Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki Baleno is a premium hatchback and one of the highest-selling models in the passenger vehicle industry. Since making its debut in 2015, it has received two major updates, the latest one in 2022. Maruti sells the Baleno through its Nexa chain of dealerships.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno engine specs

Maruti Baleno is offered with a single 1.2-litre K-series naturally aspirated petrol engine which can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. The same motor can also be had in a CNG guise with a detuned output and a manual transmission only.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno mileage

Following is the claimed mileage on offer for Maruti Baleno:

• 1.2-litre MT: 22.35 kmpl

• 1.2-litre AMT: 22.94 kmpl

• 1.2-litre MT CNG: 30.61 km/kg

Maruti Suzuki Baleno features

Maruti offers plenty of useful features on Baleno including a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+, touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an Arkamys-tuned sound system with four speakers and two tweeters, a heads-up display, automatic LED projector headlamps, cruise control, automatic climate control, push-button start/stop, and keyless entry.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno safety

Safety equipment on board Maruti Baleno consists of features such as up to six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program (ESP), hill-hold assist, 3-point seatbelts for all passengers, ISOFIX anchorages, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno colour options

Maruti offers seven monotone colour options for the Baleno: Nexa Blue, Arctic White, Grandeur Grey, Splendid Silver, Opulent Red, Luxe Beige, and Pearl Midnight Black.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno pricing

Price for the base model of Maruti Baleno starts at Rs. 6.66 lakh and the top model price goes up to Rs 9.83 lakh (both ex-showroom). Baleno is offered in 9 variants - the base variant is Sigma and the top variant is Alpha AMT. Prices for all 9 variants of Baleno are listed below.

 

Maruti Suzuki Baleno Review

What is the Baleno?

Call it the flagbearer of premium hatchbacks in India. First launched in October 2015, the Baleno crossed the 10-lakh sales milestone in November 2021—it took 72 months, at about 14,000 cars sold per month (more than what many carmakers sell all their models put together). The all-new Baleno is a massive improvement over that first-generation car of 2015.

What defines its design?

Possibly Maruti Suzuki didn’t want to fiddle much with the design language, and that’s why exterior differences are subtle. From the front and rear it does look different, but the side profile is similar to the previous model.The cabin, however, has been revamped. Top-end variants get all the features on the dashboard that some newer SUVs had started to offer, and then some more.

So there is a 9-inch smart touchscreen, 360-degree view camera, Suzuki Connect (connectivity technology), tilt and telescopic steering, and more by way of the head-up display (a small glass pops out between the steering wheel and front glass, and it show speed, RPM, fuel economy etc to the driver without her having to take eyes off the road).

Which engines power it?

It’s the same 1197cc petrol engine, but it has been made more refined, appears more powerful, and definitely delivers more fuel economy. Maruti Suzuki claims it delivers up to 15% more fuel economy than the previous model (22.35 km/litre for manual transmission and 22.94 km/litre for AGS).

How does it drive?

Manual: The manual transmission model is a delight to drive—it possibly is the best driver’s car under Rs 10 lakh range (in addition to Maruti Suzuki Swift). Acceleration from any speed to any speed (in the right gear) is almost-intense, and braking inspires confidence. I once had to do emergency braking and the car didn’t lose its line by even an inch.

AGS: Short for Auto Gear Shift, AGS is the automated manual transmission (AMT) technology. It works like a fully automatic gearbox, and yet is different. The previous model had the continuously variable transmission (CVT) gearbox. The AGS is slow—while driving on highways (if you fully accelerate) it takes a sweet half a second to shift gears. To some, it can be annoying.

Driving in regular city traffic, however, you don’t feel it changing gears.AGS has two advantages over CVT: One, it leads to better fuel economy, and two, it is just Rs 50,000 more expensive than manual, as compared to CVT that was about a lakh rupee dearer.In the Baleno, the steering feedback—mechanical signals that the front tyres send to the steering wheel—is accurate and you get to feel most bumps and dips on the road via the steering wheel. This leads to safer driving.

Is it better than compact SUVs?

The Baleno is definitely a better buy than most compact SUVs (because it’s cheaper: from Rs 6.35-9.49 lakh). It rides marginally better—unlike SUVs, the Baleno appears to have a lower centre of gravity, and that means there is minimal body roll on sharp turns. Also, while compact SUVs have more cabin volume (because the headroom is more), in terms of legroom and overall sitting space, the Baleno offers better space.