Maruti Baleno CVT- User Review

Behind the Decision

It was when I heard my dad talking about how he was stuck in traffic in Dwarka for more than an hour that the thought of buying an automatic struck me. We hadn’t had any automatics before, so it was supposed to be the first one. We had been debating for a while now about which car to sell. Out of the three cars my family owned at that time, the Maruti Ertiga (2012), the Honda Jazz (2011) and the Maruti WagonR CNG (2012), selling the WagonR was the most likely choice considering its age and the KM’s it had run. Though, to be very honest we were bored with the WagonR and wanted something new.

We looked at all possible options including the Swift, Swift Dzire, Honda Jazz and the Baleno, keeping in mind our budget and requirements since we wanted a smart, practical and feature rich car. It was on 30 September 2018 that we first test drove the Swift AT to get a knack of the automatic gearbox and to know what it had to offer. My dad test drove the AGS (Auto Gear Shift) Swift and gave a good feedback. I was apprehensive to drive it as I hadn’t driven an automatic before, but I couldn’t hold my horses for long. Thus, on reaching back home, I took control and did so bad because I used the left foot to brake and as a result the car kept stopping with big thuds. Anyway, we talked about our feedbacks, but then the ZXI+ AT trim was going over our budget for a car this size. As opposed to my brother who pushed hard for buying the new WagonR automatic, I wanted a modern Autobox with all the fancy equipment and thus settling in for a mid-spec trim, irrespective of the car, wasn’t something I even considered. However, the final decision had to be my parents. I still remember the day when I discussed this with my parents and got a favourable response for Baleno. Being the car enthusiast, I am, my happiness knew no bounds.  The Baleno was bigger in size and had more on offer so, choosing it over the Swift was a pragmatic choice.

It was on 5 October 2018, that my parents and I test drove the Baleno CVT and looked at other options such as the Honda Jazz, the latest facelift had just been launched then. After owning the first generation (facelifted)Jazz for about 8 years, the new one didn’t appeal to me much, though my parents were keen on getting the new model because of its biggest plus point, Space. After a lot of discussions and valuable feedback from relatives who owned a Baleno CVT, we decided and booked our Granite Grey Alpha CVT Baleno on 11 October 2018.

Today i.e.,2 November 2019, our Baleno Alpha CVT turns 1 and we are contented with our choice.

After driving it for almost an year, I have experienced the car’s response under a miscellany of road conditions.

Driving Experience- Performance and Transmission

Having driven the car for almost 15K after 12 months, there haven’t been any issues with the performance. The CVT is an absolute delight to drive in the city, especially in Delhi. In conditions of bumper to bumper traffic, the comfort and convenience of the car tackle it really well. Gearshifts are never felt and are effortless. Moreover, the fuel economy figures are also impressive, 13-16km/l in the city and about 19-20 km/l on the highway. The 1.2 K12 Petrol engine does well on the highway too but the picture is not all flowery.

Lack of power is felt at large when trying to overtake on a highway, which is majorly because of the CVT’s “rubber band” effect. However, once you set in a comfortable speed the car is smooth and feels stable. Just be gentle on the throttle and you are all set to enjoy the drive. Features like the sports mode do make the driver crave long empty roads. But the sports mode is not the best in its class and does require some retuning, as the RPM blasts past the 4000 mark even with the slightest of accelerations. On the flip side, the Sports mode does make the engine more responsive and cuts a bit of the rubber band effect when on a long stretch. The maximum speed I’ve done on my Beast is 130km/h on the Eastern Peripheral highway and I was impressed with its stability, considering the less than a tonne kerb weight of the car. The Low or “L” mode comes in very handy on steep hilly roads and gives the car the required power to tackle the situation with ease. When driving with a full load on the hills, the 83 hp engine feels underpowered on some occasions and the strain on the engine is clearly felt. Overall, the car feels planted and the steering has an overall heft to it giving confidence to the person behind the wheel. 

Space and Comfort 

You get into the Baleno and you have acres and acres of space at your disposal. The cabin is well designed, and one doesn’t feel cramped at all. Front seats are large and offer generous thigh support. The driving position is excellent, and you get a good view of the road ahead. It’s only when you drive more frequently, the flaws come into play. Being a 6ft tall guy, I have to adjust the height of the seat because otherwise my hair brushes against the roof. However, for my dad who’s about 5’7, this doesn’t seem to be much of a problem. Moving to the rear seat, the space is enormous and even three abreast seat comfortably. Its only the flowing roof line which creates a problem for an average height adult as your head is in close proximity to the roof at the rear. The thigh support is fairly good but not the best in class, had the width of the rear seat been a little more, it would have been the most preferred one. Boot space is more than adequate and road trips & festivals are taken care of. However, the high loading lip makes it difficult to put in heavy luggage into the deep 339 Litres boot.

Technology and Features

One of the reasons to go for the Alpha model was for the plethora of features it had to offer. The 7-inch Touchscreen SmartPlay infotainment system, a big upgrade for me, personally, sits high in the centre of the V-shaped centre console, offering a wide array of features. You get the same interface as your iPhone/Android Device gets paired instantaneously with the car’s touchscreen with a USB cable. The ease of use and familiarity of the system, because it mirrors your phone, makes CarPlay and Android Auto instantly addictive. First in class features like UV Cut glasses and HID Projectors make it stand apart. The cat eye looking sharp projector headlamps with the well placed & exciting DRL’s, the chrome strip extending into the headlights are a few goodies out of many which turn heads till date, including mine. For an enthusiast like me, having features like the guide me to car or to home, auto dimming IRVM, keyless entry, push button start etc. portray the premium aspects of the car.

Suspension and Ride Quality 

Unlike the many 2015 models, which had complaints about the suspension, my car had no problems at all. Being driven under a variety of conditions ranging from rough roads to hilly sections of Dehradun and Mussoorie, the suspension and ride quality were never a cause of worry. The Baleno takes care of potholes well and you don’t feel bouncy inside. The suspension too works quietly with no loud thuds, which complements the excellent ride comfort. 

Hits and Misses

Hits

The comfort and convenience of driving, the amount of space available and the best fuel economy figures amongst rivals have made it Maruti’s most desired and highest selling premium hatchback. Apart from these, the 7-inch Smartplay Infotainment System, the 4.2-inch TFT MID display in the centre, packed with a multitude of functions, beautifully integrated headlamps, illuminated glove box, footwell lights, auto headlamps are a few things from a very long list which make the owner fall in love with car and its tech. 

Misses

The Baleno is built to a cost, which is evident in the quality of some of the materials inside the cabin. Cabin quality is where the Baleno lags behind its competitors like, the Hyundai i20 and the Honda Jazz. The hard and scratchy plastics don’t justify the premium cost paid by the customer and carryovers from previous generous Maruti’s highlight areas of cost cutting. The biggest ergonomic quirk, that disappointed me and all those who drove my Baleno, was the odd positioning of the auto dimming IRVM, which hinders your view completely especially, while on a winding road or when taking a turn. Other than that, the absence of features like Cruise Control, Paddle Shifters, Rear A/C vents and Auto Wipers is also felt. 

Final Verdict

Practicality is where the Baleno knocks it out of the park. The Baleno is a premium family hatchback which ticks all the right boxes ranging from design to comfort. However, it does come with quality standard issues associated with all Maruti’s, which are a letdown when paying such a hefty price. All said and done the Baleno CVT is comfortable to drive, economical, scores high on tech and with all that it has to offer, for me and my family it was worth the investment.

Written by- Shloak Srivastava