Launches on October 26; bookings underway.
Maruti Suzuki will launch its first premium hatchback, the Baleno, on October 26. When launched the Baleno will rival the Hyundai Elite i20, the Honda Jazz and the VW Polo, and will naturally be positioned as a premium alternative to the Swift.
The Baleno will be powered by the 1.2-liter K-Series petrol engine and the 1.3-liter DDiS diesel engine, with a 5-speed manual transmission offered on both. A CVT will also be available on the Delta variant of the 1.2-liter petrol though.
The 1.2-liter petrol has power and torque outputs of 84.3 PS and 115 Nm respectively, while the diesel churns 75 PS and 190 Nm. The fuel efficiency of the Baleno is rated at 27.39 km/l for the diesel and 21.4 km/l for the petrol and CVT.
All variants of the Baleno come with dual front airbags, ABS and EBD as standard. The top-end variant gets 16-inch alloy wheels, projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, HID headlights, a touchscreen SmartPlay entertainment and navigation system with reverse camera and Apple's CarPlay connectivity system.
Apart from catering to the domestic market, Maruti will also export the Baleno to over 100 markets from early-2016. The India-made Baleno will also be exported to Suzuki's home market in Japan.
