The heavily-updated 2022 Suzuki Baleno city car has been revealed for India – but there is no word yet on when it will reach Australian showrooms.
While Suzuki calls the 2022 Baleno a “full model change” – industry speak for a box-fresh, new-generation model – it’s more of a heavy facelift of the current car, with revised sheetmetal draped over the outgoing model’s chassis.
Now available to order in India (where Australian models are built), the ‘facelifted’ Baleno ushers in an updated exterior appearance and new interior technologies – but there’s still no advanced safety technology on offer, making it one of the last cars in the city car segment without autonomous emergency braking.
On the outside, a restyled front fascia is home to reshaped intakes and grille – as well as LED headlights and fog lights – while towards the rear the LED tail-lights now extend into the tailgate, and the lower bumper has been restyled.
While the Baleno’s doors and side body panels have been restyled for a sharper appearance, the car’s ‘greenhouse’ (side window opening) is unchanged – as is its footprint, with its quoted 3995mm length and 1745mm width identical to the outgoing Baleno.
Inside, a subtly-restyled dashboard incorporates a new 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with a voice assistant – joining an available, new-for-2022 colour head-up display in front of the driver, and a 360-degree camera.
Other interior updates include a new steering wheel borrowed from the Swift city car, an optional blue and black colour scheme, upgraded Arkamys sound system, rear USB-A and USB-C ports, rear air vents, and reshaped seats for improved comfort.
Indian buyers are granted access to a new Suzuki Connect app, allowing for remote control of the vehicle’s locks, lights, hazards and alarm, plus “status alerts” for various vehicle parameters.
Where the Baleno hasn’t been updated is in terms of safety, as the new model does not adopt any of the advanced safety technologies now expected in the city car class – including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert.
The Baleno is one of three remaining vehicles in the ‘micro’ and ‘light’ car sales segments without autonomous emergency braking on any variant, joining the Fiat 500 and MG 3. The Baleno’s showroom-mate, the Suzuki Swift, offers the technology.
Instead, the only safety features available in India are six airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, hill-hold assist, front seat belt reminders, and rear parking sensors – many of which are required by law in Australia.
No changes have been made under the bonnet either, with Indian-market models retaining a 66kW/113Nm 1.2-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a choice of five-speed manual (three pedals) or automated manual (two pedals) transmissions.
Australian models currently use a 1.4-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine developing 68kW and 130Nm, paired to a five-speed manual or four-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. It remains to be seen if this engine will carry over.
The 2022 Suzuki Baleno is now available to order in India, priced from ₹635,000 ($AU11,800) to ₹949,000 ($AU17,600).
Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed – though given local cars are built in India, it’s likely Australia-bound models will mirror the updates seen in India in the coming months or years.
Keyword: 2022 Suzuki Baleno revealed for India