Would rival the Hyundai i20 Active, VW CrossPolo and upcoming Honda WR-V.
Maruti Suzuki hasn't confirmed such a variant in the works, but if demand for the regular Baleno were to subside in the future, the company could consider experimenting with variants like a Maruti Baleno Cross to reignite demand it currently enjoys.
To give an idea of what the Maruti Baleno Cross could look like, IAB's Shoeb R Kalania has created a rendering that incorporates elements from the S-Cross. With black plastic cladding, larger alloy rims shod by chunkier trims, silver bumper garnish and skid plate, vertical slats in the grille and raised ride height, the Maruti Baleno Cross does look fairly decent.
The interior and engine lineup are likely to be identical to the regular hatchback. The petrol variant would source power from a 84 PS 1.2L K12B 4-cyl engine paired with a 5-speed manual or CVT, while the diesel variant would continue with the 75 PS 1.3L DDiS 4-cyl engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox only.
Also Read: Next gen Maruti Gypsy – IAB Rendering
At the moment, we reckon that the chance of a Baleno Cross coming into fruition is low, as it would lure customers away from the bigger and slightly more expensive Maruti S-Cross. But if Maruti were to come up with a product to rival the Hyundai i20 Active, VW CrossPolo and upcoming Honda WR-V, a Baleno Cross fits the bill.
