The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has been in production for quite some time under the Baleno nameplate. The Baleno Sedan, introduced in 1999 and built until 2007, is still highly regarded by fans. The Baleno brand was long gone once it was discontinued. However, it made a reappearance in 2015, this time as a hatchback.
As a result, several Baleno fans were initially upset to see the name utilised on a hatchback that didn’t even come close to the charm of the original sedan. Even criticism can be dealt with over time. As a result of its popularity, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno hatchback has become a top seller in the premium hatchback market.
Indian buyers have already purchased around 9 million Baleno hatchbacks. In any case, the latest generation of Baleno is here. Maruti Suzuki unveiled the 2022 Baleno on February 23, 2022, after a year of rumours and leaks.
Is it as endearing as the old Baleno was? Is it better value for money because of the glitzy extras? Let’s know more about the all new Baleno 2022:-
Maruti Suzuki Baleno 2022: Exterior
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has always maintained a youthful, yet adult, look since it was first introduced. As a result, it became a popular choice among young people who wanted a luxury hatchback. It was going to be a challenge to keep the hatchback’s identity intact when it was redesigned for the 2022 model year.
Maruti Suzuki’s new 2022 Baleno, on the other hand, appears to have been designed and styled superbly by the company’s designers. Although the vehicle’s overall shape hasn’t altered, many of the vehicle’s distinctive design and aesthetic characteristics have.
When you look at the new Baleno from the front, the sleek headlamps are the first thing that catches your eye. It has a swept-back design similar to the previous model. Despite this, the front end appears sportier as a result of its sleeker design. The turn signal indicators are built into these projector units.
This includes the grille, of course, which adds to the vehicle’s abrasive design and aesthetics. In addition to being distinctive, the chrome strip behind the grille adds a nice touch of bling. Additionally, the 2022 Baleno’s bumper includes an all-new design that only contributes to the vehicle’s youthful appearance.
Both the lower grille and the fog light housings are located on each side of the bumper. Liquid Flow’ is the name given to Maruti Suzuki’s design philosophy, and this new model simply enhances it. The bonnet and side profile both display the car’s design cues.
It’s easy to recognise when viewed from the side due to its prominent shoulder and clear character lines. The 16-inch alloy wheels, on the other hand, are more visually appealing. There’s nothing quite like the diamond-cut, two-tone alloy wheels to distinguish your car. Simply said, the 2017 Baleno has the most attractive alloy wheels in the premium hatchback class.
The design and style of the Baleno’s rear end reveal just how mature a hatchback it has become. A split tail light design is now available. The tail lamps’ LED matrixes and curves make them look brilliant. The tail lamps integrate the liquid flow design extremely well.
The sloping roofline, spoiler with integrated stop light, and sculpted bumper all contribute to the mature, yet young appearance of this vehicle. Thick chrome trim elevates the hatchback’s already-premium appearance to new heights. This chrome strip also has a rear-facing camera.
The new Maruti Suzuki Baleno is a more aesthetically pleasing vehicle than the previous model. As far as I can see, there are no design flaws that could have made it better.
Maruti Suzuki Baleno 2022: Interior
This is one area where the new Maruti Suzuki Baleno significantly outperforms the outgoing model. All-new dashboard with a few first-of-its-kind features.
When you open the doors and yank on the handle, you’ll see the difference the new inside makes right away. Maruti Suzuki claims it has a cutting-edge interior with “natural flow lines” that is state-of-the-art. Well, one can see that the exterior design lines have also made their way into the cabin.
The interior of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno has a blue and black colour scheme. Silver accents on the dashboard and steering wheel, on the other hand, give the cabin a more upscale appearance. In addition, there are piano black inlays in several places.
The top of the dashboard is done in black, while the middle area is completed in a shade of turquoise. There is a silver strip that mimics the chrome strip on the grille that separates the black and blue here. The 9-inch infotainment unit’s centre AC vents are also highlighted by this silver strip.
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno’s centre of gravity is a 9-inch Smartplay Pro+ touchscreen display. It is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing you to use a variety of services, including navigation and your preferred music apps while driving. The system’s UI is simple and user-friendly, and the procedure of connecting your phone is basic.
