Maruti Baleno Review

Design

The conservative design with minimum sharp edges matches completely with Suzuki’s general style. Due to the large size its road presence is substantial. It is just 5mm short of 4-meter limit length which makes it the largest hatchback from Maruti. It is built on Suzuki’s lightweight platform which makes it lightest (890kg) premium hatchback.

The design gives some glimpse of highly successful Swift with similar rear headlamps. However, its V-shaped front grille gives it a unique look. Unlike i20, the car has no angular lines and everything looks very smooth be it bumper or sides. The top variants also get daytime LED daytime running lights.

Engine

Baleno petrol variant is powered by a 1.2l VVT 1197cc engine that crunches out a maximum torque of 84PS at 6000rpm and peak torque of 115Nm at 4000rpm. The heart of the diesel engine consists of a 190 DDiS 1248cc engine that produces peak power of 75PS at 4000rpm and maximum torque of 190Nm at 2000rpm. The power output of the car is less than its nearest competitor still proper engine tuning has given it matching performance that is close. The petrol variant could reach from 0-100kmph in just less than 13.5 seconds which is impressive. The diesel engine is not that competitive and might be bit rough while driving.

Power output at low revs is not very exciting but once the car picks up speed driving becomes fun and there is proper flow of torque at all speed above 1900rpm. Below that, a bit of turbo lag could be experienced. The car drives best between 2000 to 4000rpm. On highways, Baleno becomes a real cruiser and one of the best in its segment. However, on city rides to get the power one has to go between 2nd and 3rd gear which could be tiresome at times. Smooth gearbox and light clutch do try to minimize this issue. This issue is not there in CVT variant and has enough power at low revs too keeping the mileage intact. Buy it only most of your driving happens on city roads. It might not be best to drive on highways as the engine feels strained at high speed when pushed for a long duration of time.

Cabin

All black themes for the dashboard lack style as others like Figo and i20. The plastics used are not of high quality and seat fabrics too are ok and do not matches with the cost of the car. The switches, steering wheels do not give a premium feel either. Style and type of materials used inside the cabin are no match for its rivals and is a big letdown.

However, when it comes to space you have enough of it. Rear seats have great legroom, good headroom, and spacious enough for 3 to sit comfortably. What is not good is its flat seats which might make sitting on rear seat difficult in long drives. The front seats are however comfortable and supportive. V-shaped center console with vertical air conditioning vents and 7.0-inch touch screen in the center gives it a premium touch and is a breather for the dashboard. It is similar to the one used in S-Cross. The touch screen houses function for GPS, Bluetooth, phone control, audio player, and reverse camera display. Apple’s CarPlay is a new addition that could run some of the iPhone apps.

It could be used by connecting the iPhone via USB cable. Speedometer and rev counter is easy to read but torque and power gauge between them is what take away the prize. Air conditioning is good but there are not AC vents for backseat passengers.

Ride and Handling

The low kerb weight (890 kg) does not mean that car is not grounded on bad roads. While driving it feels more like a big car that is stable on any type of road. The big wheelbase and well-balanced suspension add to this stability. McPherson struts in front and torsion beam at the back are well integrated into the frame which takes up bumps and potholes with ease which gives a very smooth and comfortable ride to the car.

Verdict

No doubt, Baleno is the best hatchback launched bu Maruti to date but that might not be enough. i20 and Figo Aspire both are doing well with a big fan following. Other than cabin space, it is not able to match with the already established premium hatchbacks in the market. Instruments, dashboard, seats, looks, design looks good but lacks punch.

2020 Specifications and Prices

Engine
Type: 1.2 litre, 4 cylinder K12
Displacement: 1197cc
Valvetrain: 4 valves/cylinder
Camshaft: DOHC
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Power: 84.3PS at 6000rpm
Torque: 115Nm at 4000rpm

Performance
0-60kmph: 5.49s
0-100kmph: 13.52s
Top Speed: 177kmph

Mileage
Overall: 21.4kmpl(claimed)

Under the Hood
Suspension(F): MacPherson Strut
Suspension(R): Torsion beam
Brake(F): Disc
Brake(R): Drum
Tyre size: 185/65 R15
Rim Size: 195/55 R16
Type Type: Tubeless

Dimensions
Length x Width x Height(mm): 3995 x 1745 x 1500
Wheelbase: 2520mm
Ground clearance: 170mm
Boot Space: 339l
Kerb Weight: 890kg
Min. turning radius: 4.9m