Toyota Glanza Test Drive Review – Unaltered

Toyota Glanza Review

Car Tested: Toyota Glanza V CVT; Road Test No. 1146; Test Location: Mumbai

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 8.18 – 10.40 lakhs

With the Glanza, Toyota has combined its reliable and strong service network with Maruti’s frugal and practical Baleno

Suzuki and Toyota announced their partnership sometime back and as part of the initial deal, the automakers will be sharing some models with each other. The first product to come out of this joint venture is the Toyota Glanza which is nothing but a rebadged Maruti Baleno. In fact, it is so similar to the Baleno facelift that there are no changes at all apart from the badging. However, a lot of people keep asking which one to buy, the Glanza or the Baleno. We drove the Toyota Glanza and now we have the answer to all your queries.

Exteriors – The Toyota Glanza is based on the facelifted version of the Maruti Baleno. There are no changes at all and the colour options, alloy wheel design, lights, etc. are all the same. The facelifted Baleno gets minor design tweaks compared to the older car and the same have been carried forward. The grille on the Glanza is a tad different and you get Toyota badging all around. Fun fact is that both the Baleno and Glanza are manufactured on the same assembly line right now. The Glanza does look good and has the right proportions to slot it perfectly in the premium hatchback segment.

Interiors – Just like the exterior, even the interior of the Glanza is identical to the Baleno. You get a Toyota badge on the steering wheel and that’s where the changes end. The dashboard layout is exactly the same and there’s no difference even in the equipment list. You get all the features like projector headlamps, auto climate control, keyless go with push-button start, electrically adjustable and folding ORVMs, auto-dimming IRVM, etc. The SmartPlay Studio infotainment system is now called Smart Playcast but the UI and connectivity options remain the same, with a glaring omission of navigation here too.

Apart from the Toyota badge on the steering wheel, the Glanza gets the same spacious and feature-loaded interior

The Toyota Glanza offers generous space inside the cabin. I particularly liked the comfort offered by the front seats and the largeish dimensions. Space at the rear is also quite good with more than adequate knee room and headspace. The cabin is also wide enough for 3 people to sit comfortably at the rear. Cargo capacity is just about decent but the Baleno has always had a high loading lip which makes hauling in heavy luggage a tad cumbersome.

Performance – Now, the Toyota Glanza isn’t offered with a diesel engine but what it does get is Maruti’s K12B and K12C motors. Both these engines are available on the Baleno. The K12B produces 82 HP and 113 Nm and the K12C DualJet churns out 89 HP while the torque output remains similar. The K12C mill comes with SHVS that includes features like torque assist, regenerative braking and idle start-stop system. We drove the CVT variant which comes with the non-SHVS version. The K12B is indeed a very peppy engine, more so the manual variant. It has a good low-end while the mid-range also has a fair amount of punch. It likes to be revved and doesn’t feel underpowered.

Maruti’s petrol engine never disappoints and does add liveliness to the car

The engine offers very good NVH control and it is barely audible or felt inside the cabin. Vibrations are almost negligible but when you mash the throttle, the powerplant tends to get slightly audible but might I say sporty too. Driveability is just excellent and the CVT has been paired very nicely. The rubber band effect is obviously felt when you’re pushing the car but go easy on the throttle and the Glanza rewards you with a jerk-free smooth drive. Fuel efficiency is about 12-13 km/l if you drive the car sedately but it does fall to the higher single digits if you’re hard on the accelerator. On the highways, cruise at a constant speed and the Glanza will even deliver as much as 15-16 km/l. The DualJet engine, however, offers a slightly better economy than this one.

Driving Dynamics – The Toyota Glanza can’t really be called a very engaging car to drive but it is an easy and convenient car nonetheless. The steering is light for day to day usage and while it weighs up a bit at high speeds, we would have really liked some more feedback out of it. The suspension setup is brilliant, the way this car soaks up potholes is very impressive and this goes a long way in offering comfort to the passengers. Nothing to complain on the braking front too and the brakes do their job nicely.

Safety and After Sales Service – Just like the Maruti Baleno, even the Toyota Glanza comes with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors, high-speed alert and seatbelt reminders. The build quality leaves a lot to be desired and the car doesn’t feel very tough. In terms of service, Toyota has proven itself over the years by offering excellent service all across India and customers have usually been a satisfied bunch. While Maruti offers a 2 year/40,000 kms warranty on the Baleno, the Glanza gets a 3 year/1 lakh kms standard warranty.

Verdict – There isn’t anything different in the Glanza apart from the warranty package and the price difference. Both variants of the Glanza, G and V are based on the Baleno’s Zeta and Alpha trims and the pricing is the same but the G Hybrid variant is priced Rs. 65,000/- lesser than the Baleno’s hybrid variant which makes it more VFM. If you’re confused between the Baleno and the Glanza, we suggest buying the Glanza because of the better warranty, unless you want a diesel car or a lower variant which is priced lesser.

What’s Cool

* Premium and sophisticated design
* Spacious and practical interior
* Fuel-efficient and smooth petrol engine
* Good ride quality
* Comes with a 3-year warranty
* Hybrid variant cheaper than Baleno

What’s Not So Cool

* Could have done with more distinctive elements
* Steering could have offered more feedback

Alternatives: – Maruti Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20, Volkswagen Polo, Honda Jazz

Toyota Glanza Specifications

* Engine: 1197cc, 4-Cyl, Petrol (K12B) | 1197cc, 4-Cyl, Petrol (K12C)
* Power: 82 HP @ 6000 RPM | 89 HP @ 6000 RPM
* Torque: 113 Nm @ 4200 RPM | 113 Nm @ 4400 RPM
* Transmission: 5-Speed MT; CVT
* Fuel Consumption: 12-13 km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Tyre Size: 195/55/16 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Torsion Beam (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)
* Safety: 2 Airbags, ABS with EBD, BA

Toyota Glanza Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 3995 mm X 1745 mm X 1510 mm
* Wheelbase: 2520 mm
* Turning Radius: 4.9-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 37-litres
* Boot Space: 339-litres
* Kerb Weight: 910 kgs | 935 kgs

Further Reading –

2015 Maruti Baleno Review
Maruti Baleno RS Test Drive Review
2015 Maruti Baleno Video Review
Maruti Baleno vs Ford Figo – Shootout
Hyundai Elite i20 vs Maruti Baleno vs Honda Jazz – Shootout

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