ARKAMYS speakers and Surround Sense technology are used to reproduce sound. This allows you to fine-tune the sound of the speakers to suit your personal preferences. A lot of basses are delivered, which we’re confident will satisfy the needs of the majority of Indian listeners. The speakers, on the other hand, could have been of higher quality, as is noticeable at higher volume levels in particular.
A 360-degree camera is also available, and it’s shockingly nice. The video stream on the screen is of excellent quality, and a test shows that the latency is simply not there. At the test location, a dark-tinted Baleno was reserved for us to evaluate the 360-degree camera’s accuracy. We followed solely the camera feed as we drove around a predetermined path. Quite a feat, to be sure.
Suzuki Connect, Maruti Suzuki’s telematics system, is also available for the new Baleno. You can stay in touch with the vehicle at all times, and you’ll have access to certain first-of-a-kind capabilities as a result. The headlamps, warning lights, door locks, engine immobiliser, etc., may now be operated remotely.
As a result of Suzuki Connect, you may now cool the cabin with a command from your phone. Vehicle tracking and geofencing are also included, along with vehicle alarms and other safety measures. With the new Maruti Suzuki Baleno, you can also use Amazon Alexa and Smartwatch connectivity to offer the car voice instructions. Incredibly well-versed in technology.
The automatic climate control settings can be found in the blue area of the dashboard. As far as centre consoles go, this one is quite easy to understand and use. In front of the gear lever, you get a storage area. The handbrake lever is located behind the gear shift, while the centre armrest is located directly in front of it. Additional storage space is provided by the armrest’s built-in cubbyhole.
Maruti Suzuki Swift’s steering wheel appears to have been a major influence on the design of the new steering wheel. Voice recognition and cruise control are all controlled by steering wheel-mounted buttons. Tilt and telescopic adjustments are also available.
A digital-analogue instrument cluster sits behind the driver’s seat. The speedometer and tachometer are digital displays, while the MID provides the driver with a wealth of information. It shows the distance-to-empty, average fuel efficiency, current fuel efficiency, trip metres, odometer, and other information.
This leads us to one of the 2019 Maruti Suzuki Baleno’s most talked-about and beneficial features: the rearview camera. Yes, the Head-Up Display is finally here (HUD). The HUD is controlled by a small panel on the right side of the dashboard.
The HUD display can be raised in front of the driver via a button on the dashboard. It’s a great feature that you can even bend, and the screen rises dramatically. On the HUD screen, there are buttons that allow you to change how the information appears. To acquire information about the vehicle without taking your eyes off the road, this feature has been implemented.
The materials utilised in the new Baleno are also of high grade. In addition, the hatchback’s inside is one of the best in its class thanks to its abundance of features and cutting-edge technology.
Seating Comfort, Practicality & Boot Space
The seats also use the same blue and black colour scheme. There is a lot of attention paid to the design of these seats, which are made of fabric. There is a lot of thigh support and bolstering in the driver and passenger seats. With chairs like this, getting into tight spots is a cinch.
When it comes to comfort for both driver and front passenger, the 2017 Maruti Suzuki Baleno offers more than enough padding. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno will make long road journeys and hours behind the wheel a breeze.
Maruti Suzuki appears to have placed comfort above all else at the back of the vehicle. There’s plenty of headroom, knee room, and overall interior space. In addition, the transmission tunnel in the middle of the vehicle isn’t excessively high, which benefits the centre-seat passenger. The new Maruti Suzuki Baleno does have room for three passengers to sit comfortably.
This, although being a high-end hatchback, lacks a crucial component. The fold-down armrest is not available to the passengers in the back, thus they also miss out on the cupholders that are usually part of the armrest. However, passengers in the back have air conditioning and USB ports.
The door pockets give plenty of room for a 1-litre bottle and a few other small items, too. The new Baleno from Maruti Suzuki is no exception to this rule. With the 60:40 split-folding back seat, you can pack bags more easily when necessary. A segment-leading 318 litres of cargo space is available with all seats in the back folded down.
