The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has been one of those cars that has quietly stayed popular with Indian buyers for years. Now, the premium hatchback has received a facelift with more equipment, a new engine and a major safety upgrade. Maruti Suzuki has launched the updated Baleno in India at a starting price of Rs 6.10 lakh, ex-showroom.
Bookings for the new Baleno have also started through Maruti Suzuki’s NEXA dealerships. The car continues to rival the Tata Altroz and Hyundai i20 in the premium hatchback space.
What has changed on the outside?
The Baleno does not get a completely new design, but there are enough updates to give it a different look. Most of the work can be seen around the front section.
The updated design includes:
- Larger front grille with black horizontal slats
- New sculpted front bumper
- Revised fog lamp housings
- Sleeker LED headlamp design
- New 16-inch alloy wheels
- Chrome detailing
- Shark-fin antenna
- Minor changes to the rear bumper and tail lamp area
- New Enigmatic Teal colour
The Baleno still measures 3,990mm in length and has a 2,520mm wheelbase. It also continues to stay below the four-metre mark, which helps it qualify for the lower tax structure applicable to small cars.
More features for the cabin
The cabin layout will look familiar to existing Baleno owners, but Maruti Suzuki has added several features to make the car more appealing.
The new equipment list includes a larger 10.1-inch SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen on the updated model, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Clarion premium audio system is also available.Other cabin features include:
- Ventilated front seats
- Wireless charging with cooling
- Semi-leatherette upholstery
- Head-up display
- 360-degree camera
- Automatic climate control
- Rear AC vents
- Front centre armrest with storage
- Auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror
- Push-button start
The new Black and Blue interior theme with silver details also gives the cabin a fresh appearance.
Level 2 ADAS is the big addition
The biggest talking point is the addition of Level 2 ADAS. The Baleno is among the first hatchbacks in India to get this technology. The system uses a camera and millimetre-wave radar to monitor the road and assist the driver. The ADAS package includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keep assist
- Advanced emergency braking
- High-beam assist
- Other driver assistance functions
Maruti Suzuki has also provided six airbags as standard, along with ABS, EBD, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-hold assist and tyre pressure monitoring.
New three-cylinder petrol engine
The engine has also been replaced. The facelifted Baleno gets the 1.2-litre Z12E naturally aspirated petrol engine already used in the Swift and Dzire.
It is a three-cylinder unit, unlike the four-cylinder engine used by the earlier Baleno. The new motor is lighter and is designed to offer better efficiency and stronger low-speed response.
Transmission choices include:
- 5-speed manual
- AMT automatic
There is also a factory-fitted CNG version based on the same engine. The CNG Baleno can now be paired with an AMT, which is a new option for the model.
Price and rivals
The new Maruti Suzuki Baleno starts at Rs 6.10 lakh, ex-showroom. Prices for the higher variants are expected to be announced separately.
The hatchback continues to face competition from the Tata Altroz and Hyundai i20. With new technology, extra equipment and the updated engine range, the Baleno now has more features to offer buyers looking for a premium hatchback.