Introduction

The Baleno is a very interesting option for those looking to buy a large hatchback. Positioned to take on the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz, the new Maruti hatchback has the apt dimensions, features and performance to be a step up over the Swift.

Made completely in India with 99 per cent localisation, Maruti Suzuki is banking on the new Baleno to establish the premium Nexa brand. Such is their confidence in the product that the company has risked rekindling the badge which once served as the reality check in the premium segment.

Why I’d buy it

Firstly for the safety, even the base model comes with ABS-EBD and front airbags as standard. Plus, the same car will be exported to Europe and even Japan from India, where safety norms are much stricter. So, logically even the chassis is expected to offer better impact safety.

That said, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno is a very balanced package. There is lot of space in the car, both at the front and on the rear bench, also the boot is considerably large at 339 litres. The interior also looks and feels premium; the features list on the top-end model includes keyless entry with an engine button, touch-screen system with navigation, rear parking camera and sensor, climate control and retractable ORVMs.

The ride quality feels great; the car is comfortable both in cities and on the highways. Also the NVH levels are much better than anything we have ever experienced in the Maruti hatchbacks. However, the most important things that works in the favour of the Baleno is the price – variant to variant the Baleno is at least Rs 25,000 cheaper than its competitors; at top-end, the difference between the Honda and the Maruti cars is over Rs 50,000.

Why I’d avoid it

Maruti may be defending the performance of the Baleno stating the weight. The car is not just lighter than the competition, but also weighs close to 100 kilograms less than the Swift. Still, for the price that it commands, you expect the car to offer better performance, the 90bhp VGT turbo engine would have suited it better. The only other thing that I can think about is looks (though they are completely subjective). The top-end seems nice, but the versions without LED DRLs and projectors, are way too similar to the Swift for my liking.

My favourite version

Pick the one that fits your budget, all of them have the basic safety. The one below the top-end variant, the Zeta, makes most sense. It almost Rs 60,000 cheaper than the Alpha trim and misses out only on the music system, projector headlamps and reverse camera. All of these can be later updated at the Maruti Suzuki dealerships.

Quick facts

Price: Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 8.11 lakh

Engines: 1.2-litre VVT petrol 83bhp / 115Nm, 1.3-litre turbocharged diesel 74bhp/190Nm

Gearbox: Five-speed manual for both petrol and diesel, CVT automatic (petrol Delta trim)

Fuel Efficiency (ARAI): Petrol 21.4kmpl, Diesel 27.39kmpl