The Maruti Baleno is priced from Rs 5.99 lakh to Rs 9.17 lakh (ex-showroom) and competes with the Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz and Toyota Glanza in the premium hatchback segment. But is it the right hatchback for you? Here are two reasons to buy the Baleno and two reasons why you might want to look elsewhere.
Reasons to buy
1. Spacious and practical cabin
Space is one of the Baleno's biggest strengths. There is plenty of room in the rear even for tall passengers, while the well-contoured rear seat offers good under-thigh and lateral support. The front seats are comfortable too, with good shoulder and side support. The cabin also gets useful storage spaces, including large door pockets, a well-sized glovebox and cupholders in the centre console.
The Baleno also has a decent 318-litre boot, making it practical for everyday use. However, the high loading lip means loading luggage inside may require slightly more effort as it needs to be lifted higher.
2. Comfortable ride, especially in the city
The Baleno's suspension deals well with broken roads and other surface imperfections. Its soft setup works particularly well at low and moderate speeds, making it comfortable for city use. The steering is also light at low speeds, which makes the Baleno easy to manoeuvre in traffic and tight spaces.
Body control is good at higher speeds and the steering gains weight as speeds rise. However, some pitch and bounce can be felt from the rear seat at highway speeds.
Reasons to skip
1. Lack of powertrain options
The Baleno is offered with a single 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 90hp and 113Nm, with a factory-fitted CNG option also available. The petrol engine is smooth at low revs and works well for everyday driving, but has a weak mid-range before picking up again at around 4,000rpm.
Its lack of engine options is a drawback, especially when rivals offer more choice. The Hyundai i20 N Line gets a more powerful turbo-petrol engine, while the Tata Altroz is also available with a diesel.
2. AMT is not the smoothest automatic
The Baleno's 5-speed AMT offers the convenience of two-pedal driving, but its shifts aren't as smooth as the CVT offered on the previous-generation model. There is noticeable hesitation between the first three gears when accelerating beyond crawling speeds, accompanied by the typical head-nod effect associated with AMTs.
A manual mode is available, but there is still a brief pause during gear changes. The AMT works well enough for everyday city driving, but buyers who prioritise smooth automatic shifts may find it lacking.
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
Dipan Sur
