Maruti Suzuki Baleno facelift review: Change of heart

Maruti Suzuki Baleno front quarter tracking

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has proven to be hugely successful, with the premium hatchback going home to 1.9 million buyers since its introduction in 2015. And in a time when compact SUVs are all the rage, the Baleno continues to buck the trend and bring the numbers for the brand. And now, to keep it fresh and relevant, Maruti Suzuki has updated it with a tweaked design, new comfort and safety features and even a new petrol engine.

Maruti Baleno Exterior Design and Engineering – 7/10

Considering that it’s a mid-life-cycle update, the Baleno doesn’t get a design overhaul but tweaked styling, with most of the changes concentrated at the front end. The grille is now much larger than before, sporting three horizontal chrome slats and gloss-black detailing, with a radar module in the centre for the new ADAS tech. The bumper is new, too, featuring a gloss-black trim that links the new LED fog lamps, and the Suzuki logo has also been moved above the grille. Otherwise, the clamshell bonnet with the two character lines and the LED headlamps with the three-block DRL signature are carried over unchanged.

Gets a new, larger grille with chrome slats, a new bumper and new fog lamps.

Changes along the sides are minimal, with the only distinguishing factors being a chrome garnish on the front fender and a shark-fin antenna on the roof. The facelift retains the older Baleno’s chrome lining under the windows that extends up to the C-pillar, chrome door handles and the dual-tone 16-inch alloy wheels on this top-spec Alpha (O) variant.

The rear, however, stays identical to the pre-facelift Baleno with its C-shaped LED tail-lamps that also feature the three-block pattern, a chrome band running across the tailgate and a small, roof-mounted spoiler. There’s also a new Enigmatic Teal Green paint shade, as seen in the pictures here. Overall, the Baleno sticks to the formula that made it so successful, with minor tweaks to keep it fresh. The front grille, though, splits opinion and certainly doesn’t appear as cohesive as the one on the model it replaces.

Rear stays identical to the pre-facelift model, with the same dual-tone alloys as well.

Maruti Baleno Interior Space and Comfort – 8/10

The interior of the Baleno facelift stays nearly identical, with the same layered, V-shaped dashboard, flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel and dual-tone black-and-blue colour scheme. There have been some tweaks, however. The steering now features buttons on the right side for adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, and there are more buttons on the right of the steering too (near the start/stop button) to turn off certain ADAS features. The seats still feature fabric upholstery, but the outer edges are now finished in leatherette, which helps lift the premium feel.

Layered dashboard with a dual-tone black-and-blue interior theme is carried over.

Otherwise, this cabin is made up of good-quality materials, particularly the soft-touch leather-wrapped steering and the padded elbow rests on the door cards. The only sore points are the hard plastics and the simple woven roof liner. It’s a practical place, too, with big door pockets, a decent-sized glove box and storage in the centre console, along with big cup holders and a small bin under the centre armrest.

The front seats are unchanged, and that’s a good thing, as they are accommodating, supportive and offer nice cushioning. Thanks to the height-adjustable driver’s seat and tilt/telescopic steering, finding an ideal driving position is an easy affair. Space at the rear is excellent, and even tall passengers won’t find a shortage of headroom or legroom. There’s good under-thigh support, the seat cushioning is on point and, on the whole, this is a comfy place to be. A welcome addition is an adjustable headrest and three-point seatbelt for the rear centre passenger. Rear passengers also get dedicated AC vents and USB charging ports.

Rear-seat space is excellent, and even tall passengers won’t find a shortage of headroom or legroom.

What further enhances overall comfort is the UV-cut glass, which helps keep the heat out. As for boot space, it’s a sizeable 318 litres, though the loading lip is quite high. It’s also nice to see that the Baleno retains a spare tyre under its boot floor, as many modern cars are pivoting to puncture repair kits.

Boot is a sizeable 318 litres, but the loading lip is quite high; continues to get a spare tyre.

Maruti Baleno Features and Safety – 9/10

There have been some important additions when it comes to features. The Baleno now gets ventilated front seats, a cooled wireless phone charger, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, a Clarion sound system, and perhaps most importantly, segment-first ADAS Level 2 features.

Ventilated front seats and a cooled wireless charging pad are among the new additions.

Other than that, the feature list was fairly expansive as is, with this top-spec Alpha (O) also getting a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration, auto climate control, a head-up display, a colour MID, auto headlamps, an auto-dimming interior rearview mirror (IRVM), keyless entry and go, rear wiper/washer, connected car tech and more. The safety kit includes 6 airbags as standard, traction control, a 360-degree parking camera (it’s quite low-res, though) and Isofix child-seat mounts. The outgoing Baleno had a 4-star crash safety rating from Bharat NCAP, which should be the case for this one as well.

9-inch touchscreen has been retained; TPMS added.

Of the newer features, the ventilated front seats work effectively, though the blower is quite audible; the wireless charger charges your phone’s battery at a good rate without overheating it. The TPMS, too, worked as intended. While the Clarion audio system is better than the outgoing model’s, it still falls short of what rivals offer.

The addition of Level 2 ADAS tech, however, greatly boosts the Baleno’s safety quotient. It’s a camera- and radar-based system that brings features such as auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning and more. On our brief test drive, the ADAS features worked as intended and seemed well calibrated, as they weren’t overly intrusive. However, if you turn off the ADAS features, they will automatically switch back on every time you start the car.

