Maruti Suzuki Baleno 2024: Should You Buy One? | View

Summary

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is praised as the best car under 10 lakh Rupees, offering great value for money. It excels as a first car, family car, and city car with a versatile design blending hatchback, sedan, and SUV elements. The 1.2 L K series engine is highly efficient and user-friendly, though the automatic transmission is less impressive. The Baleno's suspension and ride quality are standout features, providing a smooth and quiet experience. While the interior is comfortable, it lacks premium features and a 360° camera. Despite missing some bells and whistles, the Baleno is a top recommendation in its price range, with a strong engine and practicality, but the Toyota Glanza offers a more premium feel and warranty.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Maruti Suzuki's Baleno is considered the best car you can buy in the country today for 10 lakh Rupees.
• 👪 The Baleno is praised for being a great first car, family car, city car, and fun-to-drive car.
• 💵 It's highlighted as a great value for money, bringing together features of hatchback, sedan, and SUV.
• 🛠 Some downsides include a boring cabin experience and the lack of a sophisticated automatic transmission.
• 🛞 The Baleno's 1.2 L K series engine is highly praised for its smoothness, responsiveness, and efficiency.
• 📉 The car's efficiency in city traffic is around 13 km/l and on expressways, it ranges from 21 to 23 km/l.
• 🏎 The Baleno's suspension is noted as smooth and quiet, comparable to the Brezza in rough road ability.
• 🔧 The automatic transmission (AMD) is functional but not as impressive as the engine, making the manual a better option.
• 🪑 The cabin, especially the front seats, is comfortable with enough room for tall passengers, but the back seat lacks width.
• 🚙 Despite some misses, the Baleno is recommended as a top choice in its price range, though the Toyota Glanza is seen as a slightly better alternative.

Q & A

What is the Maruti Suzuki Baleno considered to be the best for in terms of car categories?

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is considered the best for being a great first car, a family car, a city car, and a fun to drive car, making it an all-rounder and offering great value for money.

What are some of the reasons one might say no to the Baleno?

Reasons to say no to the Baleno include a boring cabin experience, the lack of a sophisticated automatic, and the absence of the Fran's bunia petrol engine.

What is special about the Baleno's 1.2 L K series engine?

The Baleno's 1.2 L K series engine is highly praised for being able to do anything effortlessly, including being smooth and responsive even at low revs, and providing a pleasant driving experience as it revs up.

How efficient is the Baleno in terms of fuel consumption in city traffic and on expressways?

In city traffic, the Baleno can achieve around 13 km/l, and on expressways, it can go up to 21 to 23 km/l, making it quite efficient.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the Baleno's automatic transmission?

The reviewer finds the Baleno's automatic transmission functional and smooth for newer drivers, but it's a disappointment because it's not as brilliant as the engine and doesn't offer the same level of sophistication as a CVT like Hyundai offers with the i20.

How does the Baleno's suspension compare to the Brezza in terms of rough road ability?

The Baleno's suspension is praised for its smoothness and quietness over rough roads, similar to the Brezza, indicating good rough road ability despite not having as much ground clearance.

What are the seating and space offerings in the Baleno's cabin?

The Baleno offers comfortable front seats with enough room for six footers, a driver's seating position that's just right, and a back seat with almost as much knee room as a Honda City, although it lacks width compared to the i20.

What features does the Baleno lack that could have improved its appeal?

The Baleno lacks a 360° camera, a premium sound system, a heads-up display, and some safety features like rear windscreen washer and wiper, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

How has the Baleno's design evolved from the first generation?

The Baleno's design has not significantly changed from the first generation, with the main change being a more aggressive front face that makes the car look wider.

What is the Toyota Glanza, and how does it compare to the Baleno?

The Toyota Glanza is mechanically similar to the Baleno but offers a cooler exterior design, a more premium cabin feel due to lighter colors, and the benefits of the Toyota badge, including a more robust warranty and better service promise.

What advice does the reviewer give for those concerned about tinaba and kit hair?

