Maruti Baleno launched at Rs 4.99 lakh

Maruti today launched the much awaited all-new premium hatchback Baleno at a starting price of
Rs 4.99 lakh for the base petrol Sigma variant. The Baleno has four variants on offer – the Sigma, Delta, Zeta and the top-spec Alpha. A CVT automatic option is offered on the mid-level Delta variant only.

Maruti has priced the top-spec petrol variant of the Baleno at Rs 7.01 lakh. The base diesel is priced at Rs 6.16 lakh going up to Rs 8.11 lakh, whereas the petrol automatic will set you back by Rs 6.76 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The premium hatchback's similarity with Maruti’s mid-size premium sedan from the past ends at the name. Unveiled recently at the Frankfurt motor show, the Maruti Baleno rivals Hyundai’s established i20, as well as the recently launched Honda Jazz. In terms of dimensions, the Baleno is bigger than the Maruti Swift but is still under the four-metre mark at 3,995mm.

On the outside, the car looks quite impressive thanks to its flowing shape. While the front gets a new V-shaped grille, the headlamps are quite similar to the Swift, but smaller and pushed out to the sides. The top-spec variant comes with projector beams and LED daytime-running lamps. The higher trims also get 16-inch alloy wheels, as against the standard 15 inch ones, apart from a higher treatment of chrome.

On the inside, the car features a lot of familiar equipment from Suzuki’s stable, like the standard Suzuki steering wheel and most of the switches. However, setting it apart is the blue-lit instrument panel and the stylish, V-shaped centre stack on the dashboard. The top-spec Baleno comes with Apple’s CarPlay interface, which is a first in the segment. Other features include Bluetooth, aux and USB, steering- mounted audio controls, navigation and voice command system according to trim levels. The cabin is spacious and offers ample comfort and storage space.

In terms of safety equipment, all variants of the Baleno come with two airbags, ABS and EBS as standard.

The Baleno is powered by Suzuki’s 1.2-litre K12 engine making 83.1bhp and 11.7kgm of torque, and the Fiat-sourced 1.3 DDiS diesel, which is good for 73.9bhp and 19.3kgm of torque. Both engines come mated to five-speed gearboxes, with a CVT automatic gearbox offered on the petrol variant.

Maruti also has a brand-new 110bhp 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol motor called BoosterJet for the international market, which won’t be coming to coming to India for the moment.

India is the first market to get the Baleno and will also perform as an exclusive global manufacturing hub. The Baleno will be the second model to be sold via Maruti Suzuki’s premium showroom channel, Nexa, after the S-Cross. If received well, the hatch will certainly provide a boost to the carmaker’s growth momentum in the country.

Take a look at how the new Baleno stacks up against its rivals the Honda Jazz and Hyundai i20 in terms of price (ex-showroom, Delhi):

Read our Maruti Baleno review