By : RACHNA TYAGI
GOA :
The new Maruti Suzuki Baleno, has arrived and there are few who will dispute the fact that its good looks have gotten even better. You may remember that the Baleno, ever since it was introduced back in 2015, in the premium hatchback segment, has been a gamechanger of sorts for the automaker. Not only did the Baleno, help introduce the Nexa brand, but it also helped establish it in India. Today, the Baleno, which sells in 102 countries worldwide, has sold over a million units (In just six years) and figures amongst India’s top five selling cars. In fact, a Baleno, sells every three minutes! How cool is that???!!!
The new Baleno, built on Suzuki’s signature HEARTECT platform, is a full model change with the automaker spending INR 1,150 Crores towards the development of this new model. Based on their new signature design philosophy it has been developed on three pillars of Nexpression, Nextech, and Nexperience and it aims to attract the young, discerning and modern urban Indian. What do we think of it? Well, for starters, let’s just say that we’re smitten by the NEXA Blue colour which looks magnificent on the new Baleno’s design. Needless to say, the paint job (Metallic paint) is of a very high quality and what we really liked is the fact that it has just the right amount of sheen that prevents it from looking tacky. And then, there is all the tech onboard, but more on that in a bit.
Starting with the exteriors of the Baleno, the first thing that you will notice is the new grille that the automaker is calling “Next Wave Front Grille” which now exudes a more open design. The bumper looks like it has received a slight design tweak to accommodate the newly designed headlights. The LED headlights get a different treatment this time around and in fact, we quite like the way the DRLs stand out. The slats that sit below the grille also get a new, busy look. The strong shoulder line as well as the other well sculpted lines including the ones on the bonnet and the doors, give the Baleno its premium look. The designers have added a flat band of chrome to the rear quarter glass that adds a dash of flair to the Baleno. Then, there are those striking precision cut alloys that look really classy and further add more flamboyance to the Baleno’s handsome looks.
Inside is a great mix of simplicity and sensible design. Not to mention oodles of tech, which the automaker has heavily invested in. There is nothing ornate about the Baleno’s black interiors, in fact, while they do look sophisticated, they remain practical, making it easy to keep clean, and the best part is that it isn’t cluttered with a million cubby holes that some of us never end up using. The Baleno gets all the modern creature comforts that we’ve now come to expect from a premium hatchback and then some. While USB ports, a 9-inch HD display for the SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system, a 360 View Camera and immersive sound, thanks to ARKAMYS have been provided, the talking point in the Baleno undoubtedly, is bound to be its brand-new HUD (Head Up Display) unit that the automaker has installed, just behind the steering, which gives us the speed as well as other vital driver-related information in digital format as we drive, thereby negating the need to glance below at the speedo (Which by the way, along with the odo, come with really easy to read dials).
Needless to say, the HUD is a very thoughtful touch and to offer this technology in a premium hatchback which we have previously only mostly seen in European cars of higher segments speaks volumes about the automaker’s intent to make some of the finest technology available to their buyers at reasonable price points. Besides, there is also their NextGen Suzuki Connect App which offers 40+ functionalities to make our lives that much easier while also elevating our lifestyles to a whole different level by bringing in ease and utility through their software integration, thereby enhancing our overall driving and ownership experience. We do wish that the backlighting of the buttons came in a different colour though, instead of the current red. A more pleasing green or even white backlight is almost always easier on the eyes.
We really liked the slightly stiff albeit generous seats with deep curves that provided comfort and yet kept us alert behind the wheel. We also found that the overall visibility from the Baleno to be simply outstanding. The HUD did not take away from the visibility at all, infact, the fact that it is concealed in the dash neatly when not in use, again speaks volumes about its well-executed sliding mechanism. It gets a thumbs up from us for this neat little trick.
The Baleno gets a MT (Manual Transmission) as well as an AGS (Auto Gear Shift) tranny. We drove the 5-Speed MT (Because we are die-hard fans of the Stickshift and also due to paucity of time) and one of the first things we noticed is that the ride quality felt really good, thanks to the new torsion beam that the Baleno now gets. The car also felt more solid because of the high tensile and ultra-high tensile steel used in the body and we did all kinds of driving on the roads of Goa, and we’re happy to report that the brakes did an outstanding job, and that is mainly because of the new brake system that the Baleno now gets which demonstrated superb braking prowess at all times and at various speeds. The flat-bottom steering also made driving the Baleno a breeze. We felt safely cocooned inside the new Baleno at all times – always a good thing, especially considering the need to be increasingly more cautious and safe on our roads these days.
The new K12, dual VVT engine which is a 1.2-Litre engine, (1197cc) which the company claims offers upto 15% better fuel efficiency, thanks to improved frictional losses, now belts out peak power of 66kW@6000rpm and 113 Nm of torque @4400rpm. The start/stop technology that we experienced works beautifully and is indeed a great way to save fuel and that has also resulted in the premium hatchback’s improved fuel efficiency figures which now stand at 22.35 km/l for the MT and 22.94km/l for the AGS respectively.
The Baleno is also big on safety and comes with not just six airbags but also a host of other safety features such as ESP and ABS with EBD, besides others to ensure that all the occupants are safe at all times.
The Baleno starts at INR 6,35,000 (MT) and goes up to INR 9,49,000 (AGS). Those who wish to hop onboard a subscription program, can do so by paying a monthly subscription fee of INR 13,999. Available in six exciting colours: NEXA Blue, Opulent Red, Grandeur Grey, Luxe Beige, Splendid Silver and Arctic White, the new Baleno, makes for a great choice for all those who want something that isn’t too big like an SUV or a sedan, or something that is too tiny and bare basic like an entry-level hatch, without any of the bells and whistles. Overall, we think that the Baleno, will offer an excellent ownership experience to all those who want that little extra from life without breaking the bank.