The reviewer advises driving the Baleno with an open mind, as the only person losing out is the one who doesn't give it a fair chance.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Maruti Suzuki Baleno: The Versatile Choice

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is praised as an excellent car for 10 lakh Rupees, suitable for first-time buyers, families, city driving, and for those seeking fun and value. It combines the best features of a hatchback, sedan, and SUV. The car is recommended as the default choice in its price range due to its 1.2 L K series engine, which is highly responsive and efficient in various driving conditions, offering impressive mileage in both city and highway scenarios. However, the lack of a sophisticated automatic transmission and a boring cabin experience are noted drawbacks. The Baleno's suspension is highlighted for its smoothness over rough roads, and its boot space is comparable to the Brezza, despite a smaller size and a high loading lip. The front seats are comfortable, and there's ample space for taller individuals, but the back seat could benefit from better support and larger windows for a more airy feel.

05:02

🔍 Baleno's Practicality and Room for Improvement

While the Baleno offers a practical and comfortable driving experience, it falls short in terms of cabin sophistication and advanced features. The use of blue plastics is a bold design choice, but the overall cabin lacks the premium feel that could make it more appealing. The car lacks certain features like a 360° camera, premium sound system, and heads-up display, which the owners consciously chose to forgo due to their limited utility. Instead, they would have preferred a rear windscreen washer and wiper, and a tire pressure monitoring system for enhanced safety. Maruti claims improved crash safety due to a stiffer and stronger chassis, but the sheet metal does not contribute to this aspect. The Baleno's design remains largely unchanged from the first generation, with the front face being the most notable update. Despite its shortcomings, the Baleno is still a top recommendation in its price range, but the Toyota Glanza is presented as an even better option with its cooler cabin, premium feel, and the added benefits of the Toyota brand, including a robust warranty and better service.

Keywords

💡Maruti Suzuki Baleno

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is a compact car model produced by the Indian automaker Maruti Suzuki. In the video, it is presented as an excellent choice for various categories of drivers, including first-time car owners, families, city dwellers, and those seeking a fun driving experience. The script highlights its versatility and value for money, making it a top recommendation in its price range.

💡Hatchback

A hatchback is a type of car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. The video mentions that the Baleno combines the best features of a hatchback, sedan, and even a hint of SUV, indicating its practicality and appeal in terms of space and design.

💡1.2 L K series engine

The 1.2 L K series engine is a specific type of engine used in the Baleno, noted for its impressive performance. The script praises this engine for being able to 'do anything effortlessly,' including being smooth and responsive, which enhances the driving experience and makes it suitable for various driving conditions.

💡Automatic Transmission

Automatic transmission refers to a type of gearbox that automatically changes gears without the driver's intervention. The video discusses the Baleno's automatic transmission (AMD) as functional and smooth, but also points out that it is not as brilliant as the engine, suggesting a slight disappointment in the overall driving experience.

💡Suspension

Suspension in a vehicle refers to the system of springs, shock absorbers, and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. The script highlights the Baleno's suspension as being 'Ace,' providing a smooth and quiet ride over rough roads, which is crucial for comfort and handling.

💡Ground Clearance

Ground clearance is the minimum distance between the lowest point of the vehicle and the ground. The video mentions that while the Baleno doesn't have as much ground clearance as some competitors, it is still capable of navigating rough terrains if driven carefully.

💡Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency is a measure of how far a vehicle can travel with a set amount of fuel. The script notes the Baleno's impressive fuel efficiency in both city traffic and on expressways, with figures ranging from 13 km/l to 21-23 km/l, emphasizing its practicality and cost-effectiveness.

💡Cabin Experience

Cabin experience refers to the comfort, features, and overall atmosphere inside a vehicle. The video describes the Baleno's cabin as impressive, particularly in the front seats, but notes that the back seat could be improved in terms of width and support, affecting the overall comfort for passengers.

💡Toyota Glanza

The Toyota Glanza is a direct competitor to the Baleno, mechanically similar but with a different brand identity. The script suggests that the Glanza might be a better option due to its cooler design, premium cabin feel, and the perceived benefits of the Toyota brand, such as warranty and service.