Gets segment-first Level 2 ADAS features, which seemed well calibrated for our conditions.

In terms of features then, the Baleno facelift takes a step up and almost has all bases covered. Only things missing are a rear centre armrest and a sunroof, both of which its rivals offer.

Maruti Baleno Performance and Refinement – 8/10

By far the biggest change with the facelift comes under the hood, and it’s rare to see a new engine with a facelift. Out goes the 1.2-litre four-cylinder K-series mill, and in comes the 1.2-litre three-cylinder Z-series unit from the Swift and Dzire. Yes, the Baleno is down a cylinder, and as such, down on output too. The Z12E engine makes 83hp and 112Nm, which is 7hp and 1Nm lower than the older K12N engine. Maruti has moved to this unit because it is newer, less polluting and more efficient and opens it up to the possibility of hybridisation.

New Z-series mill impresses with its drivability and low-end response while promising greater efficiency.

This Z-series naturally aspirated engine is one of the most refined three-cylinder engines around. There is some of that typical three-cylinder thrum at idle, but that smooths out as the revs climb. It’s also fairly quiet at idle, and only when you’re at the top of the rev range does it become audible inside the cabin.

As we’ve experienced in the Swift and Dzire, this Z-series engine impresses with its low-end response and drivability. Power builds in a smooth, linear manner, and it moves off the line cleanly. Part-throttle responses are good too. However, it doesn’t feel as peppy as the older K-series engine or as strong at the top of the rev range. And considering that it’s down on power and the facelift’s higher weight, the outright acceleration isn’t as quick. But for a daily urban runabout, this engine is up to the task. For reference, we managed a 0-100kph time of 13.03sec and 15.89sec for the Swift MT and Swift AMT, respectively, and you can expect the Baleno to be slightly slower than this owing to its higher kerb weight.

Power builds in a smooth and linear manner, and part-throttle responses are good.

Like earlier, the Baleno facelift can be had with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT automatic. The manual gearbox is particularly impressive with its effortlessness and our pick of the two. The clutch pedal is light and easy to modulate, while the gearbox is smooth and has nice, short throws and well-defined gates.

Compared to its rivals, which offer more sophisticated automatics in the form of a CVT and a DCT, the Baleno comes only with a simpler, more cost-effective AMT. The AMT makes for a good option for those who seek more convenience, and it’s smooth as far as AMTs go. There is still that noticeable head-nod effect between shifts, and it is hesitant when you try a quick overtake, as it takes some time to downshift. That can be alleviated, however, by shifting to manual mode via the gear lever, and what’s nice is that it won’t auto upshift in this mode.

AMT adds a layer of convenience but feels hesitant when you try to make a quick overtake.

A factory-fitted CNG option is also available with the Baleno facelift. It uses the same engine, but power and torque outputs fall to 70hp and 102Nm, respectively, when run on CNG, and it can only be had with the 5-speed manual gearbox. However, we’re yet to experience the Baleno facelift CNG.

Maruti Baleno Mileage and Efficiency – 9/10

Both manual and AMT variants see improved claimed efficiency with the new engine.

The biggest advantage of the move to the Z-series engine comes in the form of fuel efficiency. The Baleno petrol-manual is now claimed to return 23.80kpl (1.45kpl more), while the AMT is said to do 24.77kpl, which is a 1.83kpl improvement. The Baleno CNG, meanwhile, sees an improvement of 3km/kg, with a claimed 33.61km/kg. As always, these are claimed figures tested in ideal conditions, so expect real-world fuel efficiency to be lower. What’s interesting is that the Baleno has become more efficient despite becoming up to 30kg heavier than the outgoing version.

Maruti Baleno Ride Comfort and Handling – 8/10

As before, the Baleno continues to impress with its ride comfort. The suspension has a softness to it, which means the low-speed ride is excellent, and only the sharpest bumps and big potholes manage to unsettle it. It also manages to iron out road imperfections with considerable ease and stays composed at higher speeds, with well-contained vertical and side-to-side movements.

Good body control with minimal roll; steering weighs up nicely as you pick up the pace.

Handling isn’t its strongest suit, but the Baleno displays good body control with minimal roll around the corners. The steering, meanwhile, is light at low speeds, which aids city driving, but it adds some reassuring weight as you pick up the pace, which is confidence-inspiring. It’s not particularly feelsome, but that’s nothing to complain about, given that it is an urban premium hatchback. As for braking, it continues with the same discs up front and drums at the rear, and the stopping power is more than adequate. On the whole then, the Baleno feels mature and composed on the move.

Maruti Baleno Value for Money – 8/10

The Maruti Baleno facelift is priced from Rs 6.10 lakh (ex-showroom, India), though this is a special festive price, and Maruti is yet to disclose complete variant-wise pricing. It continues to get a 3 year/1,00,000km standard warranty and, as before, rivals other premium hatchbacks such as the Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz, both priced from Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

The added features and the promise of greater fuel efficiency further enhance the Baleno’s appeal.

There are some drawbacks, of course, like the hesitant AMT automatic, and it doesn’t feel as peppy as the older K-series Baleno. But those pale in comparison to the Baleno’s inherent strengths: a spacious and comfortable cabin, an effortless drive thanks to its light controls, and a refined engine, as well as good ride comfort and handling balance. The added comfort and safety features, along with the promise of greater fuel efficiency due to the new engine, further enhance its appeal. As such, the Baleno is all set to retain its spot at the top of the premium hatchback chain.