‘Dare to go Glam’: Maruti Suzuki launches ‘Stunning New Baleno’ with fresh design, advanced safety features

Suzuki unveiled the redesigned Baleno model in India on September 5, following an announcement in early September. This second generation Baleno, internally known as WD2, is the first update since its debut four years ago, encompassing both external and internal modifications, along with a shift in engine.

Externally, the primary changes are at the front, reminiscent of the Peugeot 508 and the 308's second generation, featuring a new grille with horizontal chrome slats and the absence of the Suzuki logo, which now sits beneath the hood. The rear design remains largely unaltered. Interior-wise, the refresh is subtle, retaining the original layout, including the steering wheel, physical controls, and infotainment systems.

However, a new upper center console has been introduced, housing a ventilated wireless charging pad for smartphones. Other enhancements include ventilated front seats, buttons situated between a 12-volt power socket and a type-C USB port, and a six-speaker Clarion sound system.

The core engine change is the replacement of the previous 1.2-liter K12N four-cylinder petrol engine with the same 1.2-liter Z12E three-cylinder, found in the Swift and DZire, resulting in a power reduction from 66 kW to 61 kW. Despite this, Suzuki maintains the five-speed automatic transmission as an alternative to the manual, instead of introducing a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) like in the Swift.

The downsized engine offers improved fuel efficiency, with 4.2 L/100 km for the manual and 4.0 L/100 km for the AMT. An alternative is the compressed natural gas (CNG) option, utilizing the same engine but producing outputs of 51kW/102Nm on gas and 61kW/112Nm on petrol. The AMT in CNG variant achieves a consumption of three liters per 100 km.

In India, the facelift Baleno is offered in four trim levels: Sigma, Delta, Zeta, and Alpha, with prices ranging from Rs 609,900 (R103,210) for the manual-only Sigma to Rs 954,900 (R161,592) for the Alpha AMT. The Baleno in South Africa uses the older 1.5-liter K15B engine, producing 77kW/138Nm, and is available in GL and GLX trims with either a manual or automatic transmission, priced from R269,900 to R341,900. As of now, Suzuki Auto South Africa has not confirmed the updated Baleno for the local market.