A car that tips the scales.

1. Buying Experience. Since Baleno is a Nexa marketed variant, the buying process seems more consumer-friendly and premium as that's what Maruti was looking to do with the launch of Nexa arenas. I bought the car at a time when it was selling like hot cakes and so had to wait a good 45 days before mine got delivered. The overall process took about three visits to the dealer before we finalized on the purchase. After two years of driving it in the city and the highway as well, Nexa has still not failed at providing exceptional servicing and roadside assistance to me. 2. Ride. The Baleno is a light car, with the petrol manual weighing just around 860 kilos and it shows, the handles nicely, doesn't throw the weight around and responses for the throttle and the steering are well in time. The suspension could be a tad bit tuned, to ease it onto the Indian roads and make the ride better. The insulation on the car is terrible, and ambient road noise makes it's way inside very easily, ruining the music as well. 3. Design and Performance. The looks of the car are great, visually sporty and aggressive. The car is definitely long and very spacious on the inside (it's almost as Iong as the Swift Dzire!) so there's a lot of legroom and storage. The interior, in this price range, seems fine, with some cheap plastics here and there with some nice leather in the places where it matters. One thing that bugs me is the absence of an engine pan below the engine, making it vulnerable to any debris flying into it. Maruti has really let it go with the chassis this time, because one accident and the car will be totalled (god forbid). I've been in a few minor accidents with the car, and everytime the car has needed bodywork. The performance is of course, spirited and rock solid, with the engine picking up fast and staying onto the power. The clutch feels good, so does the brake. Shifting is smooth as butter and on a nice road, you'd fall in love with the car's drive. <