Maruti launches all-new Baleno at INR 5,74,633 (on-road, Mumbai)

Maruti Suzuki have launched their much awaited Baleno premium hatchback in India. The Baleno range will start from INR 5,74,633 (on-road, Mumbai). Maruti have confirmed that these are introductory launch prices on their newest car. These are therefore likely to go up with time. The all-new Baleno is based on the YRA-based hatchback that had been showcased by the manufacturer earlier. It will be sold exclusively through their NEXA dealership channel. This makes the Baleno to be the second car to be retailed through Maruti’s premium dealership after the S-Cross. Bookings are now being accepted at all NEXA showrooms for INR 11,000.

The all-new Baleno has been designed keeping the sub-four metre length in mind. It is 3,995mm long (clearing regulations by a mere 5mm) and measures about 1,745mm in width. The roofline is 1,500mm from the ground, and the entire car sits on a wheelbase of 2,520mm. Maruti have given the all-new Baleno a healthy ground clearance of 170mm which should ensure that there is no scraping on those monstrous speed breakers that dot our roads.

The design language seen on the Baleno is called ‘Liquid Flow’ in Maruti speak. It sports a V-shaped honeycomb grille in the centre, flanked by sweptback headlamps. The Baleno also comes with Daytime-running Lamps (DRL’s) and the air-dam gets horizontal slats. Turn indicators have been made a part of the ORVM shell while the A & B pillars are finished in black. At the rear, the tail-lamps follow a wraparound effect on the Baleno, which also gets a spoiler on the roof. Those making a beeline to the NEXA showroom will have seven colour options to choose from with the Baleno. There’s the Premium Urban Blue and an Autumn Orange; a Solid Fire Red and a Ray Blue; Metallic Premium Silver and Pearl Arctic White, with the Granite Grey option rounding things off.

The Baleno will be the first NEXA retailed product to come with a petrol engine under the hood. While the S-Cross featured only DDiS engines, the all-new Baleno will come with an 83 Bhp, 1.2 litre petrol that develops a healthy 115 Nm of torque. Diesel enthusiasts will get the 1.3 litre DDiS diesel in 74 Bhp, 190 Nm torque guise. Both engines will come mated to a five-speed transmission. Additionally, Maruti is also offering a continuously variable transmission (CVT) transmission option on the petrol. This will exclusively be available with the Delta trim variant. The Baleno will ride on 15-inch wheels on the lower variants while the higher, Zeta & Alpha variants shall come with 16-inch wheels clad with wide contact 195/55 tires.

The NEXA retailed, all-new Baleno premium hatchback has its work cut-out for it. With the S-Cross finding it difficult to make in-roads into the market, Maruti will be banking high on the Baleno to work its magic. Offering key safety features as standard across the range and the all-important CVT option are steps in the right direction. But Maruti has to pull its socks up, for the market is ruthless and with stiff competition out there, it won’t be easy for the Baleno as it has been for its Maruti cousins.