💡Safety Features

Safety features in a vehicle include elements designed to protect the driver and passengers in the event of a crash. The video mentions that while the Baleno lacks some advanced safety features like a 360° camera, it has an upgraded chassis for better crash safety, indicating a focus on structural integrity.

💡Practicality

Practicality in a vehicle refers to its usefulness and functionality in everyday driving. The script praises the Baleno for its practicality, noting its efficient engine, comfortable seating, and good luggage space, making it a suitable choice for various driving needs.

Highlights

Maruti Suzuki's Baleno is considered the best car under 10 lakh Rupees in India, suitable for first-time buyers, families, city driving, and for enjoyment.

The Baleno is praised as an all-rounder and offers great value for money, combining the best features of a hatchback, sedan, and SUV.

Potential drawbacks include a boring cabin experience and the absence of a sophisticated automatic transmission.

The 1.2 L K series engine is highly regarded for its effortless performance and ability to adapt to different driving conditions.

The manual transmission is smooth and light, making gear changes almost optional due to the engine's responsiveness.

The Baleno's engine is efficient, offering 13 km/l in city traffic and up to 21-23 km/l on expressways.

The automatic transmission, while functional, is a disappointment compared to the manual and does not match the engine's brilliance.

The Baleno's suspension is highly praised for its smoothness and ability to handle rough roads, similar to the Brezza.

The car's high ground clearance and stability on highways provide a grounded driving experience.

The Baleno's boot space is comparable to the Brezza, despite having a smaller size on paper and a high loading lip.

The front seats are comfortable, with ample room for taller individuals, and the driver's seating position is ideal.

The rear seat has sufficient knee room but could be improved with better support and larger windows for a more airy feel.

The Baleno lacks certain premium features like a 360° camera, premium sound system, and heads-up display, which were deemed unnecessary by the owners.

The car's chassis has been upgraded for better crash safety, making it stiffer and stronger.

The Baleno's exterior design remains largely unchanged, with the front face being the most significant update.

The car's interior design and color choices suggest a sense of compromise, with a focus on practicality over aesthetics.

Despite missing out on certain emotional appeal, the Baleno's practicality and performance make it a top recommendation in its price range.

The Toyota Glanza is mentioned as a better alternative to the Baleno, offering a cooler cabin and a more premium feel with the Toyota badge.

The reviewer advises potential buyers to test drive the Baleno with an open mind, dismissing concerns about tinaba and kit hair.

Transcripts

[Music]

maruti Suzuki's Baleno is a no-brainer

for 10 lakh Rupees it's the best car you

can buy in the country today it's a

great first car it's a great family car

it's a great City car it's a great fun

to drive car it's a great allrounder and

it's great value for money it's really a

lot of car it brings together the best

of hatchback sedan and even a sprinkling

of SUV it's our pivot car which means in

this price range if you're looking to

buy something say no to the Baleno first

before you say yes to anything else

there are a few reasons to say no to the

Baleno like it's boring cabin experience

and the lack of a sophisticated

automatic the Fran's bunia petrol engine

would have been nice to see on the

Baleno as well but that isn't going to

hold the Baleno back

[Music]

