The Maruti Baleno comes with a host of features in addition to boasting of a spacious cabin and is the perfect upgrade for the existing Swift owner.
Making a grand entry to the premium hatchback space, Maruti Suzuki has officially launched the Baleno in the country with prices starting at Rs. 4.99 lakhs and going up to Rs. 8.11 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Based on an all-new light-weight platform, the Baleno is a whopping 100 kgs lighter than the Swift and 10 percent stronger too. The hatch is also one of the most fuel efficient options in the segment. The second product to be sold through the premium NEXA dealerships after the S-Cross, here is everything you need to know about Maruti’s third most expensive offering.
Design – Easily one of the biggest cars in the segment and otherwise too, the Maruti Baleno has a lot of presence measuring 3995 mm in length while the width stands at 1745 mm. The Baleno boasts of a mature design language which Suzuki calls ‘Liquid Flow’ and lends bulbous proportions to the hatch. The front fascia gets a V-shaped grille flanked by swept back headlamps that incorporate projector lights and LED DRLs.
The side profile gets a smooth finished look with a receding shoulder line while the large windows allow lots of light inside the cabin. The door-mounted wing mirrors are smartly done, but the alloy wheel design looks simple. The car rides on 16-inch alloys wrapped on Apollo rubber (on the top trims). The rear profile gets a large bumper taking up most space with a stubby tailgate and bulging LED tail lamps. The boot also gets a chrome spoiler breaking the monotony while a roof-mounted rear spoiler lends a sporty look.
Interiors – Boasting of a completely new design, the Baleno gets a clutter-free cabin finished in black with brushed silver inserts. The interiors look sporty and are spacious with ample of room at the front and rear. The hatchback gets a twin pod instrument cluster with blue illumination and the dashboard is finished in V-shape with the centre console housing all switches. The 3-spoke steering wheel, indicator stalk and power window switches are some of the components inside the cabin to come from other Maruti cars. The boot capacity stands at 339-litres.
In terms of features, the Maruti Baleno comes with a SmartPlay infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, navigation and voice command; Bluetooth, USB and AUX connectivity; keyless entry and go system, push button start/stop, reverse camera, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, puddle lamps, anti-pinch driver-side window, power foldable and adjustable ORVMs, auto climate control, reverse parking sensors with camera, among other features.
Engines – Power on the 2015 Maruti Baleno comes from two engine and transmission options including a –
* 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol producing 85 PS at 6000 RPM and 115 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM, paired to a 5-speed manual and CVT gearbox.
* 1.3-litre 4-cylinder diesel producing 75 PS at 4000 RPM and 190 Nm of torque at 2000 RPM, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Safety – In a positive move, Maruti Suzuki is offering dual airbags, ABS with EBD, seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters as standard across all variants of the Baleno. You also get the anti-theft security system as standard. In addition, the top variants get fog lamps and auto headlights with follow-me-home function along with auto dimming IRVM.
Fuel Efficiency – Maruti Suzuki states the Baleno’s ARAI certified fuel efficiency figures as –
* 1.2 K-Series MT & CVT – 21.4 km/l
* 1.3 DDiS MT – 27.39 km/l
Maruti’s arrival in the premium hatchback space was long due, and the automaker has finally arrived in the segment ticking all the right boxes. The Baleno is spacious, frugal, boasts of excellent ride quality and packs in a host of features with some of them being new to the segment. The car maker has also gone one step further to offer safety features as standard across all variants.
Make sure to check out our 2015 Maruti Baleno Test Drive Review HERE.
2015 Maruti Baleno Petrol Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi) –
* Baleno 1.2 K-Series MT Sigma – Rs. 4.99 lakhs
* Baleno 1.2 K-Series MT Delta – Rs. 5.71 lakhs
* Baleno 1.2 K-Series AT Delta – Rs. 6.76 lakhs
* Baleno 1.2 K-Series MT Zeta – Rs. 6.31 lakhs
* Baleno 1.2 K-Series MT Alpha – Rs. 7.01 lakhs
2015 Maruti Baleno Diesel Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi) –
* Baleno 1.3 DDiS MT Sigma – Rs. 6.16 lakhs
* Baleno 1.3 DDiS MT Delta – Rs. 6.81 lakhs
* Baleno 1.3 DDiS MT Zeta – Rs. 7.41 lakhs
* Baleno 1.3 DDiS MT Alpha – Rs. 8.11 lakhs
The prices are introductory
