Maruti Suzuki Baleno

The new Baleno is the entry level premium hatchback from Maruti Suzuki, which was unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.
It comes in 9 variants spread across 4 trims, 3 engine, 2 transmission and 2 fuel options.
The Baleno competes against the likes of the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz, with respect to the specs and features of a premium hatch.

EXTERIOR
The front fascia of the Baleno sports a black mesh grille and head-lamps with LEDs. This is the only premium hatch to get LEDs in their headlamps. On the side, one can notice rising belt lines for wheel arches, even the pillars are blacked-out and they blend-in with ease. However, the 16 inch alloy wheels look smaller but have a great grip on the road. The rear profile of the car also looks stunning with C-shaped tail-lamp cluster and the integrated rear spoiler gives the car a sporty feel.
But, the build quality is average and the doors close with a dull, hollow sound. Even the panels feel light.

INTERIOR
The Baleno is loaded with features the next-generation Maruti designed steering wheel, a new instrument cluster along with a TFT screen that shows current fuel efficiency, average fuel efficiency, distance to empty, current torque and power being used.
The Baleno is spacious, on both aspects ? front row and rear row, however it is a bit uncomfortable at the rear as recline is limited. And for a hatch, it has a big boot. With 339 L of capacity, it falls right next to Honda Jazz in this segment.
There are no rear AC vents, but still the cooling is good enough. The Baleno?s ergonomics are quite good, the making the drive a pleasurable experience.
Safety features like ABS and EBD come as standard in all variants of this vehicle.

ENGINE, PERFORMANCE, BRAKING & HANDLING
The petrol variant is a 1.2-litre K-Series engine that offers 82bhp of power and comes mated to either a five-speed manual or a CVT (continuously variable transmission). The diesel, on the other hand is a 1.3L DDiS that produces about 75bhp of power and 190Nm of maximum torque. The fuel efficiency of the petrol engine is rated at 21.4 kmpl and that of diesel is rated at 27.39 kmpl.
The ride of the Baleno car is good. But where NVH is taken into account, the engine and tyre noise does enter the cabin at high speeds, which results in poor ride comfort at highway speeds. For city driving, it?s quite good as the suspension absorbs all the bumps with ease, making it a smooth ride. On the other hand, the handling of the Baleno is slightly more evolved than the Swift. The light weighted chassis not only enhances the power and efficiency, but also improves the driving dynamics. The steering wheel too is light and feels comfortable to drive in city. It does weigh up a bit, making it a joy to drive on the highways too

SAFETY
The Baleno is packed with safety features like dual airbags, front fog lamps, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors/camera, rear defogger, auto dimming IRVM, and it is built on Suzuki?s TECT body design platform.

CONCLUSION
The Baleno competes against Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz. Overall, it is the cheapest of the three, and the most fuel-efficient, as per ARAI fuel economy ratings. Similarly equipped and equally practical, but is the only one to get a fancy driver information system as part of the instrument cluster. Apart from two shortcomings ? poor ride comfort and worst in class warranty - the Baleno is actually worth buying.