Kumbi-M on Cars

Quick Facts

• Engine: 1.4-litre VVT engine
• Power/Torque: 68Kw/130nm
• Fuel Consumption:5.1l/100km - I managed 5.3l/100km
• Price From: R209 900

Exterior

The Suzuki Baleno was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015, sitting in its second generation now, it is an affordable, practical, economical and compact car and I had no idea I needed it until my week with it. 

Compared to its younger sibling the Suzuki Swift, the Baleno is wider and longer with sweeping DRLs (Day Running Lights) which run across the face of the LED headlights, really easy to look at and also very bright (You might tend to forget to switch your headlights on and just drive with the DRLs thinking your headlights are on, that is how bright they are). 

There is a chrome strip which runs through the front headlights to end at the fender-line which really took me, the three-dimensional chrome strip that frames a new grille and S-emblem makes the Baleno sportier. 

The curvy lines on the bonnet and front complement the headlights and grille.

The Suzuki Baleno comes with six colours to choose from, including the new Magma Grey metallic finish. My tests Unit was Stargaze Blue. 

Exterior round up

Fog lamps, Rear roof-end spoiler, 16-inch Polished “diamond cut” alloy wheels, chrome door handles, beltline mouldings and tailgate garnish, Rear park distance control. 

How does it Drive?

Powered by a 1.4-litre VVT engine, the Suzuki Baleno is no slouch, the five-speed manual transmission is very smooth. You do not have to work the engine hard, the 68Kw of power is delivered at 6 000 rpm(revs per minute) and the peak torque of 130 Nm comes in at 4 200 rpm. 

The Suzuki Baleno really shines everywhere, be it the city or the highway, the beauty of the manual gearbox is that when you need to overtake you drop a gear yourself, so I could not complain about the lack of power when overtaking. and when you are on the highway, you have the leisure of cruise control which comes in handy on those long trips. The Suzuki Baleno is pretty quiet on the road, with the only disturbance coming from wind noise while you’re cruising at higher speeds.

The fuel consumption is also where the Suzuki Baleno shines, for a car in the B-segment, I felt like I was driving for free. Suzuki claimed average fuel consumption of 5.1-litres per 100km for and I found myself dancing in the 5.3-litres range, a range that I had not seen in a while since I started driving. 

The seating position is comfortable and the front passenger has plenty of room. Even with the front seats pulled back the is still generous position for taller people, the rear can still comfortably fit two adults and a child. I managed to drive 550 kilometres with two adults in the back and nobody complained, the Baleno excels in the space department. 

The boot is class-leading, I say this with so much confidence because I drive a B-segment car and I am willing to say that the Suzuki is the leader of the class in terms of the passenger as well as boot space. The boot has 355 litres of space, and if you do not understand what that means, worry not, it simply means you can fit a lot of luggage in your boot. 

Interior

Inside, my test unit had a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity as well as a reverse camera which was very clear even at night. 

A 4.2-inch colour multi-information display which displays driving data such as fuel consumption, time, power and torque is easy to navigate through and displays are of high quality. The GLX model which I had also receives a leather-covered steering wheel.

Overall, the interior of the Suzuki Baleno is spacious, everything is laid out easily without any distractions. Steering wheel controls are also available in case the infotainment is hard to reach.

Interior Round-Up

Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control, front armrest. 

Verdict

So, the Suzuki Baleno is a top performer and a bit of a show-off in this segment, I have loved everything about it and considering the price you pay for it, I would recommend it for anyone looking for a compact, fun, economical as well as a practical car. Well done Suzuki. 

Pricing

Baleno 1.4 GL M/T - R209 900

Baleno 1.4 GLX MT - R244 900

Baleno 1.4 GLX AT - R259 900

The Suzuki Baleno is sold with a 5-year/200 000 km promotional warranty and a 4-year/60 000 km service plan.