Maruti Suzuki Baleno 1.2 Alpha Long Term Wrap up

After three months and nearly 4,500km, it is time to return the Maruti Suzuki Baleno to its maker. And, it has been an interesting run. I still haven’t warmed up to the car’s exterior styling, but its interiors continue to impress. Spacious, well put together, and in this Alpha trim, there are a good array of bells and whistles to keep your mood buoyant. I like the seats too – front and back. The cushioning has proved to be comfortable and supportive even on long drives. And, thanks to the car’s interior width, I never heard the rear passengers complain about the car being cramped in any way.

The boot’s large enough too but the high loading lip continues to be a problem. Another problem is the Baleno’s ride. It’s harsh and noisy. And because of the way the suspension is setup – less pliant at slow speeds – it has caused a few rattles in the car courtesy Mumbai’s poor roads. And, as you’d expect, the roads have been getting worse in the rains.

Rewind a month or so and leaving the Baleno parked in the sun created another problem; its gear lever would go all soggy on us. Which is surprising because when the car is cold and the ambient temperature low, the gearshifts are precise and joyous to use. Moreover, the clutch is light and progressive; the shift throws are short; and the floor pedals are beautifully positioned for some satisfying heel-and-toeing.

What’s also lovely on the Baleno is its petrol engine. The 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, 83bhp, 115Nm unit is refined, and torquey enough to keep up with traffic even if you choose to short shift at 3,000rpm. And the throttle response is crisp and progressive, so you hardly feel any lag whatsoever.

The short shifting ploy doesn’t work as well on the highway, but nothing a few extra thousand revs can’t sort. And, it is fun revving the Baleno too for its sounds good; a little loud, yes, but never strained or unrefined. The engine has proven to be extremely fuel-efficient as well. The lightweight of the Baleno has helped, but returning an average of over 15kmpl across all driving cycles and road and travel conditions is commendable, nonetheless. In fact, one of the CarWale team members managed over 19kmpl while hypermiling just for fun.

So, if you are interested in buying the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, here’s what you must know. The Baleno competes against the likes of the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz. Spec for spec, it is the cheapest of the three, and as per ARAI fuel economy ratings, the most fuel-efficient as well. It is also similarly equipped and equally practical and is the only one to get a fancy driver information system as part of the instrument cluster. As we see it, apart from two shortcomings – poor ride comfort and worst in class warranty - the Baleno actually has a lot going for it. No wonder it is selling so well.

Do we recommend it, then? We do. And, not just the Alpha trim on test here, because the Zeta variant isn’t a bad option to settle for either.

Photos: Kapil Angane

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