Send to a friend...

Your Name

Friend's Name

Friend's Email

Posted on: Aug 18 2007

Maruti Baleno

India's foremost budget-car maker burned its fingers when it ventured into the premium midsize market, and the Baleno did very poorly in the market, a victim of Maruti's grassroots image and its own poor looks. However, under that dull skin is a very fine car, which is worth a look, especially after 2003's price cuts.:

Design, Engineering and Interiors: 
 
Like all others in the class, the Baleno is based on a European hatchback, this time a car that was introduced in 1995. The original Baleno looked even more forgettable than this one, and the large, rounded headlamps and mildly revised grille have at least ensured you'll find it again in the car park. The rear is still as dull as sliced bread though, with its flat, uninteresting surface and eminently boring tail lamps.

At least the Baleno was intended to be a sedan from the start, so its proportions are quite acceptable, unlike cars like the Indigo and Honda City, and the short rear deck, especially when clad with a spoiler, looks quite racy.
What helps it is that it looks a clear segment above cars like the Ikon, which gives it good presence. Maruti has performed some mild touch-up jobs, with a new grille and nice alloys, but something much more drastic is needed if the Baleno's looks are to match its talent.

The Baleno uses MacPherson struts in front and a smart four-link set-up at the rear, and there is little extraordinary about the car's design; the lack of ABS, airbags or any other safety equipment is quite regrettable.The interiors too are quite ordinary, and very plasticky, with little thought given to style. It's very spacious and functional though, with good width and lots of cubby-holes. The seats offer superb under-thigh support, but a lack of headroom marks down comfort at the rear.

Maruti has spruced up the cabin with aluminium-look trim on the centre console, white dials and a new steering wheel, but plastic quality is some way behind the rest, and some controls, like the slider switches for the air-con, look pretty downmarket for such a car. Build quality inside is typically Japanese and light.

Performance, Fuel Economy and Handling: 
 
The Baleno demonstrates just why the Japanese are the masters of engine technology: it is both fast and frugal. The Baleno comes with a single 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with 94bhp and 13.4kgm of torque, and only a five-speed manual gearbox.

The figures may not look terribly impressive when compared to cars like the Accent Tornado, but the Baleno is actually a scorching performer. It is by far the fastest in its class, with its revvy, tractable engine — it will pull seamlessly from as little as 900rpm, and keep going all the way to its 6000rpm red line.

It's not too refined however, and sounds buzzy and coarse at times; plus, the gearbox, although direct, feels somewhat rubbery and unsporting. The best bit is that despite the performance, the Baleno is still the most fuel-efficient in the class, with 9.7kpl in the city and 15kpl on the highway. The Baleno's suspension has been stiffly set-up, but Maruti has still coaxed out a very good ride from it.

The high-profile tyres and well-chosen damper settings ensure the Baleno rides comfortably and quietly over poor roads. Its handling, though not as sharp as the Ikon's, is quite fluid and driver-friendly, with a stable chassis, strong brakes and well-weighted steering that give one plenty of confidence at high speeds. The problem area is grip. Maruti has shod the Baleno with tall but skinny 165/80 tyres on 13-inch rims, which, with their narrow contact patch and high sidewalls give up very quickly in the middle of a corner — shame given the car’s abilities. Were the Baleno to get the wider, lower-profile tyres it begs for, it could be a very good driver's car; if you buy one, we recommend upsizing to wider tyres.

Verdict:

The Baleno suffers from image and a distinctly bland character, but apart from that, this is an excellent all-rounder, with lots of space and performance, and good dynamics and fuel economy as well. The styling is unenthusiastic, the interior is comfy but cheap looking, and Maruti’s image doesn’t cut it in the executive car market, but the Baleno is a very practical buy. Spares are now cheaper, and Maruti’s service network is second to none. Factor in the price cut, which brings the Baleno in line with cars like the Ikon and Accent, and it becomes quite hard to resist.
Source: autocarindia.com