Maruti has made a fortune by understanding Indian demand and capitalising on it. It captured the hatchback segment in the 1990s and the 2000s with the WagonR, Alto, and 800. And it continued its success into the premium hatchback segment with the Baleno. And now India’s favourite premium hatchback has been spotted testing for the first time, hinting at an imminent facelift.
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Maruti Baleno Facelift Spotted!
These spyshots come just days after we revealed, via an exclusive, that the facelift is in the works. And now, we have seen it in real life for the first time. The Baleno is already a feature-loaded car and Maruti will be looking to overload it with the facelift. At the same time, it gets minor facial tweaks.
From the spyshots, the overall silhouette seems the same. And this isn’t necessarily a negative, since the Baleno is pretty attractive. Despite the camouflage, we can spot that the rear profile is identical, and so are the alloy wheels. But the key aesthetic difference is the front grille, which now has a chrome strip that connects the headlights. But the design of the headlights seems to be quite similiar to the outgoing model. Bigger changes are expected inside the engine bay and cabin.
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Features
We reported that the Baleno would get two new features – a wireless charger and an electric sunroof. The outgoing model’s feature list remains impressive as it consists of –
- Electrically adjustable ORVMs
- Push-button start
- Heads-up display
- 360-degree camera
- Cruise control
- 9-inch infotainment screen
- Rear AC vents
And for a car that costs less than Rs 11 lakh (on-road, Mumbai), that is not bad at all.
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Powertrain
The outgoing model is powered by a 1.2-litre NA petrol engine that produces 88 bhp and 113 Nm of torque. The power figures aren’t quite hot-hatch territory, but they are good for the wallet. The fuel-efficiency numbers are healthy, and even healthier for the CNG powertrain. However, with the recent discontinuation of the Ignis (which shared the 1.2-litre 4-cylinder engine), all signs point to Maruti ditching the outgoing 1.2-litre 4-cylinder in favour of the 1.2-litre 3-cylinder from the Swift. This is a switch from the older Maruti K-engines to the newer Z-series engines.
Speculation also suggests that Maruti will unveil the Baleno facelift with underbody CNG technology, as seen on the Victoris. Its competition has adopted the dual-CNG layout and has prospered, and Maruti will aim for the same effect with the Baleno facelift. Maruti is also planning to unveil a hybrid and flex-fuel powertrain for the Baleno, but it is expected to come with the next-gen Baleno and not the facelift.
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Expected Pricing & Launch
Currently, the Baleno costs between Rs 7.03 lakh and Rs 10.57 lakh (on-road, Mumbai), and the facelift could see a short hike of around Rs 15,000. Such a hike won’t be unwarranted, for, as with the facelift, the Baleno would offer as many features as those of compact SUVs and the Hyundai i20, while undercutting them on the pricing front.
As per our sources, the Baleno facelift will be launched in the next two months. Baleno sales have been consistently strong for the past year or so, and Maruti isn’t content with these numbers. And launching the facelift is a sign of its ambitions.
Source
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Hi, I’m Ravindra Meena , a bike and automobile enthusiast. I share honest reviews, mileage tests, and latest updates about bikes, cars, and EVs to help you make the right choice. Stay connected for real-world insights and trending auto news! 🏍️🚗