because that's because the Baleno 1.2 L

K series engine is a god it can do

anything effortlessly including reading

your mind it knows when you want to

chill newer drivers everyday commuters

will love that about it it becomes

silent and invisible and just takes care

of traffic even with the manual because

gear changes almost seem optional it's

that smooth and that responsive even at

low revs on open roads it's ready and

relaxed you don't have to rev it hard to

get the best out of it but you'll want

to because it feels so good it goes from

a smooth bur to a determined but

soft something like that in a Flash and

you love it as it revs up it makes

driving the Balano so much more

enjoyable while it is easy and enjoyable

it's also efficient in terrible traffic

in the city you'll see 13 km field on

easy expressways it'll go up to 21 to 23

g field quite simply this engine is

impressive get it while you can the

catch is the

automatic firstly let me just say not

everyone needs it because the manual is

smooth and light enough to use but if

you have to have it the AMD will be

functional enough newer drivers will

find it to be smooth where most other

amds can feel jerky it is helpful more

experienced drivers won't find it slow

or difficult it is good enough this AMD

is a disappointment because it's not as

brilliant as the engine it uses the

Brilliance of the engine to get by the K

series deserved a CBD like Hyundai

offers with the I20 but the Baleno has

another Advantage which the I20 can't

quite match up to that would be the Bano

suspension which is Ace the smoothness

and quietness with which it goes over

these rough roads is very much like the

brezza in terms of rough road ability it

doesn't have as much ground clearance as

the franx but if you're careful it will

go where the franx can on highways you

don't have to worry about it being

flighty it's actually pretty grounded in

fact you feel more of the road at times

at higher speeds than I would have liked

which is better than the compromise you

have to deal with on the Hyundai i20

where the rear gets bouncy on the whole

this is a solid package one that you'll

enjoy driving as well you sit a bit

lower and the suspension is more plush

and because of that it'll feel more

connected to drive than the frox the

Baleno can be compared to the Breza when

it comes to the boot on paper its size

is smaller but the bigger disadvantage

is that high loading lip but in terms of

the amount of luggage you can pack in

the Baleno is pretty much the same as

the presser which is impressive the

cabin of the Baleno is also impressive

especially in the front seats those

seats are white comfortable and there's

enough room there for six Footers and

the seating position for the driver

driver is

just the back seat it's not the best in

terms of width the i20s is wider but the

knee room in the Baleno is almost as

much as a Honda City so you can really

stretch out if the seat was mounted a

bit higher up for better support and if

the windows were a bit larger for a more

Airy feel you'd wonder who needs a Brea

you can compare the cabin experience of

the Beno with the Breza as well which is

an insult and a bit inaccurate the Bano

is a bit better but only a bit it's not

like it was designed to make people fall

in love and crave the Balano the use of

blue for Plastics inside the cabin is a

brave choice and one that I like but the

other choices like the fabrics for the

seats the graphics for the mid for the

higher variants they all whisper at you

endlessly you settled you settled you

settled you settled we did kind of

settle you see this Balano is my mom-

in-laws it doesn't get a 360° camera a

premium sound system or heads up display

that's because we wanted it that way the

360° camera is Handy but not sharp

enough the sound system isn't really

premium enough and the heads up display

isn't useful enough what we would have

wanted are the U card glasses the rear

windscreen washer and wiper and a tire

pressure monitoring system that should

be standard to up the safety quotient of

the Baleno looking at it you can't tell

but maruti say that the crash safety of

this Baleno will be better because the

chassis has been upgraded it's stiffer

and stronger

making its crash safety better what

doesn't affect crash safety at all is

the sheet metal but it affects your

sense of satisfaction so that has been

made stiffer too all these things put

together make the Baleno heavier and

make it feel more premium the bolo's

design hasn't really become premium at

the re it looks pretty much the same

from the side it looks exactly like the

first gen it's the face that's the big

change which looks more aggressive and

makes the car look wider to me it feels

like a Seas was meant to be made with

this but somehow didn't

happen it would have been incredible if

we could have called the Baleno perfect

instead we'll settle for almost complete

it's a car that gets so many things

right it's not just the great engine or

suspension

it's the details of how things come

together the seating position which is

just perfect the suspension which is so

enjoyable the engine which is so easy to

drive and the sense of comfort and

practicality that the car has to offer

the logic side of the Baleno will Bowl

you over the emotional appeal of it

seems almost like an accident if maruti

Suzuki wanted the Baleno to win over

more Hearts they would have given it a

cooler cabin and more options to make it

more sophisticated to drive despite

these misses the Baleno is still our top

recommendation in this price range which

means it's the car you should be taking

a close hard look at and say no to

before you say yes to anything

else hang on there is a better car it's

called the Toyota glanza it's

mechanically the Bano but but cooler its

face certainly looks better and on the

inside the cabin feels more premium

because of lighter colors and then

there's the Toyota badge which brings

with it a more robust warranty and the

promise of better service which means

that definitely feels like the better

Bano as for some of you who like to talk

about tinaba and kit hair being a

problem my advice is drive one with an

open mind because otherwise the only

person who's losing out is you

[Music]