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 in the numbers for the brand. And now in a bid 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

Being a mid-life-cycle update, the Baleno doesn’t get a design overhaul but rather tweaked styling with the bulk of the design changes concentrated at the front end. The grille is now much larger than before with 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 and features 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.

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 till 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 taillamps 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’s made it as successful as it is with minor tweaks in order 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.

Maruti Baleno Interior Space and Comfort – 8/10

The interior of the Baleno facelift stays near-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 the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, there are more buttons on the right of the steering too (near the start/stop button) to turn off certain ADAS features and the seats now feature part-leatherette upholstery. The seats still majorly feature fabric upholstery but the outer edges are now finished in leatherette, which helps up the premium feel.

Otherwise, this cabin is made up of good quality materials, particularly the soft touch leather wrapped steering and the padded elbow rests on the doorcards. The only sore points are the hard plastics and the simple woven roofliner. It’s a practical place too, with big door pockets, a decent-sized glovebox and storage in the centre console, with big cupholders 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 underthigh 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.

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

Maruti Baleno Features and Safety – 9/10

There have been some important additions when it comes to features, as 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.

Other than that, the features 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 heads-up display, colour MID, auto headlamps, auto-dimming IRVM, keyless entry and go, rear wiper/washer, connected car tech and more. Safety kit includes 6 airbags as standard, traction control, a 360-degree parking camera (its quite low res though) and ISOFIX child seat mounts. The outgoing Baleno had a 4-star crash safety rating from Bharat NCAP and that should be the case for this one as well.

Of the newer features, the ventilated front seats work effectively though the blower is quite audible while 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 in features like 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 everytime you start the car.

As for 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 that we get to see a new engine with a facelift. Out goes the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, K-series engine and in comes the 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, Z-series engine from the likes of the Swift and the 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 engine as it is newer, is less polluting, more efficient and also opens it up to the possibility of hybridisation in the future.

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 smoothens out as the revs climb. It’s fairly quiet too at idle and it’s only when you’re at the top of the rev range that it becomes 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, it moves off the line cleanly and part-throttle responses are good too. However, it doesn’t feel as peppy as the older K-series engine and doesn’t feel as strong at the top of the rev range. And considering that it’s down on power and heavier than the outgoing car, it isn’t as quick in terms of outright acceleration. 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. 

As was the case earlier, the Baleno facelift can be had with either 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.

In comparison to its rivals, which offer more sophisticated automatics in the form of a CVT and a DCT, the Baleno only comes with a simpler, more cost-effective AMT. The AMT makes for a good option for those who wish for greater convenience and it’s smooth as far as AMTs go. There is still that noticeable headnod effect that you get between shifts and it is hesitant when you try to make 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.

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

The biggest advantage with 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 and 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 low speed ride is excellent and it’s only the sharpest bumps and big potholes that 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.

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 its an urban premium hatchback. As for braking, it continues with the same discs up front and drums at the rear setup 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 in the Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz, both of which are priced from Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

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 of a spacious and comfortable cabin, an effortless drive thanks to its light controls, a refined engine and a good ride comfort and handling balance. The added comfort and safety features and the promise of greater fuel efficiency with the new engine just further enhance its appeal. As such, the Baleno is all set to retain its spot at the top of the premium hatchback chain.