2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno - Driven

Six years after the arrival of the first-ever Maruti Suzuki Baleno, an all-new model is finally here

Maruti Suzuki has introduced the much-awaited second-generation Baleno in the Indian market. The new hatchback is based on an updated platform, gets a list of new features and a few mechanical upgrades as well. We drove the car to find out what it exactly offers.

2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno – Driven

• Year: 2022
• Make: Maruti-Suzuki
• Model: Maruti Baleno
• Model: Maruti Suzuki Baleno
• Engine: inline-4
• Horsepower @ RPM: 89
• Torque @ RPM: 83
• Displacement: 1.2 L
• Price: INR 635000
• car segment: compact cars
• Purpose: Family Cars
• body style: hatchback

What is new on Maruti Suzuki Baleno?

Maruti Suzuki has updated the all-new Baleno

The new Baleno looks sharper than before and also gets a few first-in-segment features. Maruti Suzuki has also upgraded the platform, suspension system, brake system, and a new infotainment system with a slew of new features. The new Baleno is also Maruti Suzuki’s introduction to the new-generation cars.

Does Maruti Suzuki Baleno look better than before?

While a quick glimpse is not enough to differentiate between the outgoing Baleno and the new one, there are several changes that make the car much sharper-looking than before. There are changes in the sheet metal of the car as well.

Up front, the new Baleno gets a wider grille. The headlamps are new though the shape looks similar to the outgoing model. There are three LED daytime running lamps integrated into the headlamps. These are very bright and give a new identity to the premium hatchback.

Maruti Suzuki has also updated the bumper and there are LED fog lamps as well. The car gets dual-tone 16-inch alloy wheels that get an updated design. The shape of the windows remains similar as well.

The new car gets a lot of changes including to the metal sheet

The rear gets some major changes. The new tail lamps are much bigger in size than before. The tail lamps are split but the parts on the bottled do not work. The shape of the bumper is new as well. Maruti Suzuki has updated the shape of the glass on the tailgate.

Maruti Suzuki has used a limited amount of chrome on the new Baleno, which will be a welcome move for many. But if you miss chrome, there are kits available at the dealerships.

Overall, the design of the new-generation Baleno looks like an evolution, based on the previous-generation model. Although it looks much sharper than before, it carries a lot of similarities.

• Looks sharper than before
• Gets many changes including metal sheet
• Overall shape remains the same

What has changed inside the cabin of the new Baleno?

Even the cabin has a lot of similarities to the old model. However, there are several changes that make it much more premium than before. The car continues to get the layered design with a gloss stripe in the middle.

The all-black cabin looks far sportier than before. In the centre, Maruti Suzuki has positioned a new 9.0-inch SmartPlay system, which gets connected features for the first time. There are over 40 connected features and you can see the status of the car through an application on the smartphone. It gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but the wireless feature is not available yet. A software update will add that in the future.

Chief among which is a new infotainment system that sees the addition of a 360 degree camera

The most interesting tech feature on the car is a 360-degree camera. It provides you with a 3D map in which a bird’s eye view appears on the screen to show what is around the car when you start it. There are two different angles for the camera. This is a segment-first feature.

The dashboard gets a few changes as well

The steering is new as well and it is quite nice to hold. The top-end variant that we were driving gets a leather wrap on the steering wheel. The steering wheel’s shape is similar to what we’ve seen on the Swift but it is bigger in size. There are multiple buttons on the steering wheel to control various actions in the infotainment system and cruise control system.

The instrument cluster is tweaked as well. Maruti Suzuki has updated the dials but the layout remains the same. The second segment-first feature in the car is the Head-Up Display or HUD. It shows various information including climate control and navigation. The display is crisp and sharp and if you find it distracting, pressing a button can fold it down neatly.

The automatic climate control system is new. It gets new toggle switches as well. There is ample space to keep small items and phones. There is no wireless charger available with the new Baleno.

While the seats are new but they are not the best (SWIPE UP TO KNOW WHY)

The seats are new and they offer a nice shape to hold your body in place. However, do note that they are extremely soft. Yes, they offer excellent comfort but during the long drives, the new seats can give a body ache. Maruti Suzuki says new seat covers will be made available to those customers who prefer stiffer seats.

There is a good amount of space in the car. The rear seats get a good amount of legroom and headroom. But there is an armrest in the middle. The rear passengers also get cool air through the rear vents and access to two high-speed USB chargers. One of these chargers is Type-C.

The rear seats continue to miss out on the important features

Maruti Suzuki does not provide ISOFIX seats or a headrest for middle passengers in the rear seats. But there are six airbags available with the top-end model that increases the overall safety.

The 318 litre of boot space is big enough but it is very deep. Putting in heavy luggage can be a problem for some. You can increase the boot space by folding down the 60:40 rear split seats.

• New infotainment system
• Extremely soft seats
• Upgraded suspension offers better comfort
• All-black cabin

Maruti Suzuki Engine and transmission

The new 2022 Baleno only offers a single-engine option. The 1.2-litre VVT engine does not get a mild-hybrid set-up but all the variants get the ISS or the integrated start-stop system that switches off the car at the traffic lights automatically.

The 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine of the new Baleno produces a maximum power of 90 PS of maximum power and a peak torque of 113 Nm.

And for the first time, Maruti Suzuki gets AGS transmission, which coupled with the 1.2 in line 4 petrol engine produces 89 hp and 113 Nm of torque

Maruti Suzuki has also removed the CVT automatic transmission from its line-up and has replaced it with AGS instead. AGS is what Maruti Suzuki calls the AMT gearbox. It results in higher fuel efficiency.

• AGS much smoother and better than before
• More fuel-efficient
• CVT is not available anymore

How is the Maruti Suzuki Baleno to drive?

The new Baleno is based on the new-generation HEARTECT platform and it gets an updated suspension system as well. These upgrades make the new Baleno better than the outgoing version. Just like the exterior and the cabin, the drive also feels like an evolution over the discontinued model.

We first drove the AGS version and we feel that it is by far, the best AGS available with any Maruti Suzuki car till now. The shifts were smooth and seamless, very responsive indeed. Pedal to the metal and the engine revs to the redline with a throaty sound. Drive it around with a light foot and watch the gears change on the instrument cluster.

But it is not as smooth as CVT as we can expect. The new transmission has brought the prices down, which will allow more buyers to get own the two-pedal model.

The manual transmission is a hooligan. You get more control over the gear shifts and more importantly the clutch to play around with. If you like the occasional fast rides home from the office, the manual will keep you happy. But for people who want fuel efficiency, the AGS makes much more sense.

There is a bit of body roll from behind the wheel, but the tuned suspension has made the ride quality much better than before. The Baleno stays put on the broken roads and absorbs the potholes very well. The steering is sharp enough to attract occasional enthusiastic drives as well. Maruti Suzuki has upgraded the brakes and the stopping power has increased.

• Much more planted
• Steering feels much better
• Suspension upgrade makes the car more comfortable

2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Price In India

Swipe up to read our detailed full driven review of the 2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

It is a very-well priced car at Rs 6.35 lakh starting price. It offers numerous features and many of them are segment-first. Yes, there is no sunroof but that adds more headroom to the car. Also, the AGS is much smoother and is much closer to the full-fledged automatics now. The Baleno was always practical but with the updates, it has more practical, safer and much better to drive as well.

What do you think of the new Baleno? Do let us know in the comments below.

Keyword: 2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno - Driven