Launch alert: Maruti Baleno priced at Rs 4.99 lakh

Named after the Baleno sedan of yesteryear, the new Maruti Baleno hatchback is Maruti’s latest premium entrant and will be sold through the recently launched Nexa chain of showrooms. Prices start from Rs 4.99 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The new Baleno targets competitors like the Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo.

The Baleno is smartly styled, spacious and about 100kg lighter than the Swift. It’s got a 339 litre boot to tuck away a weekend’s luggage and enough space in the back seats to seat two in comfort. Higher models gets climate control, colour TFT information screen, a 4.2-inch touch screen with a rear parking camera and satellite navigation system, and segment-first Apple CarPlay which, by the way, is a really cool feature. Apart from this, there are also steering-mounted controls, keyless entry, push button start, USB and AUX ports, and special coating on the glass which prevents UV rays from entering the cabin. Also commendable are the safety features such as ABS, EBD and dual airbags which are offered as standard on all variants.

The petrol engine in the Baleno is a very refined 1.2-litre VVT motor producing 85PS and 115Nm, offered with a 5-speed manual. It is also the first hatchback by Maruti Suzuki in India which comes with a CVT option. The diesel continues to be the tried and tested 1.3-litre DDiS 190 motor, good for 75PS and 190Nm. Yes, we were all expecting a 90PS oil-burner, but maybe Maruti is keeping that for a sportier variant of the Baleno which might be launched later on. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is one of the most efficient in the segment, with petrol claiming a mileage of 21.4kmpl and the diesel boasting of being the best in the segment with a claimed 27.39kmpl.