Spec comparo: Maruti Suzuki Baleno Vs Ciaz Vs Vitara Brezza

Introduction
It is an accepted strategy nowadays to have multiple models in a similar price range. It gives a manufacturer an option to build their overall volumes based on multiple strengths rather than off the back of a single car. Most famous for this is Maruti Suzuki, who have worked by strategy in the A-segment and B-segment and have now decided to bring in the same into the C-segment.
Their fighters are the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Vitara Brezza and the Ciaz sedan.  The similar pricing of all three top-of-the-line diesel models indicates that Maruti Suzuki is looking to play a volumes game with these cars.
First is the Ciaz which is a traditional C-segment sedan, a body style that would be familiar to older buyers and those who aim to have a prestige in the car buying choice. The Baleno is a premium hatchback, a part of the market that Maruti Suzuki has never has presence in before and it looks like they have been having decent success with this model. Lastly, the Vitara Brezza is their competitor in the rapidly expanding compact SUV segment that has a range of vehicles like the Ford EcoSport and the Mahindra TUV300.

Dimensions
In terms of pure dimensions we can see that the Ciaz is in a league of its own when it comes to boot space, wheelbase and overall length. So a fight for the second and third spot sees the Brezza putting its best foot forward with higher ground clearance and a bigger fuel tank. However, the Baleno comes back fighting with a bigger wheelbase and a significantly lower kerb weight.  Both cars are evenly matched in terms length, breadth and even boot space. However, the Vitara Brezza is a taller car simply due to its SUV body style and having a ground clearance of 198mm as compared to the Baleno’s 170mm. 

Engine and performance
All the three cars are powered by the same 1.3-litre four-cylinder Multijet diesel engine. In the Ciaz and Vitara Brezza they produce 89bhp and 200Nm of torque whereas in the Baleno, it produces 75bhp and 190Nm of torque. All three are only offered with a five-speed manual. The hatchback’s output maybe lesser but that is because it is significantly lighter as compared to the other two. It has a kerb weight of 985kgs as compared to 1125kgs of the Ciaz and the 1190kgs of the Vitara Brezza. Keeping with the times, the Ciaz is the only one of the three to be offered with a start-stop system a.k.a SHVS which earns it a government discount as well as the title of being the ‘greenest car of the lot’. However, it seems almost logical to believe that Maruti Suzuki will bring the SHVS technology to the other cars too.

Equipment
It is here in the equipment division that we can see how Maruti Suzuki has managed to keep the prices of all three cars so close. All three cars in the fray get climate control, steering adjustment, moveable headrests, 12V sockets and one-touch driver’s side window. However, each of these cars lacks a feature which the other has and it’s a kind of give and take type clash among the three. The Ciaz has leather seat and armrest with storage as well rear vents whereas the Baleno gets a fully loaded touchscreen infotainment system as well as colour information display. The ZDi is not the highest variant for the Vitara Brezza and it has  a feature list similar to that of the Baleno but without the touchscreen system.  

Price (Ex-showroom Delhi)
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is priced in the range of Rs 5.15 lakh to Rs 8.33 lakh while the Vitara Brezza is priced in the range of Rs 6.99 lakh to Rs 9.54 lakh. The Ciaz, which fits into a higher tax bracket, is priced in the range of Rs 7.53 lakh to Rs 10.50 lakh. Our cars in the fray are priced at Rs 8.33 lakh for the Baleno, Rs 8.55 lakh for the Vitara Brezza and Rs 8.89 lakh for the Ciaz.