Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. revived the Baleno moniker in the form of a brand new hatchback that went on sale last year. The made-in-India Baleno rivals the Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo. The premium end of the hatchback market has never been Maruti’s forte. However, Ciaz and S-Cross have tasted enough success for the company to push forth more premium products. Maruti being the king of hatchbacks has nailed it again with the new Baleno. We take a look at Maruti’s latest to figure out the advantages its enjoys over immediate rivals. Here’s our new Maruti Baleno vs Elite i20 vs Jazz vs Polo comparison.
Also See – 2015 Maruti Baleno | Elite i20 AT vs Baleno AT vs Jazz AT
New Maruti Baleno vs Elite i20 vs Jazz vs Polo Price Comparison
| Maruti Baleno 1.2 Petrol | Hyundai Elite i20 1.2 Petrol | Honda Jazz 1.2 Petrol | Volkswagen Polo 1.2 Petrol | ||||
| Sigma | INR 4.99 lakhs | Era | INR 5.36 lakhs | E | INR 5.35 lakhs | Trendline | INR 5.33 lakhs |
| Delta | INR 5.71 lakhs | Magna | INR 5.90 lakhs | S | INR 5.94 lakhs | Comfortline | INR 5.96 lakhs |
| Zeta | INR 6.31 lakhs | Sportz | INR 6.41 lakhs | SV | INR 6.49 lakhs | Highline | INR 6.57 lakhs |
| Alpha | INR 7.01 lakhs | Sportz(O) | INR 6.76 lakhs | V | INR 6.84 lakhs | ||
| CVT | INR 6.76 lakhs | Asta | INR 6.99 lakhs | S AT | INR 7.03 lakhs | ||
| Asta (O) | INR 7.18 lakhs | VX | INR 7.33 lakhs | ||||
| Magna 1.4 Automatic | INR 9.02 lakhs | V AT | INR 7.89 lakhs | ||||
All three rivals of the Baleno have a base price of roughly INR 5.3 lakhs. However, Baleno undercuts the rivals by a good margin. It is priced at INR 4.99 lakhs. At INR 7.33 lakhs for top model, Honda Jazz is the most expensive.
| Maruti Baleno 1.3 Diesel | Hyundai Elite i20 1.4 Diesel | Honda Jazz 1.5 Diesel | Volkswagen Polo 1.5 Diesel | ||||
| Sigma | INR 6.16 lakhs | Era | INR 6.47 lakhs | E | INR 6.54 lakhs | Trendline | INR 6.68 lakhs |
| Delta | INR 6.81 lakhs | Magna | INR 7.01 lakhs | S | INR 7.18 lakhs | Comfortline | INR 7.31 lakhs |
| Zeta | INR 7.41 lakhs | Sportz | INR 7.56 lakhs | SV | INR 7.69 lakhs | Highline | INR 7.92 lakhs |
| Alpha | INR 8.11 lakhs | Sportz(O) | INR 7.88 lakhs | V | INR 8.14 lakhs | ||
| Asta | INR 8.11 lakhs | VX | INR 8.63 lakhs | ||||
| Asta (O) | INR 8.30 lakhs | ||||||
The base diesel trims of the i20 and Jazz are similarly priced at INR 6.46 and 6.54 lakhs respectively. The Polo Diesel starts a little bit higher at INR 6.68 lakhs. The Baleno starts at INR 6.16 lakhs. It goes all the way up to INR 8.11 lakhs. Honda Jazz is priced between INR 5.25 to 7.89 lakhs.
Also See – 2015 Maruti Baleno Launch Report | Baleno vs Dzire
New Maruti Baleno vs Elite i20 vs Jazz vs Polo Specs Comparison
| PETROL | Maruti Baleno 1.2 Petrol | Honda Jazz 1.2 Petrol | Hyundai Elite i20 Petrol | Volkswagen Polo 1.2 Petrol |
| Displacement | 12. litre | 1.2 litre | 1.2 litre/1.4 litre | 1.2 litre |
| Power | 83 bhp | 89 bhp | 82 bhp/99 bhp | 74 bhp |
| Torque | 115 Nm | 110 Nm | 115 Nm/132 Nm | 110 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual/CVT | 5-speed manual/CVT | 5-speed manual/4-speed AT | 5-speed manual |
| Mileage | 21.4 kpl | 18.7 kmpl/19 kmpl | 17.19 kmpl | 16.47 kmpl |
| DIESEL | Maruti Baleno 1.3 Diesel | Honda Jazz 1.5 Diesel | Hyundai Elite i20 1.4 Diesel | Volkswagen Polo 1.5 Diesel |
| Displacement | 1.3 litre | 1.5 litre | 1.4 litre | 1.5 litre |
| Power | 74 bhp | 99 bhp | 89 bhp | 89 bhp |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 200 Nm | 220 Nm | 230 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
| Mileage | 27.39 kpl | 27.3 kmpl | 22.54 kmpl | 20.14 kmpl |
The diesel Baleno is the most underpowered car of the lot. Yet, it is only marginally more fuel efficient than the Honda Jazz.
New Maruti Baleno vs Elite i20 vs Jazz vs Polo Design Comparison
It’s been a while since the new Baleno has been on sale here. While we aren’t too fond of the slightly quirky looks, the audience seems to have loved it. The nose, in particular, looks a bit odd with its Swift-like headlamps and inverted trapezoidal grille. However, we do like the headlamp detailing with its projector unit and LED daytime running lights and even the bumper looks pretty sporty. The other three hatchbacks have been around for some time now so everyone is familiar with their design. However, we like the European styling of the Elite i20 and the Polo looks a tad bit more appealing than the van-like Jazz.
On the inside, though, the Baleno’s cabin is very refreshing featuring a cool looking centre console and a black colour scheme. Interior space offered by the Baleno stands at par with the other three here. Among the i20, Jazz and Polo, the Jazz’s interiors are a bit low on quality and we aren’t a big fan of the design either. But it does have the maximum amount of headspace. The Polo features a neatly laid dashboard layout with high-quality materials but loses out on cabin space. Among these three the Elite i20 offers the best blend of space, design and quality.
Also See – Exclusive Spy Pics of the New Baleno
Features
The current industry standards in terms of equipment list have been set very high by manufacturers. While Baleno, i20 and Jazz come loaded with features, it’s the Volkswagen Polo that falls a bit short. There are no essential features missing from the car, but its competitors offer a lot more at a similar price. All cars feature an automatic climate control, integrated stereo with Bluetooth, USB and AUX support, steering mounted controls, etc. As part of a recent update, Hyundai has added a new touchscreen AVN to the Elite i20 which means the Polo is the only hatch here that does without any such system. The Maruti Baleno is the only car which comes with bi-Xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights.
New Maruti Baleno vs Elite i20 vs Jazz vs Polo – Verdict
Clearly, the competition is tough, but the Maruti Baleno has managed to pull buyers away from it’s established rivals. This is majorly due to its fresh looks, a strong set of features, aggressive pricing and Maruti’s unmatched after sales service and support. The audience seems to love the Baleno’s looks, which surely are slightly unconventional. All said and done, the Maruti Baleno comes across as a well rounded product that ticks most of the right boxes.
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