Suzuki

Baleno

The Suzuki Baleno is a supermini that is fun, fun, fun all the way to the bank. Featuring a fabulous three-cylinder engine or smart hybrid option, the five-door Baleno is an ideal car for families looking for a stylish model that is packed with techno treats and offers great all-round economy.

The good

Fabulous all-rounder that is big on personality and value

The bad

A little noisy when pushed along at a fair pace

Tech Specs

Price from

£12,999

Combined Fuel up to

70.6mpg

0-62 from

11.0 seconds

max speed up to

124mph

co2 from

94g/km

Test Drive

Suzuki Baleno – first drive

The ultra-popular and fiercely competitive supermini class has a new addition courtesy of Suzuki and it’s a real corker with bundles of on-board technology, smart styling and a fabulous little three pot 1.0-litre engine that’s simply bursting with energy.

It’s a five-door model called the Baleno and with prices ranging from £12,999 to £13,999 it fits neatly into the Suzuki line-up between the Swift and Vitara models.

To simplify matters, buyers can choose from two well-equipped trim levels called SZ-T and SZ5 and in addition to the punchy 1.0-litre Boosterjet petrol engine, there is also a 1.2 SHVS model – it stands for Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki.

But Suzuki believes the 1.0-litre powertrain in range-topping SZ5 will prove the most popular and account for the majority of sales and has set a realistic target of 3,500 units in the first 12 months.

The car features Suzuki’s new ‘Liquid Flow’ design theme to help create a smart appearance from any angle and eye-catching features include 16-inch alloys, a rear spoiler, a black grille housing the Suzuki emblem, chrome tailgate trim, sweeping headlight clusters, striking tail-lights, LED daytime running lights, rear privacy glass, electrically-adjustable heated door mirrors and front fog lights.

Step inside and it’s difficult not to be impressed with the level of technology on offer. For example, the likes of sat nav with MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay are standard across the range as is Bluetooth connectivity, a good sound system, an easy-to-navigate infotainment screen, a three-spoke leather covered steering wheel, smart blue instrument dials and plenty more besides.

The layout is beautifully simple and clutter-free yet for the very reasonable price-tag the Baleno boasts plenty of kit.

Another very noteworthy aspect of the car is the very generous legroom in the rear and overall practicality of the vehicle. Many superminis look compact on the outside and then fail to deliver when it comes to interior space. That’s certainly not the case with the Baleno – a couple of six footers could easily sit in comfort in the back and have room to stretch out.

We tested out the 1.0 Boosterjet SZ5 on the roads around Belfast in Northern Ireland and despite its compact size; the engine is an absolute delight. The car priced at £13,999 can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 11.4 seconds and has a top speed of 124mph. It can achieve combined fuel efficiency of 62.7mpg with carbon emissions of 105g/km.

The test model featured a five-speed manual gearbox (an automatic option is available) and it was fun, fun, fun every step of the way. The powertrain delivered plenty of zip and acceleration was lively through the gears with ample power on tap at all times. Admittedly there was a little engine whizz and whine and it seemed pretty rev-happy when pushed really hard, but it proved a fizzy little engine with heaps of character.

The road-holding is confident and assured and comfort levels are good for all occupants. In addition, the Baleno boasts a generously-sized boot with a capacity of 320-litres, a limit that can be increased quickly and easily to 756 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. Elsewhere there is a good-sized glovebox, door pockets, central bin and a convenient tray just in front of a couple of cup holders.

We also took a quick run-out in the hybrid model which is only expected to account for about 15 per cent of sales. Suzuki describes the system as a mild hybrid and it perfectly sums up the car. It doesn’t have the silent start-up that more conventional hybrids feature but it does, according to Suzuki, offer combined economy up to 70.6mpg with carbon emissions of 94g/km.

The 1.2 SHVS SZ5 model is priced at £13,499 and has a 0-62mph sprint time of 12.3 seconds with a maximum speed of 111mph. In all honesty it was difficult to determine any major differences between the two models and the smaller 1.0-litre variant seemed to deliver more responsive and edgy performance capabilities

All Baleno models are fitted with a comprehensive list of safety specifications, such as anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, six airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, radar brake support with brake assist function and plenty more besides.

All in all, the new Baleno which is built in India and is on sale from June 1, is a fabulous new arrival. It enters a fiercely competitive arena with the likes of the Hyundai i20, Kia Rio, Mazda2, Vauxhall Corsa and Skoda Fabia already established rivals. However, it looks smart, drives beautifully, is economical to run and is guaranteed to make its mark on the segment.