Baleno may be the second car to roll into Maruti’s Nexa showrooms, but what is more important is that it will go down in India’s motoring history as the first car to be manufactured in the country and launched globally.
A Baleno again?
Several automobile enthusiasts will still be relishing the fond memories of the powerful Maruti Baleno of yesteryears. The new Baleno however is completely different from its predecessor. If the old one was a sedan, the latest Baleno from Maruti is a super-premium hatchback. Now, if the term hatchback gives you the feeling of a small car with limited features, then you are absolutely wrong!
This premium hatchback from Maruti can even give the Mercedes A Class a run for its money, in terms of features.
A global Indian car
The new Baleno will be India’s gift of pride to the world. The car, first unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, will be launched first in India. The vehicle is expected to arrive at Maruti showrooms by the end of this month. The Baleno, developed in Europe and Japan and manufactured in India, will be exported to a hundred countries around the world.
The Baleno edge
Baleno, meaning lightning, is Suzuki’s latest car and the changes are not just skin deep. The car is not only new in looks and features but also comes on a new light weight platform that has a 100 kilograms advantage over the old one and is 10 per cent stronger as well.
Maruti has big hopes from Baleno
Baleno follows the S-Cross into Maruti’s Nexa showroom. If the S-Cross did not live up to Maruti’s expectations in terms of sales numbers, the company is betting big on the Baleno to compensate for the former’s lacklustre performance.
A short stint behind the wheel of the Baleno will convince one that Maruti’s hopes may not be misplaced after all. The first drive itself made us feel confident that this Baleno will pose a stiff challenge to the likes of Honda Jazz and Hyundai i20.
New elements
This is the first Maruti to come with an automatic CVT gearbox. UV Cut glasses that offer 85% UV protection is one of the features that will find a lot of takers in a country where cooling films on windows are banned.
Apple Car Play, seen only in BMW cars, LED multi functioning speedometer, day time running lamps, projector headlamps and follow-me home feature are some of the highlights of this car. Even the basic model comes with safety features such as ABS, two airbags and EBD.
Design
The design theme of the Baleno is called Liquid Flow, which refers to the smooth shapes formed by a flowing viscous liquid. Like the name suggests, the edges of the car are smooth and the overall design flow is simply great.
The Baleno is more about beauty than machismo. It looks gorgeous from the sides and the rear. To say that a Baleno will grab more eyeballs than a Volvo, Bimmer or even a Merc, will not be an overstatement.
The Interiors
The interiors are elegant and beautiful. The black theme gives a premium feel and has a strong presence. The seven-inch touchscreen display is the highlight of this car’s beautifully designed dashboard. All features, including navigation, are bundled into this screen.
The car has automatic air conditioning controls and its speedometer has a TFT display that is pleasing to the eyes. The speedometer is information rich and it even displays the torque and BHP available at the tap at each point in time. Not many cars come with speedometers that display as many details as the Baleno’s. Other attractive features include reverse camera, push start button and steering mounted audio controls.
Behind the Wheel
Of the petrol and the diesel versions, the familiar Fiat 1.3 multi jet engine is the better one in terms of drivability. This Fiat engine is a smooth and smart performer while the gearbox is slick and shifts are effortless.
However, during those long high-speed highway hauls, one may occasionally feel the absence of a sixth cog. The Fiat 1.3 multi jet returns a fuel average of 27.39 kilometres per litre.
Petrol Automatic
The 1.2-litre petrol engine is more powerful than the diesel version and this one’s strength lies in low-end torque delivery. This makes city driving a breeze and one does not have to bother about having to shift gears frequently.
For those who want to be spared of even that small ordeal, the automatic gearbox will take care of choosing the right cog suited for different engine speeds. One just has to put the car in the drive mode and enjoy a relaxed drive. The petrol version returns a fuel average of 21.4 kilometres per litre.
Comfort
Both the models have good legroom for rear seat passengers. There is plenty of storage within the cabin and the boot space available for extra luggage is also more than sufficient. In short, the Baleno is a wonderfully balanced package. It is that rare combination, a coming together of beauty and practicality in the right proportions.
Pricing
The company is yet to put a price tag to its latest offering. Maruti is expected to price the base model of the vehicle a little over Rs 5 lakh. With the latest Baleno, the company has moved away from the tradition of naming its different models as VX, LX and so on. The Baleno’s models will be tagged Sigma, Delta, Zeta.