Maruti Suzuki has launched the 2026 Baleno facelift, priced from Rs 6.10 lakh, ex-showroom, Bengaluru. With this year’s mid-lifecycle update, the Baleno premium hatchback gets a couple of design tweaks, additional interior and safety features and a new petrol engine. Speaking of the engine, it’s the Z12E 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated unit that also does duty in the Swift and the Dzire. However, it has been tuned to deliver better low-end torque in the new Baleno, claims the brand.
New Maruti Baleno: Powertrain
The new 3-cylinder engine replaces the 90hp, 113Nm 1.2-litre 4-cylinder K12N unit offered in the outgoing Baleno. Its peak outputs are 83hp and 112Nm, and both 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT choices are on offer. As before, a factory-fitted CNG option is also available with the Baleno. In CNG mode, power and torque outputs fall to 70hp and 102Nm, respectively, and transmission duties are handled by a 5-speed manual gearbox.
New Maruti Baleno: Exterior highlights
Most of the exterior changes are concentrated at the front, mainly around the grille. It has grown in size and now houses the radar module for the ADAS suite. The Suzuki logo has also been moved from the grille to above it. A new bumper has been added to accommodate the larger grille, while the LED fog lamps have also been redesigned. A chrome garnish on the front fenders and a shark-fin antenna are also new.
Apart from those, the LED headlights, three-block daytime running lamp (DRL) signature, 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and tail-lights have been carried over.
What community is saying on the Baleno?
New Maruti Baleno: Interior features
Like the exterior, the interior is largely familiar. The layered dashboard has been retained, with a 9-inch touchscreen in the centre. Unlike many modern cars that have a digital driver’s display, the Baleno facelift continues with analogue dials and a colour MID between them. The flat-bottom steering wheel, physical buttons for climate control and a head-up display (HUD) have also been carried over.
New features introduced with this year's update include a wireless charger with cooling at the front, a branded Clarion sound system and ventilated front seats. Still absent are a sunroof and a rear centre armrest.
New Maruti Baleno: Safety features
The new Baleno gets a Level 2 ADAS suite, something that none of its rivals offer. Part of this safety suite are adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, emergency braking, high-beam assist and more. A tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is also new. Other safety features include six airbags across all trims, ABS with EBD and a 360-degree camera setup.
Maruti Suzuki will announce the variant-wise prices for the 2026 Baleno facelift soon. As for rivals, the Baleno continues to compete with the Tata Altroz, Hyundai i20 and the Toyota Glanza.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
