Maruti Baleno

The Baleno fits a specific kind of buyer: someone who needs a reliable city car, cares about running costs, wants a decent feature set, and doesn’t want to cross ₹9 lakh to get all of it. It’s not exciting to drive. But if you’re in the city every day, that won’t bother you much.

City use is where it’s most comfortable. The 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine is smooth at low revs, and in manual trim the clutch is light enough that you don’t tire of it in congested traffic, which is exactly where most Baleno buyers spend their time anyway. The 3990 mm footprint makes tight parking and narrow lanes less stressful. For regular office commutes, it’s predictable. No drama.

The AGS variants make sense for stop-go traffic. But they’re still AMT in character. Shifts are noticeable, and the transmission works best when you’re patient with the throttle. Coming from a CVT? You’ll feel the difference immediately. That’s a real limitation, not a minor caveat. Worth a test drive before you commit.

No turbo-petrol either. The 88.5 bhp naturally aspirated engine handles the city without issue, but above 100 km/h on a two-lane highway it starts to feel stretched. CNG variants go lower still: 76.4 bhp and 98.5 Nm. Better suited to urban commuting and high-mileage city use than to highway touring.

Variant planning is logical. You’re looking at ₹5,98,900 for the Sigma MT at entry and ₹9,09,900 for the Alpha AGS at the top. The steps in between are gradual. Delta MT at ₹6,79,900 gets you a 17.78 cm touchscreen, steering audio controls, folding ORVMs, and a rear wiper, which covers the basics most city buyers actually need without pushing the price into uncomfortable territory. Zeta MT at ₹7,69,900 adds wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, rear AC vents, Suzuki Connect, and LED projector headlamps. Alpha variants bring the 22.86 cm touchscreen, head-up display, 360-view camera, and cruise control. Uncommon at this price.

The cabin is practical for a small family. Rear seat headroom is fine for average-height adults. Boot space is 318 litres, enough for your airport luggage and grocery runs without folding the rear seats. Three adults at the back? Fine for short city runs, tight on a longer highway trip. The 2520 mm wheelbase keeps the car stable at moderate speeds. Ride quality handles speed breakers and patchy tarmac sensibly when the car is properly loaded.

Mileage is one of the stronger ownership arguments. ARAI rates the petrol manual at 22.35 km/l and the AGS at 22.94 km/l. CNG manual goes to 30.61 km/kg. Real-world city numbers will be lower with AC on, but the car holds up well when you maintain it properly. Covering 40 km or more daily? The CNG variant’s per-kilometre fuel cost advantage is worth calculating for your specific route before ruling it out.

Safety has improved. Bharat NCAP results show 4-star adult occupant protection (24.04/32) and 3-star child occupant protection (34.81/49), published in 2024. The child score is notably lower than the adult result. Relevant if you’re buying this primarily for family use with young passengers. Six airbags and ABS with EBD are standard, along with ESP and hill-hold assist. The 360-view camera comes in from the Alpha trim.

NEXA’s service reach is a practical ownership advantage. Parts availability and service familiarity both benefit from Maruti’s scale, and resale value tends to hold predictably. That matters more in year three and four than it does the day you pick up the keys.