Hyundai's Bayon-based SUV Targets Victoris With NA Petrol and Underbody CNG
Hyundai's upcoming Bayon-based midsize SUV will launch in India with a naturally aspirated petrol engine, followed shortly by a CNG version with an underbody-mounted tank. Autocar India reports there will be no diesel or hybrid option, with the model positioned below the Creta to take on the Maruti Victoris directly.
What was announced
Hyundai is preparing a new midsize SUV based on the global Bayon, and Autocar India reports it will launch in India with a naturally aspirated petrol engine, followed by a factory-fitted CNG variant. Diesel and hybrid powertrains have been ruled out. The model will sit below the Creta in Hyundai's Indian lineup, giving the brand two entries in the midsize SUV segment.
The Bayon-based SUV will be the first Hyundai over four metres with a CNG option, and the only one in its segment with an underbody tank plus a spare wheel.
The petrol unit is expected to be the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine currently offered on the Creta, paired with a five-speed manual and a CVT automatic. The CNG version will use the same engine with a factory-integrated system. Crucially, the CNG tank will be mounted under the floor, freeing up the boot and, per the report, allowing Hyundai to retain a full-size spare wheel. This would make it the first Hyundai over four metres in length to be offered with CNG, extending the fuel option beyond the current Exter, Grand i10 Nios and Aura.
The direct target is the Maruti Victoris, currently the only midsize SUV with an underbody CNG kit. However, the Victoris CNG does not offer a spare wheel, a packaging compromise Hyundai appears to have solved. Pricing has not been indicated, but positioning below the Creta suggests an ex-showroom range starting below Rs 11 lakh, with the CNG variant carrying the usual 90,000 rupee to 1 lakh premium over petrol. A launch timeline has not been confirmed by Hyundai India.
The Car Jury verdict
Hyundai is being unusually clear-eyed here. The Creta is already stretched thin trying to be everything to everyone, and slotting a cheaper, CNG-friendly SUV below it is the right call for a market where fuel bills decide showroom visits. Team-BHP has previously flagged how Hyundai layers its SUV lineup below the Venue using shared platforms, and the same logic scales up nicely to this Bayon-based car.
The underbody CNG tank with a retained spare wheel is the actual news. Maruti's Victoris offers the underbody kit but skips the spare, and that single decision will swing buyers who do highway runs on CNG. If pricing lands 1.5 to 2 lakh below the Creta, this becomes the sharper buy in Hyundai's own showroom. Wait for the launch price before signing anything on a Creta.
