Essentially a badge-engineered Maruti Baleno, the Glanza is Toyota’s answer in the premium hatchback space. First introduced in 2019 and updated in 2022, the Glanza gets unique exterior bits and an interior theme that sets it apart from the Baleno. If you’re considering buying the Glanza, our comprehensive list of reasons helps you decide whether to go ahead with it or look at another option.
Reasons to buy the Toyota Glanza
Spacious and practical interior
The Toyota Glanza's interior is a great place to be in. With a black and beige theme, it looks premium and brightens the cabin. The use of good-quality plastics, piano black and silver highlights, along with an upmarket flat-bottom steering wheel, further enhances appeal. Secondly, it comes generously equipped with a 9-inch infotainment system, a 360-degree camera, and a segment-only head-up display.
Ergonomics in the Glanza are spot on, and it's easy to find the right driving position due to plenty of seat adjustments and a steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment. Storage space is aplenty in the cabin, and while its boot space of 318 litres is sufficient, the loading lip is high.
The Glanza's front seats offer good lateral and shoulder support, but some may find the cushioning too soft. for comfort. Space at the back remains a strength for the Glanza as even tall passengers can stretch their legs comfortably, while the seat itself has good lateral and under-thigh support.
Peppy and fuel-efficient engine
Powering the Glanza is a single 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that develops 90hp and 113Nm. Performance is adequate in the city, while refinement levels are great. On the other hand, fuel efficiency levels are good too. In our tests, the manual returned 13.80kpl and 17.50kpl, while the AMT returned 11.86kpl and 17.21kpl, in city and highway conditions, respectively. Do note that this test was undertaken before the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol.
Comfortable low-speed ride
The suspension setup on the Glanza is one of the nicest in its segment, especially at low speeds. Potholes and road imperfections are absorbed really well, even when at a middling pace. Meanwhile, the steering is reasonably light and smooth, aiding an easy-to-drive city experience. If you opt for a manual gearbox, its 5-speed unit is the smoothest in the segment, and the extremely light clutch makes shifting gears an absolute breeze.
Reasons not to buy the Toyota Glanza
Jerky AMT gearbox
The current iteration of the Glanza pairs an AMT gearbox with its petrol engine as opposed to a CVT on its predecessor. Gear shifts on the former aren’t as smooth as they used to be with the latter, as AMT gearboxes are designed to shift to the highest possible gear to prioritise fuel efficiency. While the one in the Glanza manages to mitigate the typical ‘head nod’ effect between shifts, it struggles to choose the right gear in traffic, where maintaining constant speeds isn’t possible, hindering overall driving experience. Rivals like the i20 come with a CVT automatic, while select variants of the Altroz come with a DCT, which have smoother operation than AMT gearboxes.
Busy high-speed ride
The Glanza's suspension is comfortable at low speeds, but at high speeds, it's a different story altogether. At highway speeds, the ride lacks plushness as road shocks are transmitted sharply into the cabin, and there's noticeable pitch and bounce, especially when seated at the back.
Uday Singh
Dipan Sur
