Re: 2022 Maruti Baleno Review I have been trying to make up my mind about which car to buy, for a couple of months now. In fact, I started a thread on the "What Car?" sub-forum, seeking help from T-BHP experts, to try and zero in on a 'dream car' for myself.
On that thread (Middle-aged middle-class man seeking help in buying his 1st & last car) [now closed] people poured in with some amazing insights and guidance - which has helped me substantially.
Towards the end of that exercise, I mentioned that I was hoping to get a TD for the New Baleno, sometime soon... And responding to that, @Kosfactor mentioned (Middle-aged middle-class man seeking help in buying his 1st & last car) - Quote:
Since you are onto a car hunt, Let us know what you think of the new Baleno after a test drive, K series is the last good NA small petrol engine - which also happens to be fitted to an appropriate car.
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I finally got that TD - where I live and work - in a rural area within close proximity to a highway-connector. So, here's my two-bits on the new avatar ~
Some points that worried me, before the TD:- - A lowish GC (170 mm)
- Issue reported by a friend regarding the front bumper fouling too often with high speed-breakers (in the outgoing model of the Baleno)
- Maruti's invariable inability to get the aesthetics of a car right (I am an artist by training - and I know for a fact that aesthetics is really about very well defined calculations, as opposed to a common belief that it is a matter of subjective taste)
- The fact that the outgoing model had such dismal NCAP ratings
Some hoped-for improvements that I was looking forward to, before the TD:- - In the photos, the new avatar looked really sorted - in the 'looks' department
- The reported tweaking of the suspension as well as the transmission - addressing some of the known issues with the older version
- The report that Maruti had in fact put in extra focus on safety with the new avatar - 6 airbags (a major point of attraction for me) & heavier sheet-metal
- The resultant extra kerb weight - which should logically add stability to the vehicle
- The already well-tested and refined 1.2 lt. K series engine getting a Dual-Jet injection system - which would hopefully add to the driveability
My feelings - after the TD:- FOCUS ~ Low GC / Problem with front bumper vs high speed-breakers / Differently tuned suspension & Transmission improvements
I started the TD by taking the car over a metalled village road, with lots of 'local' speed-breakers - which leads to a pretty nasty dirt-road - going through a reserve forest, and emerging on to a highway-connector. In the initial part of that track, my speeds varied between 30 - 50 Kmph. And once on the dirt track, it was curtailed to about 20 - 30 Kmph. - The transmission seemed just perfect! Light clutch with short travel - and the customary smoothness of well-slotted Maruti gear-shifts. I'd say it was amongst the best I have handled from Maruti during my recent TDs. Even when I threw the car into 4th/ 5th gear at low speeds (20-30 kmph), there was no apparent discomfort - though the gear-shift indicator did keep reminding me that I wasn't driving in the optimum gear!
- So was the suspension - remarkably good! No problem going over multiple speed-breakers - even at a brisk speed. On the dirt track however, I had to be more cautious. Although, once the speed was lowered, the car handled the nasty potholes much better that what I expected.
- Towards the end, I deliberately took the car over a series of three really high local speed-breakers - and could not see any reason for worry, regarding the low bumper-lip reported by my friend.
FOCUS ~ Looks / Comfort / Safety - This is probably the first time that Maruti has got the exterior aesthetics to be near-perfect! From every angle, the car looks really well balanced and smart. The only 'flaw' I could find was the 'dot' lights lingering on from the older version, within the tail lamp assembly (the break lights). Even though they have reduced the number of those 'dots' - which went all around in a half circle earlier - they have chosen to linger on with them all the same. That, for me, has always been the most incongruous part of the Baleno's design! It brings on a completely different design-language, which does not gel with the rest of the car.
- The interior is just as smart. Not overdone - but quite plush. The seating position for the driver was excellent - and they have added the height adjusting mechanism. I thought the i20 (which I TD'd a few days back) lags behind in that department - the new Baleno seemed to give me a much better view - and it felt less slunk-in. The second-row leg room seemed really extended - it looked even more that the S-Cross to me! However, as a result the boot space has been reduced. I personally did not see the point of the compromise - but then, I am not a tall man. The seats seemed nice too - with prominent support from various angles. Though they did seem a bit too soft to me - and I wondered how a long drive would feel in them.
- I did quite a bit of Finger-NCAP testing - all around the vehicle. The the heavier sheet metal was quite apparent. The bonnet hood was not flimsy either. And inside the bonnet there was ample space (it could have easily accommodated a larger engine), with nicely organised components. The engine guard down below was also a reassuring sight.
FOCUS ~ Driveability / Powertrain / Dual Jet effect / Stability - For the first part of my TD the car drove beautifully. The usual progressive and smooth Maruti power delivery - almost noiseless refinement - peppy pick up.
- But once I emerged on to the highway connector - I was remarkably disappointed! I have recently TD'd the Ignis - with the same 1.2, and without the dual-jet. That was a far superior drive - above 60 kmph. The baleno, with it's added weight, was just outright sluggish. Even with a downshift to 4th gear, at speeds around 60-80 kph, the car was still struggling to overtake trucks in front. I am a light-footed driver. But even when I revved the engine, in frustration, I did not find the power that I expected.
- And the most disappointing part was the severe body roll and lack of stability - when I did a few quick swivels on the steering, at higher speeds. All that added weight notwithstanding, the car seemed really skittish and not at all planted, in spite of it's rather wide wheel track! In fact, I felt more confident with the Ignis in that department, compared to the heavier, lower and larger Baleno.
- The steering itself, however, displayed much better centring, compared to any of the other Marutis I have driven lately.
MY TAKE-HOME ~ - The new Baleno is a great looking car
- It's a worthy package for the 'premium' mnemonic
- It is a competent city vehicle
- It's no where near as good for highway travel
- I had read a report somewhere (not sure if it was here on T-BHP), before the launch of the New Baleno, that there was a possibility that Maruti might bring on the 1.5 Lt. K series engine (S-Cross/ Brezza) - maybe as an option - in the Baleno. I really wished they had done that! My sense was that it would have made this car a much better package.
- It's not for me!
Last edited by Aaditto : 18th March 2022 at 04:29.
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