Maruti Suzuki Baleno facelift launched: What else can you buy?

After being in the market for more than three years, Maruti Suzuki Baleno has finally undergone a mid-life update. The Nexa hatchback has now got a few cosmetic tweaks on the outside and added features inside the cabin. Available across 11 variants, the new Baleno is priced from Rs 5.45 lakhs to Rs 8.77 lakhs (ex-showroom all-India). So before you head out to Maruti Nexa to buy the Baleno facelift, here are all the other alternatives to consider, and at the same price. 

The Baleno Sigma trim is priced at Rs 5.45 lakhs for petrol and Rs 6.60 lakhs for the diesel. The fully-loaded XZ Plus variant of Tata Tiago can be had for a far lesser price than the entry-level trim of the new Baleno. But for buyers looking for a rugged-hatchback, the Tiago’s NRG version is a worthy alternative, in both petrol and diesel guise under the price tag of Sigma trim. Or the Honda Brio VX AT/M, which is a cutesy hatchback option at this price point. The new-gen Wagon R launched last week is also a viable option for the price of the entry-level Baleno. 

The option for a CVT automatic in the Baleno begins with the petrol variant of the Delta variant. Priced between Rs 6.16 and 7.48 lakhs, the other alternatives at this price are B-segment hatchbacks like the Hyundai Grand i10 in the Asta trim, Toyota Etios Liva in the VXD trim and the Alpha trim of Nexa’s other hatchback, the Ignis. The Bolt is another spacious hatchback which could also be in play here, but the Tata hatch is outdated compared to the Baleno. Customers looking for a performance hatchback will have to make do with the Tata Tiago JTP until the updated Baleno RS arrives. 

For the price of the Baleno Zeta – which ranges from 6.84 lakhs to Rs 8.16 lakhs – there are mid-spec variants of several compact sedans available. However, the Tata Tigor offers the best-in-class boot space and it tops out at almost Rs 50,000 less than the price of the Zeta trim. The six-seater version of the Mahindra KUV100 K8 can be had for the same price as the diesel variant of the Baleno Zeta. And, Ford offers the Freestyle CUV with a rugged body cladding and a powerful engine option in this price bracket. 

Priced between Rs 7.45 lakhs and Rs 8.77 lakhs, the top-of-the-line Baleno Alpha comes as a superior alternative to the Maruti Swift ZDi+ AMT, Elite i20 Asta 1.4 CRDi, Nissan Micra XV and Volkswagen Polo Comfortline. Other viable options at this price point include top-spec Ford Figo and Aspire, Hyundai Xcent in the SX CRDi trim. People looking to buy the Dzire and Amaze will have to settle for ZDI MT/AMT and VX i-DTEC, respectively. Honda Jazz is expensive by a huge margin and for the top-spec Baleno, the Jazz can be had only in the mid-spec V trim. 

For around Rs 30,000 over the Alpha variant, the VXI trim of the new Maruti Suzuki Ertiga can offer seven-seats and a practical overall package. The Vitara Brezza from Maruti’s stable is a sub-4 metre SUV which can be had in the VDI trim for the price of the top-spec Baleno. Other sub-4 metre SUV options include Ford EcoSport Ambiente, Hond WR-V S, and Tata Nexon XT. The entry-level Skoda Rapid is the only C-segment sedan available for the price of the new Maruti Suzuki Baleno.