The journey from zero to a million units (10,00,000 units) in the Indian market has taken the Maruti Suzuki Baleno just 72 months, or, just six years. It had zipped past the 9,00,000 mark this April and the last 2,50,000 units (2,53,358 units from May 2020 to October 2021) have been recorded in just 18 months – and in petrol-only guise.
- Baleno was sold exclusively in Maruti’s Nexa showroom
- Sold over half a million units in 44 months
- Comes with petrol and mild-hybrid petrol in BS6 guise
The premium hatchback, sold exclusively from the carmaker’s Nexa showrooms, was launched in October 2015. It has clocked cumulative sales of 10,02,082 units till October – 8,98,216 in petrol guise and 1,03,866 diesel. Having exited the diesel engine market in March 2020, the Baleno, like all Marutis, only offers petrol engines. With sales like this, the Baleno is a regular in the Top 10 Passenger Vehicle sales chart.
En route to the million-units milestone, the Baleno has consistently set new benchmarks: It was the fastest premium hatchback in India to reach the 6,00,000-unit milestone – in 44 months. It zipped past the 7,00,000-mark in 51 months, 8,00,000-unit landmark 10 months later, and the 9,00,000-mark in the 66th month.
Ace of space in a premium package
The Baleno is Maruti Suzuki’s largest hatchback and available with a choice of petrol and mild-hybrid petrol engines. A five-speed manual gearbox comes as standard fitment, though a CVT automatic gearbox is available too. In addition to an exterior and equipment upgrade in January 2019, the Maruti Baleno was also among the first, in the company’s line-up, to switch its 1.2-litre petrol powertrain to meet BS VI standards – much earlier than the April 2020 deadline.
This spacious and feature-rich premium hatchback competes with the Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo, Tata Altroz, and more recently, the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.
When the Baleno was introduced, it captivated hatchback buyers with its snazzy looks and technologically advanced features, such as the new 7-inch SmartPlay infotainment system, TFT multi-information display and a CVT gearbox. Furthermore, enhanced comfort levels, good fuel economy and driving pleasure helped clinch the deal with many customers.
A match-winner for Maruti
The Baleno is a match-winner for Maruti Suzuki, racing ahead of the premium hatchback competition and being the bestselling Nexa model. Of the 1.4 million Nexa cars sold over six years (till July), the Baleno commands a 65 percent share.
The Baleno has registered year-on-year growth every year – except the last two financial years (FY2020 and FY2021). FY2020 (2019-2020), with its prolonged depressed market conditions, impacted sales and brought it down to 1,80,413 units, down 15 percent YoY. And in the Covid-impacted FY2021 (2020-2021), it sold 1,63,445 units, down 9 percent YoY. But, what is admirable is that these numbers have been achieved in a very difficult market environment without a diesel option.
As per our sister publication Autocar Professional’s sales and data analytics, the Baleno has averaged monthly sales of 13,917 units since launch and 12,844 units in the ongoing fiscal year. It may be recollected that on April 5, Autocar Professional had forecasted that the Baleno would zip past the million-units mark in August – short by two months.
New Baleno launch in early 2022
The Baleno is set to continue in a new avatar soon with a fully overhauled interior and exterior, the first big change to the model following its 2019 update. According to our previous report, spy shots have revealed a restyled front and rear end, and a hugely improved interior.
However, other than the cosmetic updates, the Baleno will continue to be powered by the existing 1.2-litre petrol engine in two states of tune – the non-hybrid 83hp version and the 90hp version with 12V mild-hybrid technology, offered with a 5-speed manual and CVT automatic gearboxes. It is slated to be launched between February and March 2022 and will continue to battle the Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz, Honda Jazz and the Volkswagen Polo.
What are your toughts on the Maruti Baleno acheiving this incredible milestone in India? Let us know in the comments below.
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