Hot on the heels of securing the title of South Africa's best-selling passenger car brand in May of 2022, Suzuki has launched the new Baleno to the local market. We travelled down to KwaZulu Natal to sample the newcomer recently.
Suzuki has gained a significant amount of momentum in recent years, thanks in part to consumers looking for more budget-friendly vehicles, but mostly thanks to a new and impressive product portfolio. With models such as the Swift, Jimny, Vitara Brezza and S-Presso all boasting impressive sales figures, the introduction of an updated Baleno should spell more success for the Japanese brand within the local market. We recently attended the national media launch in KwaZulu Natal and had a chance to drive the latest Baleno.
What’s new?
While many would consider what Suzuki has done to the Baleno as a significant facelift the brand itself insists that this is an entirely new vehicle. From a styling perspective, the latest model looks dramatically different up front, with reshaped headlamps, a new front bumper and a new grille. The side profile and the general silhouette is familiar, and the rear end is also reminiscent of its predecessor. Overall, the exterior design has been executed well and, anecdotally at least, the design appears to have been well received.
Heading inside, there appears to have been a slight improvement in the overall quality, both in terms of materials and the manner in which the car is put together. From a creature comfort perspective, all Baleno models now come with cruise control, ESP, one USB charging port up front and two at the rear (Type A and C), a reverse camera, dual front airbags and climate control, among others. The top-spec GLX models feature a head-up display, a full 360-degree Round View Monitor, 16-inch alloy wheels, 6 airbags, chrome-trimmed door handles, keyless entry/start, LED headlights and LED daytime running lights. In terms of practicality, the rear quarters of the new model are spacious for a product in this segment, while the 315-litres of boot space were enough for two suitcases.
There are two infotainment systems available in the range, with the GL variants featuring a 7.0-inch touchscreen system and the GLX derivatives coming with a 9.0-inch system. Both systems come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality and worked well throughout our drive through KwaZulu Natal, offering good resolution, minimal lag and ease of use. There is also a 4.2-inch screen in the instrument cluster, with the screen being configurable, offering information such as driving time, a power and torque graph, acceleration and braking and fuel consumption.
One engine
There is only one engine and two gearbox options available in the Baleno range, with the popular 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine used in various other Suzuki models replacing the old 1.4-litre unit. The engine produces 77kW and 138Nm of torque and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed torque converter automatic.
Driving impression
The media event started at King Shaka International Airport and we were tasked with driving to Pietermaritzburg, more specifically to the Nelson Mandela capture site, meaning a predominantly uphill journey which admittedly meant a return trip downhill, allowing us to experience the Baleno in a variety of driving conditions.
Despite breathing the thick coastal air, the Baleno still appears to struggle a bit when heading uphill, a problem that is likely to get worse up at altitude, however, the new engine is keen to rev, and our manual-equipped press units allowed us to get past the problem of hills with some high-rev driving. Despite our hilly route, our combined stint behind the wheel yielded a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.5 L/100km, which is better than the claimed 5.7 L/100km figure.
In terms of refinement and cabin intrusion, the Baleno performs admirably, exhibiting a reasonable level of refinement while not being too noisy at the national limit. Being a budget car, we aren’t expecting steering that is brimming with feel, or exceptional levels of grip and driver engagement, but rather, light controls, predictable handling and general ease of use, which are all attributes found in the Baleno.
Pricing
The Baleno range comes with a 5-year/200 000km warranty and a 4-year/60 000km service plan.
Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GL manual- R225 900
Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GL auto- R245 900
Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX manual- R275 900
Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GLX auto -R295 900
Verdict
Suzuki has done a great job with the packaging and pricing of the new Baleno, firmly planting it among the top three vehicles within the budget car segment.
Keyword: Heavily updated Suzuki Baleno launched locally