Maruti Baleno 2019 Version Hits and Misses

Maruti Baleno 2019 Version Hits and Misses

Maruti Baleno has been the top-selling premium hatchback for a couple of years now. After VW Polo started it all and Hyundai Elite i20 exploiting the most out of the segment, Maruti decided to launch its trump card in this category. Baleno remain pretty much unchanged since it was launched way back in 2015 and it was really necessary to keep it par with the competitors. I was also looking forward to buying the new Baleno and was eagerly awaiting the launch. Since my prime priorities were mileage and huge cabin space, Maruti Baleno was the only one that fit into my requirement. After buying the car, I would like to share my review about this car. Maruti has given decent changes this time around. Starting with the changes outside, the new sculpted grille is clearly evident while the bumper has been revised for sportier appeal. Further, it gets LED headlamps replacing the HID units which I think is a great move. The car gets updated 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels which are painted in dual colors. There are a host of changes inside as well. The new Baleno gets new upholstery for the seats which now come in a beautiful black and blue arrangement. The center of the highlight is the new SmartPlay infotainment unit. Though the connectivity options such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay remain the same, the update comes in the form of new navigation setup which gives live traffic feedback on the screen. The new interface of the infotainment also looks modern and chic. In the safety department, there have been some changes as well. The new Baleno gets updated list of standard safety aspects which include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors, seatbelt reminder, speed alert system and ISOFIX child seat anchorage. Other safety aspects include automatic headlamps, auto dimming IRVM, front fog lamps, rear wiper and washer, and a reverse parking camera. But sadly, the car that falls in the premium range still lacks additional airbags, at least four should have been available in the top model. Moreover, the car misses on rear ac vents but the good thing is that the automatic climate control is now available right from the Delta variant. Now, the most important aspect which I like about this car is the fuel efficiency. The 1.3L diesel engine is worth every penny as it is not only good at performance but also returns fuel economy of 27.4kmpl, as claimed by the company. However, in real-world driving, you still manage to get around 22kmpl, which is still good given the skyrocketing prices of fuel prices. So, the car would be definitely light on pockets. Overall, it?s a fantastic car and it's been more than a month and I am really enjoying driving my Baleno.