Why I chose the Maruti Baleno over the i20 as my second car

Mileage is a strong point and with Maruti’s cost of ownership, it is good second car to have in your garage.

BHPian George Thomas recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Since my wife took a driving license we have been on the lookout for a car for around 10 lakhs. We have a Honda City (Manual) which for some reason she finds difficult to drive even though she learned to drive and took her license in a manual. Long story short, after a lot of negotiations, where I compromised, she agreed to drive on a regular basis if it was a small vehicle which was an automatic.

I am six-footers and by the look of things, it looks like both my boys will be close to my height. So it was essential to buy the spacious car possible while keeping it close to our budget. After the initial search based on suggestions from friends and our own needs, we narrowed it down to the Hyundai i20 and Suzuki Baleno. We took our respective test drives and these are some of the conclusions we came to.

i20

• 1-liter Turbo petrol is a gem of an engine and the best of the lot while the 1.2 liter feels underpowered
• The entertainment system is amazing and the screen is very responsive to touch. The sound quality is okay and can be improved.
• Full black cabin with plastics all around but has a certain feel-good appeal to it.
• Seat comfort is good both in the front and back with the rear seat being wider but lower than Baleno’s
• Suspension setup is on the stiffer side and road imperfections can be felt inside the cabin.
• DCT gearbox is seamless between gear changes and it’s easier to manage in town where there are constant gear changes.
• During our test drive, mileage was on the lower side, especially for a hatchback and we got 12-13 km/l in mixed conditions.

Baleno

• The 1.2 naturally aspirated engine produces only 88 bhp, but power is linear and progressive.
• The 7” Smart Play Pro system is basic but does a decent job. The sound from the 6 speakers is about average.
• The dark blue and black cabin with silver accents is just that. Hard plastics are everywhere just like the i20 but touch points are covered with soft materials.
• Fabric-covered seats are even in the top model but rear seat comfort is better and there is more legroom.
• Even on broken roads, the car feels more settled and it is due to a softer suspension setup.
• The AMT gearbox is the real Achilles heel and the lag between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears can be felt while accelerating or in a sudden overtaking situation.
• Since it’s a Maruti, mileage is not an issue and I got 16 km/l which seems pretty fair.

Point to note on the Baleno.

There is a low transmission whine or hum in the Baleno while at low speeds which I pointed to sales salesperson and he said that’s typical of a Maruti AMT. Not that I did not believe him but to be sure, I tried out the test cars at two other showrooms and it turns out the salesman is right once in a while. When going for any purchase, I remember the famous words “Till you pay the money, you’re king but once you do, they take over”.

We visited Indus Motors Kochi where the recently launched Jimny was the star attraction. We took another extensive test drive of the Baleno and the amt gearbox’s rubber band effect was apparent but other than that it was fine. Since it was Onam season there were quite a few offers and we got a decent discount on the Baleno. With the sale procedures completed, we were promised delivery in three weeks’ time.

We decided to go for the Baleno Zeta Automatic, since it has most of the essential features, like 6 airbags, a 7” infotainment system, alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and projector headlamps. What I really missed from the Alpha variant is the UV glass on all windows, and the new 9” system which has fewer bugs but paying over a lakh for it is ridiculous. We opted for the silver color as the Nexa blue was the default choice for most people and wanted a change.

I did go for a PDI checkup at the Maruti yard when they told me that my allotted car had arrived. I had a look around the outer edges for any scratches or paint imperfections and took some photos of the VIN number, manufacturing date, and engine bay. As I was leaving, I noticed something disturbing, since Maruti sells the largest volume of cars every month, the yard is always filled to the brim. Moving cars in and out is always a challenge and sometimes accidents do happen. This time it was a Maruti Brezza which got its edge ever so slightly bruised, and the paint had come off. I am sure they will buff it off. After witnessing this incident, I told the salesman that I wanted the delivery of my car as soon as possible and in the morning.

We took delivery in a few days and had another check if everything was okay. The delivery process was smooth and with the usual Mauti fanfare we drove out with our new Baleno.

The only accessories that I have added are the seat covers, the fog lights along with the essential bits from the showroom. I would have liked to go for better seat covers but the airbags in the front seats prevented me from taking a risk outside. I called the 3M office and they gave me the number for their outlet in Kochi. I went for 5 years under body and silencer coating. The only item remaining is the steering wheel cover.

As I am writing this, we have covered 1150 Km and with the first service over, the car feels smooth and responsive while driving in and out of town. However, when my wife drives, the speedo gets frozen at 40 - 45Kmph (maximum speed). Still, I am happy she has taken a liking to the car and has started driving it on a regular basis.

We recently visited a Hill station near Thrissur where the Baleno had no problems climbing steep inclines with a full load. Overall we got a reasonable mileage of 17 Km/l which was a pleasant surprise. The return drive was in the nighttime and Baleno’s projector headlights were reasonably bright and the drive was comfortable.

In my short time with the car, there are a few things to note.

Baleno is perfect for regular city use and for short trips. Do not mistake this for a highway cruiser.

Mileage is a strong point and with Maruti’s cost of ownership, it is a good second car to have in your garage.The plastic quality inside the cabin is so-so, maybe I am comparing it with a Honda City which is not fair.

Maruti claims to have improved safety by stiffening the panels and offering 6 airbags but I would not put that theory to test. My Honda City has been rear-ended twice and while we felt a shake in the cabin, there was not that much damage. When the Bharat NCAP results are out we will get a clear picture.

I use wireless Android auto to play music and it plays well but, there was a problem while using Google Maps, especially in town areas. The display reads "GPS signal lost" on the infotainment screen while the mobile displays it perfectly. This happened on our trip while in and out of Thrissur town many times. When inquired at the service center, the reply was it is better to connect through the USB. Defeats the whole purpose of wireless Android auto. Don't know if other users have this problem too.

Anyway, no car is perfect and everything considered I am happy with my purchase.

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