Review: 2018 Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS
4 March 2018, Neil Parkhi
Introduction
The Suzuki Baleno is a subcompact car produced by the Japanese manufacturer Suzuki. The car was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015, and was launched in India on October 24, 2015 and in Japan on March 9, 2016. It became available in Europe in April 2016 and in Indonesia on August 10, 2017 at the 25th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. It is manufactured exclusively in India, by Maruti Suzuki, as a five-door hatchback. It is built on a newly developed platform, that features a powertrain range of three options for the international model. It was tested by Euro NCAP in April 2016, receiving a four star overall safety rating. It offers standard frontal and side head and chest airbags, as well as forward collision warning with auto braking. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS is a hatchback passenger vehicle. Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the Indian subsidiary of the Japanese car maker Suzuki Motor Corporation, has launched the Baleno RS in the domestic car market of India on 3 March 2017. The new Baleno RS is the more powerful version of the Baleno premium hatchback model. The RS version of the hatchback has been equipped with a compact and powerful one litre, three cylinder, BoosterJet turbocharged petrol engine that makes it a sportier than the standard Baleno model. The new Baleno RS belongs to the premium hatchback segment of the Indian automotive market and is offered to be exclusively sold through Maruti Suzuki’s premium NEXA outlets across India like the standard Baleno version. While the new Baleno RS competes with the premium hatchback models in the Indian market such as the Hyundai Elite i20 and Honda Jazz, its powerful performance also puts it in competition with some other models in India which are called the hot hatchbacks, such as the Fiat Abarth Punto Evo and the Volkswagen Polo GT. The Maruti Baleno RS was first displayed in India as a concept model at the 2016 Auto Expo, alongside the company’s mini crossover styled tallboy city car Ignis. The Baleno RS and the Ignis were supposed to launch by the end of 2016, but both the launches got pushed to the beginning of 2017, due to a lot of pending deliveries for the standard Baleno and the Vitara Brezza and production constraints. The standard Baleno premium hatchback model was launched in the Indian car market in October, 2015 and ever since has been highly popular and one of the bestselling car models from Maruti Suzuki India. The new Baleno RS version is being offered for sale in the Indian car market at 869,000 rupees. The primary attraction of the Baleno RS, which also actually sets it apart from its standard version, is the new Suzuki 1.0 liter K10C petrol motor that powers it. This three cylinder, Direct Injection Turbocharged petrol engine is new generation unit of the familiar K10 engines and has been specifically developed by Suzuki Motor Corp. for the export markets such as the United Kingdom.
Heritage
From 1995 to 2002, the Suzuki Baleno that was sold in Europe and Asia Pacific was a rebadged Suzuki Cultus Crescent. After the introduction of the Suzuki Aerio in 2001, the Baleno name was discontinued in Europe and Asia Pacific, and the name would be used only in Indonesia, where the Baleno was a rebadged Suzuki Aerio sedan, marketed as the Suzuki Baleno, with the sportier version called the Suzuki Baleno Next-G, sold from 2002 to 2007, and also a rebadged Suzuki SX4 sedan, marketed as the Suzuki Neo Baleno and then Suzuki Baleno SX4, that was sold from 2008 to 2010. The first generation Maruti Suzuki Baleno was also produced and sold in India until 2007.
Specifications
| Steering and Transmission | |
|---|---|
| Steering Type | Electric Assist, Rack and Pinion Power Steering |
| Transmission Type | 5 Speed Manual |
| Wheels and Tires | |
| Front Wheel Type | 16 inch 12 spoke alloy wheels |
| Rear Wheel Type | 16 inch 12 spoke alloy wheels |
| Front Tire Type | 195/55R16 |
| Rear Tire Type | 195/55R16 |
| Front Brake Type | Solid Disc |
| Rear Brake Type | Solid Disc |
| Suspension | |
| Front Suspension Type | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension Type | Torsion Beam |
| Suspension Features | Stabilizer Bars, Coil Springs, Gas Pressurized Shock Absorbers |
| Dimensions | |
| Length (in, mm) | 157.3in, 3995mm |
| Width (in, mm) | 68.7in, 1745mm |
| Height (in, mm) | 59.4in, 1510mm |
| Wheelbase (in, mm) | 99.2in, 2520mm |
| Weight (lb, kg) | 2094lb, 950kg |
| Engine Specifications | |
| Engine Type | 1.0 litre 12 valve BoosterJet K10C turbocharged inline 3 cylinder |
| Power (bhp, PS, kW) | 100bhp, 102PS, 75kW @ 5500RPM |
| Torque (lb-ft, Nm) | 111lb-ft, 150Nm @ 1700-4500RPM |
| 0-60 mph (0-97 kmph) | 11.1 seconds |
| Top Speed (mph, kmph) | 118 mph, 190 kmph |
| Drivetrain | Front Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Tank Size (gal, L) | 9.8 gallons, 37L |
| Fuel Type (AKI, RON) | 87 Octane/AKI Petrol (92 RON) |
| City Fuel Economy (mpg, kmpL) | 45mpg, 19kmpL |
| City Fuel Economy (mpg, kmpL) | 49mpg, 21kmpL |
| Cargo Specifications | |
| Cargo Space (ft3, L) | 12.0ft3, 339L |
| Max. Cargo Space (ft3, L) | 12.0ft3, 339L |