Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha AGS 3 month long run report – Introduction

My previous couple of months with the Baleno had been primarily spent driving round within the metropolis and in peak visitors. Nevertheless, an outstation journey to drop off some gear was the right probability to pattern the Baleno’s freeway manners.

Loading up the gear was easy, and the 318-litre boot – though not class greatest – is enough. The true take a look at although could be the effectivity. Whereas I had managed a good 13kpl within the metropolis, how would the 1.2 naturally aspirated petrol fare when put to work on an extended, high-speed drive?

As soon as I hit the freeway, the engine’s free-revving nature got here as a pleasing shock, and since freeway driving permits you to sit fortunately in fifth for more often than not, I hardly ever needed to endure the AMT’s largest weak point – its gradual shifts.

On some ghat sections, I attempted participating handbook mode and shifting utilizing the lever, however right here too it isn’t as responsive as I’d have preferred, and there’s a good bit of ready earlier than the gears have interaction.

What is sweet, or slightly improved, on this iteration of the Baleno is the high-speed stability. Cruising between 90-100kph feels much more reassuring, and the trip is flat as effectively.

Aspect bolstering is just too comfortable, to the purpose the place it fails to assist you successfully in corners.

Over lengthy distances, although, the comfortable seats, extra particularly the comfortable aspect bolsters, don’t provide enough assist, inflicting your physique to maneuver round by bends. The opposite detrimental is the only USB Sort A port on the entrance, which, in 2022, feels behind the instances. The music system and audio system, nonetheless, are slightly good. There’s a good readability to the system with enough bass as effectively, which can come in useful as cabin insulation within the Baleno isn’t the very best. Highway noise and wind noise do seep into the cabin, and on a number of events I discovered myself checking if one of many home windows wasn’t totally shut.

What may be very spectacular on the Baleno, and to be honest, each Maruti, is the efficiency of the air con. The AC, even with a low blower pace, is extraordinarily efficient, and cools the cabin quicker than most automobiles.

Efficient air-con meant cabin was cool by the point the engine warmed up.

After my drop off, the return journey was after sundown, and the opposite massive plus of the Baleno are the LED headlamps that provide robust illumination. The excessive beam stage is ideal for long-throw freeway illumination and the general brightness is powerful too.

Now all that is wonderful, however the massive one was, after all, the effectivity, and to be honest, I wasn’t anticipating it to be anyplace close to its claimed determine that’s north of 20kpl. The uphill ghats, spirited driving and typical scattered freeway visitors meant the very best I might handle was round 16kpl. Certain, an extended drive with a bit extra consistency might higher that determine, however with a full load and the comfort of an automated, you may solely anticipate a lot.

LED headlamps provide implausible illumination on poorly lit highways.

That stated, after the freeway stint, the Baleno has confirmed its mettle as an all-rounder. The soundness at pace, implausible AC efficiency, a sorted music system and easy engine make it an ideal household hatchback that may do all of it.

Now that it’s parting time, I positive hope they replace the options checklist with some trendy bits like a sunroof, ventilated seats, and a pair extra USB ports or wi-fi charging. Nonetheless, for the brief length that I had it, it positive left an enduring impression. Now to discover a new lengthy termer that may do the identical. Sigh, that is going to be robust. 

A single USB-A port is just not sufficient, particularly when travelling with firm.

Additionally see:

2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha AGS long-term evaluation, 2,200km report