Drive Experience & Performance
The 1.2-litre petrol engine in the 2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno would be recognisable to those of us in the Indian market. This is the same engine that powered the previous Baleno model, however, it has undergone a significant alteration. The mild-hybrid technology used on the Baleno is no longer offered by Maruti Suzuki.
88.5bhp and 113 Nm of torque is produced by the 1,197cc, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine at 6,000rpm and 4,400rpm respectively. The gearbox of the new Baleno has undergone a considerable overhaul compared to the previous model.
It used to be possible to get the Maruti Suzuki Baleno with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic transmission. Maruti Suzuki, on the other hand, has ditched the CVT in favour of an AMT. The new Baleno’s transmissions, both manual and automatic, were a pleasure to drive.
To start the four-cylinder engine, use the starter button. The engine’s smoothness is immediately obvious, and it’s only amplified when you shift into gear and take off. Because of the engine’s small size, the low-end grunt is very impressive, and the engine also revs quite quickly.
The Baleno’s mid-range performance is likewise excellent, and it accelerates rapidly. Up to 5,000 rpm, the engine sounds great, but after that, it gets a little harsh. It’s nothing to be upset about, though. Typical of a K-Series engine, the power diminishes as the engine speed rises.
The new Baleno’s 1.2-litre petrol engine delivers the powerful mid and low-end driveability that is typical of K-Series engines. It is simple to reach and maintain triple-digit speeds. However, given the size of the engine, it will require some effort to overtake at high speeds. Even if you have to downshift, you’ll still have plenty of power.
The manual gearbox, on the other hand, is nearly flawless. When shifting, you’ll have a more pleasant experience because the throws are shorter and easier to execute. As a result, driving becomes more interesting and exciting. It’s all about the fine print in this case. When shifting gears, it’s important to have the gear lever at an ideal position for the driver.
With a petrol engine in a Maruti Suzuki, you may anticipate the clutch pedal to be light. When dealing with stop-and-go traffic, this is a lifesaver in the urban jungle. Now, there is a third option that does away with the clutch pedal altogether.
The 5-speed AMT is the most convenient alternative in this situation. Even still, the trade-off for greater fuel efficiency is evident. When shifting, there is a slight latency, and the response time wasn’t as swift as we’d hoped. To some extent, moving to manual mode improves shifting time and response, but it is still slower than a manual transmission.
The suspension has been overhauled in the new Maruti Suzuki Baleno, resulting in a more dynamic driving experience. In tight curves taken at low speeds, it undoubtedly has superior handling than the previous model. At greater speeds, we’d prefer it if it were more secure.
When driving at low and moderate speeds, potholes can be absorbed rather easily. At high speeds, potholes and bumps can cause the automobile to shake uncontrollably. When driving at low speeds, we expected the steering wheel to be very light, but as the pace increased, it became heavier. However, we discovered that the wheel was quite hefty even at low speeds. This can make sitting in traffic for a lengthy period of time a little difficult.
Handling has greatly improved over its predecessor, and this is evident by how swiftly and smoothly it responds to your inputs. The driver feels more secure because of the excellent control over body roll.
The new Baleno from Maruti Suzuki boasts significantly better brakes than the outgoing model. A little more early bite would have been nice, but the improvement in brakes over the previous generation is noticeable. Instead of the current drum brake configuration, a set of disc brakes at the back would have been superior.
Safety Features
In the past, Maruti Suzuki has received enough criticism for its automobiles’ safety features. However, it doesn’t appear that the new Baleno will face any such problems. It has a lot of safety features built-in.
2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Safety Features:
– ABS with EBD
– Six Airbags
– ESP
– Seat Belt Reminder
– ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor Points
– Rear Parking Sensors
– Hill Hold Assist
Conclusion:-
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has long been a favourite of its owners. Maruti Suzuki has taken things to the next level with the new Baleno. At the same time, it has a lot more current features and keeps the charm of the original Baleno while also adding a lot more functionality.
The AMT transmission in the Baleno makes driving more pleasant and safer. It’s nearly impossible to find fault with the new Baleno. That’s right, the new model is a huge improvement over the previous one.
