Maruti Suzuki has been updating some of its best-selling models to keep them fresh and better equipped against newer competition. We recently saw Brezza facelift arrive with functional upgrades and a major engine update. Baleno has now received similar treatment, with refreshed styling, new features and a significant powertrain update.
However, there is still some uncertainty around pricing. The announced starting price of Rs 6.10 lakh is part of a festive offer, while regular ex-showroom and complete variant-wise prices have not been revealed yet. This makes it difficult to properly assess the value proposition of the updated Baleno. We drove new Baleno Facelift in Bengaluru as part of the national media drive to experience these changes first-hand and see how much they improve the overall package.
Maruti Baleno Facelift Review
In terms of pricing, 2027 Maruti Baleno facelift starts from Rs 6.1 lakh, which is part of a festive offer and variant-wise prices are yet to be disclosed. For context, Tata Altroz and Hyundai i20 both start from Rs 6 lakh (Ex-sh) without any festive offer. So, Baleno facelift starts off with premium pricing and is not likely to matter much because it bears the Maruti Suzuki tag and is India’s favourite premium hatchback by a long shot.
What could matter more, is design. New Baleno facelift has a polarising front design and it will split opinions among buyers and enthusiasts. When the first set of images were leaked, we thought it was a fake AI generated design, but that is the final design. Maruti Suzuki has gone with a new horizontal grille, pushing the Suzuki logo on top. There is a new bumper along with new LED fog lights.
We spoke to 8-10 individuals about the Baleno facelift and only one of them liked the design and one of them said it was alright. There are multiple colour options with Nexa Blue being the launch colour, but there is a new Enigmatic Teal colour which looked quite interesting. Except for the front end, there aren’t any design changes with side profile or the rear and the same Baleno silhouette and form factor are carried forward.
What is new?
Same is the case on the inside as well. Only changes are that Baleno facelift now gets a Black and Blue interior theme and that’s it. Functionality has increased as Maruti has added ventilated seats, Qi standard for wireless charger with cooling, Clarion tuned speakers and Level 2 ADAS. Other attributes like space, comfort and features are mostly carried forward. Ventilated seats are very welcome in our books for Indian climatic conditions.
Baleno facelift offers three speed settings for seat ventilation and makes a heck of a racket at full speed. However, it effectively cooled our backs, so we don’t mind the sheer noise it makes. The Clarion tuned speakers are some of the most underwhelming speakers I have experienced. Even my 42W party speaker at home has better bass than Baleno Clarion tuned speakers. We went through all the settings to make audio experience better, but it just wouldn’t budge.
Qi standard for wireless charging pad is not Qi2 with a magnetic ring and 25W wireless power supply. Cooling for phone while wirelessly charging is appreciated. Level 2 ADAS for Baleno was surprising because the Brezza facelift didn’t get this feature. We didn’t get to test the auto emergency braking (thankfully) and auto high beam, but lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control worked well.
New Beating Heart
The main change is under the bonnet of Baleno facelift as this premium hatchback gets a new engine now. Many would feel this is a downgrade because the new 1.2L Z12E engine is a three-cylinder unit, when compared to the creamy smooth 1.2L K12N engine which was a 4-cylinder engine. We have experienced this 3-cylinder engine in Swift and Dzire before. It has a thrummy engine sound and a slightly sporty exhaust sound.
Where vibrations are concerned, you will feel more of them with the Baleno facelift’s new Z-Series engine, when compared to the K-Series engine it replaces. We have seen smoother and better-contained 3-cylinder engines in the market and Maruti Suzuki could have done a better job here, considering Baleno comes with a ‘premium’ tag. Cabin noise insulation is alright and is decent for the segment, but not the best.
Peak power has gone down with Baleno facelift as the Z12E engine makes 81 bhp, down from 88.5 bhp and 111.7 Nm, down from 113 Nm. Gearbox is a 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT with Baleno facelift. Where fuel efficiency (mileage) is concerned, new Z12E engine claims up to 8% higher mileage with Manual returning 23.80 km/l and AMT returning 24.77 km/l.
Drive, Dynamics
The driveability of this new engine is decent too. There’s not a lot of excitement in this engine. The manual gearbox we sampled did not feel smooth as shifts were notchy, especially between 1st and 2nd. Throws were long too and we wish they were shorter.
Suspension is set up softly to absorb bumps and Baleno facelift is still the same in that regard. Baleno has not gained any sportiness with this facelift and it continues to understeer in corners. The steering lacks feel and it is decently precise and is par for this segment. Braking could have been better as it lacks initial bite.
Should You Buy One?
Without complete variant-wise pricing, it is difficult to fully judge the value proposition of new Baleno and arrive at a definitive conclusion. What is clear, however, is that the facelift builds on an already well-equipped package. Features carried forward include auto-dimming IRVM, powered ORVMs, automatic climate control, 9-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, adjustable headrests, rear AC vents, rear USB ports, front centre armrest, keyless entry, push-button start, UV-cut glass and 16-inch alloy wheels. Boot space and ground clearance remain unchanged as well.
There are still areas where Baleno could have been improved. We would have liked to see a rear centre armrest and rear sun blinds, while the Clarion-tuned audio system left us wanting for better sound quality. Some soft-touch materials inside the cabin would have also helped strengthen Baleno’s premium positioning.
Despite these shortcomings, Baleno was already India’s best-selling premium hatchback. With this update, additions such as ventilated front seats and Level 2 ADAS further strengthen its equipment list. More importantly, these are meaningful additions in a segment where buyers increasingly expect features previously reserved for more expensive cars.
Some rivals may offer better interiors, design, audio quality, features, technology, material quality or a more practical CNG implementation. Baleno, however, continues to have the advantage of Maruti Suzuki’s extensive sales and service network, strong resale value, relatively low running costs and an established ownership ecosystem. If the new three-cylinder engine and polarising styling are not deal-breakers, Baleno now also has two significant differentiators — it is the only hatchback in India to offer Level 2 ADAS and ventilated front seats.
