Maruti Baleno: A Trendy and Generously-Feature-Laden Hatchback for the Modern Day Commuter The Maruti Baleno has established itself as the top contender in the ever crowded premium hatchback segment in India.
The Baleno is popular for its combination of roomy interior, premium styling, frugal engine and feature rich cabin, which makes it an attractive proposition for a variety of car buyers – ranging from young urban professionals to small families.
And an updated model with all the makings to keep the momentum up still has hordes of fans and followers who want a car that simply looks good and offers practical value as a daily driver.
Now, let’s delve into its main highlights and the good and the bad of it, shall we?
All Modern and Urban Designed
Its slim design and aerodynamics make the Maruti Baleno a head turner on urban streets.
At the front, front grille of aggressive design, stylish LED projector headlamps and a very sculpted bumper clearly giving a premium feel.
Flowing lines, chrome touches, sharp looking alloy wheels (on higher models) add to the contemporary look.
Around the back, wraparound LED signature taillights help it feel modern.
Baleno is, overall, a smart, youthful design that will appeal to buyers who wish to wear their style without making a fuss about it.
Comfort is the Focus in a Roomy Cabin
Get in and the Baleno surprises with space and a well-laid out cabin. The dual-tone dashboard, soft-touch materials (on more expensive trims) and chrome touches deliver a premium quotient.
There’s good support in the seats, the cabin offers generous leg and headroom (the latter especially so in the back — a crucial advantage within the hatchback class).
Staying true to the fact, the cabin is loaded with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with both Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto, automatic climate control, a 360 degree camera, cruise control and rear AC vents (in top variants) and hence is tech heavy and comfortable.
Built-In Power And Efficiency
The Baleno is offered with a 1.2-litre DualJet petrol mill that makes 89 bhp and 113 Nm of torque. It is available with a 5-speed manual or AMT automatic transmission.
The tune of the engine is such that there’s no violent mid-range surge or dramatic top-end rush and it’s perfect for relaxed drives in the city as well as on the highways.
Fuel economy is one of its strong suits, with both mileage and range close to the top of its class. The suspension is set up for comfort and the ride is plush over most road surfaces.
Pros:
Sleek shape the good road presence and aerodynamics that make it look cool.
Spacious, comfortable cabin with practical features
Great fuel economy for a petol hatchback
Seamless and polished engine refinement
With Maruti’s extensive service network and low maintenance cost
Cons
No turbo-petrol or diesel on offer
AMT is not as fun as a CVT or torque converter unit
Some rivals provide more advanced safety tech on base models.
Maruti Baleno: Conclusion
The Maruti Baleno remains an all-rounder for hatchbacks in India.
It’s a really nice mix of style, space, tech, and efficiency, and it presents a nice value.
Although it could do with a more exciting engine choice and a less snooze-inducing auto, the Baleno is a good solid, practical, stylish daily drive that will suit most car buyers.