Today, our Maruti Suzuki Baleno completes five years, and I thought of writing a small recap article about our experience with our car so far. We bought the Alpha CVT trim on November 2, 2018. It was the first automatic vehicle for the family and has covered 64,000 km in half a decade.
Ownership has mostly been hassle-free, but with minor problems associated with aging Maruti Suzuki cars.
Reasons to Love It:
- Easy to drive in a city like Delhi, and the smooth transmission is a boon.
- Offers great creature comforts and features that are built to last.
- The infotainment system supports wired CarPlay and Android Auto and is not laggy overall.
- The graphics feel a bit outdated, but they do the job exceptionally well.
- The no-nonsense 7-inch touchscreen is responsive and easy to use on the go.
- The design and looks are sharp and remain fresh to this date.
- The HID cat-eye headlights offer excellent throw and luminosity.
- It is a spacious hatchback and offers ample space for passengers and cargo.
- The colors and graphics of the MID screen are aesthetically pleasing and crisp.
- Extremely economical maintenance costs.
Our 1.2L Suzuki is peppy to drive in traffic but suffers from the most inevitable problem of all CVTs – having the rubber-band effect when pushed hard. The RPM skyrockets; however, the speed does not. Our Baleno is running on stock R16 Apollo tires that have quite a bit of life left in them. Having a Sports mode is an added plus, especially for me when I am in the mood to hear high revs and get quicker responses from the transmission.
The suspension is a tad bit stiff and can surely be felt on bigger potholes and rough roads. The tires complement long highway rides. Fuel economy figures are impressive; they have to be – it is a Maruti Suzuki. City driving offers anywhere between 13 -16 kmpl, depending on the way of driving and traffic conditions in Delhi.
Similarly, highway rides and mountain trips are smooth with steady economy figures (16-19 kmpl) and good performance. However, lately, the CVT gets out of breath in the hills when pushed hard on steeper slopes. This was not the case when the car was new and less driven.
Reasons to Loathe It:
- The inside IRVM is placed too low and obstructs the driver’s view on winding roads and turns.
- The sloping roofline makes the rear headroom an area of significant weakness.
- While most technologies work effortlessly, rear parking sensors have caused problems, requiring frequent services or replacement.
- The quality of plastics in the interior is rather basic, making them prone to scratches and glossy reflections on the windscreen.
- The vent adjustment (rectangular) knob on the co-driver side broke due to heat and poor build quality.
- The loading lip for the boot is extremely high, causing problems while loading large suitcases.
The car has experienced varied terrains and has gone on trips to Baralacha La Pass, Jaipur, Dehradun, Dharamshala, and McLeodganj multiple times. I like that the car makes it through reasonable obstacles smoothly and hardly disappoints. We have gotten it serviced regularly through Maruti since 2018. The sticky steering column was replaced under a goodwill warranty in 2022 at 44,000 km and works efficiently with no further issues. A suspension bearing was changed since it was making some irritable noise.
Upgrades and Added Accessories:
- I upgraded the stock halogen fog lamps to genuine NEXA LED fog lamps (available stock in the XL6).
- Got high-quality leather seat covers installed from Top Gear in 2018. They have aged well and remain wrinkle-free and sturdy.
- I got the key-activated auto mirror folding relay installed in 2018, which works seamlessly.
- Side biddings and door visors were installed at the time of delivery.
The Baleno knocks it out of the park for comfort and practicality. Easy to drive and maintain, coupled with useful and quirky features, has made it a best-seller since 2016. The car has made it to over 1.2 million homes in India and shall cross the 2 million milestone in due time.
Final Thoughts
Our car has been subject to Delhi’s regular wear and tear with minor scratches and small dents. The front bumper and right-side fog lamp were replaced recently after they met with a small accident on the highway. A stray dog came running in the opposite direction; however, passengers were completely safe, and the car took the blow well. All repair work, whether replacement or denting, has been done through authorized MS service centers. Surprisingly, the battery has been replaced twice within five years.
My family has driven Marutis for over two decades and has never faced issues with safety. We drive sensibly and calmly. I focus on safe and rational driving practices that keep me and others on the road safe. However, MS can work on incorporating even better safety standards and equipment.
My family and I are content with the choice and have driven 64,000 km happily, barring a few hiccups here and there. The Baleno is a stylish and city-friendly car that makes driving easy-going, amusing, and pleasant. The CVT auto box is slick and delivers impressive fuel economy figures too.
All said and done, there is surely peace of mind associated with owning a Maruti Suzuki. We look forward to hitting the 100,000-kilometer milestone.
by: Shloak Srivastava
Know Your Car 