First Drive: Is Maruti Suzuki Baleno Facelift a Game Changer?
The rear stays identical to the pre-facelift model, with the same dual-tone alloys and the taillamp design also remains unchanged.
Maruti Suzuki, India’s biggest car maker, has introduced an upgraded version of its popular Baleno with a new face, new features and, most significantly, a new heart, an engine to keep it fresh and relevant.
Maruti’s popular premium hatchback with special festive prices starting at Rs 6.10 lakh is targeted at young customers and aspirational buyers with enhanced technology and claimed improved fuel efficiency.
We took it for a spin to test what it promises.
The Exterior
The Baleno hatchback gets the grille much larger than before, sporting three horizontal chrome slats and gloss-black detailing, with a radar module in the center for the new ADAS tech. Along with the grille, the lower bumper and fog lamp housings have been redesigned. The new bumper features a gloss-black trim which links the new LED fog lamps, and the Suzuki logo has now been moved above the grille. The clamshell bonnet with the two-character lines and the LED headlamps with the three-block DRL signature are carried over unchanged.
The Interiors
As you enter the car, you notice that not much has changed on the inside as well, and the cabin just gets a few feature additions. It gets the same layered, V-shaped dashboard, flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel and dual-tone black-and-blue color scheme. However, the steering now features buttons on the right side for adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, and there are more buttons on the right of the steering too, near the start/stop button to turn off certain ADAS features. While the seats still feature fabric upholstery, the outer edges are now finished in leatherette, which gets the premium feel.
Undoubtedly, the cabin has got good-quality materials, particularly the soft-touch leather-wrapped steering and the padded elbow rests on the door cards. The carmaker has also provided big door pockets, a decent-sized glove box and storage in the center console, along with big cup holders and a small bin under the center armrest. The front seats are comfortable, supportive and offer nice cushioning. The rear also provides excellent space that even tall passengers will not find any shortage of headroom or legroom. Rear passengers also get dedicated AC vents and USB charging ports. As for boot space, it’s a sizable 318 litres, though the loading lip is quite high. The car has got enough boot space at 318 liters and retains a spare tyre under its boot floor for any emergency.
The Drive Experience
The new Baleno has replaced the 1.2-litre four-cylinder K-series engine with the 1.2-litre three-cylinder Z-series petrol engine seen in the Swift. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and puts out 82 BHP and 112.4 Nm. These numbers are lower compared with the outgoing Baleno (4-cylinder, 89 BHP & 113 Nm) and as a result the Baleno Facelift is not as quick. Maruti claims that the 1,197 cc Z12E unit delivers improved low-end torque. It is equipped with an electric water pump for better engine cooling and a Lambda air-flow sensor for up to 12 per cent lower CO2 emissions and higher fuel efficiency.
As you drive, power builds in a smooth, linear manner, and it moves off the line cleanly. Even though part-throttle responses are good, it does not feel as peppy as the older K-series engine or as strong at the top of the rev range. However, for a daily city run around, this engine is great. The new Baleno facelift is equipped with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT automatic and a factory-fitted CNG option is also available.
It is a smooth car driving around at city speeds. The engine is smooth and it does not struggle at low revs, and the car can keep up with the traffic without the driver having to shift down too often. On the highway, the Baleno is in no way fast, but can be termed brisk. Enthusiastic drivers will not be very impressed by the performance but it is not slow either, and of course with proper use of gears, good speed can be achieved.
It is to be noted that the switch from a 4-cylinder to a 3-cylinder engine has bumped up the fuel efficiency. The 3-cylinder petrol engine has an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 23.80 km/l for the MT (+ 1.45 km/l) and 24.77 km/l for the AMT (+ 1.83 km/l). The factory-fitted CNG has a fuel efficiency of 33.61 km/kg (+ 3 km/kg).
Maruti has equipped the Baleno with an idling start/stop function to improve fuel efficiency. This feature worked very well on our test drive. It can be turned off by pressing a button on the driver's right side. The car is equipped with Level 2 ADAS. It has features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure prevention, emergency braking, and high beam assist.
Should I Buy One?
Priced from Rs 6.10 lakh onward, the Maruti Baleno facelift offers a 3 year/1,00,000km standard warranty and competes with other premium hatchbacks such as the Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz, both priced from Rs 6 lakh upward. With a refined engine, ride comfort, safety features, along with the promise of greater fuel efficiency due to the new engine, the Baleno is likely to remain at the top spot of the premium hatchback chain in India.