Toyota Glanza: Which variant to buy?

If you are in the market for a large premium hatchback, the Toyota Glanza is a new option worth considering. Essentially a rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, the Glanza offers everything we like about the Baleno with the added advantage of a longer warranty. What’s more, Toyota has also priced the Glanza really competitively. The Glanza is on sale in two variants, with two engines and two transmission options. We’ll break it down for you and tell you the pick of the range.

What are the engines on offer?

First things first, the Toyota Glanza is not available with a diesel engine like the Baleno. However, like the Maruti, the Toyota gets two BS6-compliant petrol engines.

Suzuki’s tried and tested K12B 1.2-litre petrol engine powered three of the four versions of the Glanza on sale. The engine makes 83hp and 113Nm of torque and can be had with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 7-step CVT auto. The other petrol engine on offer is Suzuki’s 1.2-litre K12C DualJet with the Smart Hybrid system that’s solely offered with a manual gearbox. This engine is slightly more powerful than the K12B unit and makes 90hp and 113Nm of torque. The Smart Hybrid system has a torque-assist function which improves acceleration and a start-stop system that switches off the engine to boost fuel efficiency. It also has a brake-energy regeneration function which recharges the lithium-ion battery while decelerating.

As expected, it’s the hybrid that’s the more efficient of the two powertrains with an ARAI-tested figure of 23.87kpl. By comparison, the 1.2-litre K12B engine with the manual gearbox delivers 21.01kpl while the automatic is rated at 19.56kpl.

What are the variants on offer?

The number of variants is limited to just two – G and V, both of which can be had with manual and CVT automatic gearbox options. It is worth noting that the G MT is the only variant to get the 1.2-litre K12C DualJet petrol engine with a Smart Hybrid system. The remaining three variants (G CVT, V MT and V CVT) are offered with the 1.2-litre K12B engine.

The G variant is priced at Rs 7.22 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) with the 5-speed MT and Rs 8.30 lakh with the CVT automatic gearbox. The G variant is equivalent to the high-spec Zeta in the Baleno range and what that means is you get quite a few features for the money. LED projector headlamps, 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, steering-mounted buttons, automatic climate control, power windows, tilt and telescopic adjust for the steering, central locking and keyless entry, and 60:40-split folding rear seats are standard fit. Also part of the package is a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. In terms of safety, the Glanza gets dual front airbags, ABS, EBD and brake assist, a seat-belt reminder, rear parking sensors, Isofix child-seat mounts at the rear and a rear wiper with defogger.

The top-end V variant with a manual gearbox is available for Rs 7.58 lakh and the CVT variant has an ex-showroom price of Rs 8.90 lakh. Over the features of the G variant, the top-end variant offers a reverse parking camera, LED daytime running lamps, automatic headlamps, UV glass protection and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Which is the variant to buy?

Among the two variants, the G variant is clearly the value-for-money pick. The manual costs Rs 36,000 less, while the CVT auto costs Rs 60,000 less than the V-spec versions – and the good news is, you still get a whole lot of kit for the money. While the G CVT makes for a great buy for urban buyers, our pick of the range is the G manual with the hybrid engine. It’s well-equipped, pleasant to drive and promises to be frugal too. The best bit? It costs a full Rs 65,000 less than the equivalent Baleno.

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