driving. Emissions for the Pemium model are 125g/km.

Since it first arrived in the UK in 2019 the Bayon has become a popular addition to Hyundai's SUV portfolio sitting below the Kona in the line up.

Styled more in the vein of a hatchback than an SUV, the makeover can only strengthen its position in the crossover market.