Has Maruti Baleno Degraded Worth of Swift and Dzire?

Last month, Maruti sold a total of 18,278 units of Swift, that’s how much we love this car. The first proper premium hatchback of the country that was introduced at a time when Indian automotive industry needed a change. It played its part and that reflects in the sales numbers even today. This was followed by Hyundai i20 that set a new benchmark for the industry and premium hatchbacks. Today, we have three premium hatchback offerings viz, Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz and the newly launched Maruti Baleno that is available at an astonishing price tag of INR 4.99 lacs.

But now what Maruti has done is that besides undercutting the rivals Elite i20 and Honda Jazz by a massive margin, has also kept the Baleno price very close to Swift hatch and Dzire compact sedan. It's a good move or a bad one, time will tell, but for now, let’s see if this price difference can draw Swift buyers towards Baleno.

We have compared Swift/Dzire Vxi (middle variant) which are priced at INR 5.4 lac/5.9 lac respectively against Baleno's Delta (one above base variant) that is priced at INR 5.7 lacs (all prices ex-showroom Delhi). Let's see what extras do one get with Baleno for additional 30k over its own sibling.

Safety

For extra 30k, one gets a safer car as dual front airbags and ABS, EBD are standard across the range in Baleno, while Swift do not offer any in the Vxi variant. Also, the chassis is said to be stiffer and hence can withstand crash more effectively.

New Platform

Baleno is based on the latest lightweight platform from Suzuki that makes it 100kgs lighter than the smaller Swift. This has improved the mileage of Baleno and it can extract a few more kilometers per litre, if not much.

Read More: Compare: Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Elite i20 vs Jazz vs Polo vs Punto EVO

Insides

With class leading exterior dimensions, there is plenty of room on the inside as well and is certainly far better than Swift duo that is known for its cramped rear seats. Then there is the all new interior setup that is very premium to be in. The Delta variant also gets multi-function steering wheel, a music system with Bluetooth connectivity and rear charging port, all that are absent in both Swift and Dzire.

More Baleno Delta Features

• Boots Space capacity of 339 litres
• Front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Rear washer and wiper with rear window defogger

All of these features are absent in both Swift and Dzire.

Baleno is a great proposition to go for, especially at this price, and if you are going to buy Swift or Dzire, you might want to consider Baleno as well. However, with the upcoming Mahindra's KUV100, the competition is sure to soar up as the car will be getting the necessary ingredients to make a mark on this segment, however, the pricing will be the key in this.

Also Read:

• Maruti Suzuki Baleno Launched At Rs. 4.99 lacs
• Maruti Suzuki Baleno: The Complete CarDekho Compilation!

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