Toyota Glanza

Japanese carmakers Toyota and Suzuki entered a global agreement in 2018 to share certain models. And the first ...

Japanese carmakers Toyota and Suzuki entered a global agreement in 2018 to share certain models. And the first shared model for India is here in the form of the Glanza. The Glanza is Toyota’s version of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the two cars are near-identical in every way. The Toyota does get a longer warranty and is not offered with a diesel engine. The Glanza is available with petrol and petrol-electric hybrid engines, and there’s the option of a CVT auto as well.

It’s easy to mistake the Toyota Glanza for a Maruti Baleno, because the grille and badges are really the ...

It’s easy to mistake the Toyota Glanza for a Maruti Baleno, because the grille and badges are really the only points of difference between the two hatchbacks on the outside. There’s little to tell the two cars apart on the inside either. Unfortunately, this also means that cabin quality is fairly mediocre by class standards. What you will like the Glanza’s interior for is the sheer space on offer. The large boot also ups the car’s practicality quotient.
The Toyota Glanza shares its petrol engines with the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and, unsurprisingly, the driving experience is also the same. The standard 83hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine is peppy, refined and efficient, and the 5-speed manual gearbox is also nice to use. City dwellers will find a good combination of efficiency and convenience in the CVT automatic variant. Interestingly, the 90hp Glanza mild-hybrid is significantly cheaper than the equivalent Baleno. The hybrid version’s promise of enhanced performance and economy should be a big draw for buyers.
Like the Baleno, the Glanza’s ride and handling are fine. The controls are light but the steering’s lack of adequate self-centring takes getting used to.