The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is powered by a 11.2-litre, four-cylinder K Series Dual Jet, Dual VVT petrol engine producing 89.7 PS at 6,000 rpm and 113 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm.

Transmission options are a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT (automated manual transmission, a gearbox that shifts automatically but uses a mechanical clutch rather than a torque converter). The AMT, branded Auto Gear Shift (AGS), is particularly suited for stop-and-go city traffic.

The engine also features ISS (Idle Start Stop) technology, which cuts the engine at a standstill and restarts it when you engage the clutch or brake pedal, reducing fuel consumption and idle emissions.

Suspension is MacPherson strut up front and a torsion beam at the rear. Braking uses disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear.

Kerb weight ranges from 925 to 960 kg depending on variant and transmission, keeping the Baleno light and easy to manoeuvre in urban conditions.

The ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figures are 22.35 km/l for the manual and 22.94 km/l for the AMT. The S-CNG variant is rated at 30.61 km/kg, among the highest in the segment.

Real-world petrol efficiency in city conditions will sit noticeably lower than the ARAI figure, as is typical with most petrol hatchbacks. Highway numbers tend to come closer to the claim. The ISS system does help marginally in heavy traffic by cutting idle fuel consumption.

The CNG variant makes an expected running-cost case, as it is significantly cheaper per unit than petrol across most Indian cities, and the 30.61 km/kg figure means per-kilometre costs are substantially lower.

The trade-off is a reduced boot and no split-folding rear seat on the CNG variant.

Baleno’s cabin features a dual-tone layout with piano black inserts and chrome accents running across the dashboard.

Seats feature a wrap-around design with deep side bolstering, which holds occupants well on longer drives. Driver seat height adjustment and a tilt-and-telescopic steering column are available on upper variants.

Infotainment ranges from a 17.78 cm unit on lower variants to a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen on higher ones, the latter adding wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, an Advanced Voice Assistant, and Surround Sense audio tuning by ARKAMYS.

Higher variants also get a colour TFT instrument cluster, Head Up Display, rear AC vents, and rear USB-A and USB-C fast charging ports.

The 318-litre boot is competitive for the segment. The CNG variant loses boot access to the gas cylinder and doesn't get a split-folding rear seat.

Baleno follows Maruti NEXA's "Crafted Futurism" design language, featuring a “Liquid Flow” body shape with strong shoulder lines and sharp creases. At 3,990 mm long, 1,745 mm wide, and 1,500 mm tall on a 2,520 mm wheelbase, it sits in proportion typical of a B-segment hatchback.

The front fascia is defined by a NEXWave grille with an accentuated chrome strip, LED projector headlamps with NEXTre' LED daytime running lights (DRLs) on upper variants, lower variants get halogen units.

LED fog lamps, body-coloured bumpers, a rear spoiler, and NEXA Signature LED tail lamps round out the profile. Body-coloured ORVMs with integrated turn indicators feature across the range.

Tyre sizes are 185/65 R15 on steel wheels for Sigma and Delta, and 195/55 R16 on alloy wheels for Zeta and Alpha.

Baleno holds a 4-star Adult Occupant Protection and a 3-star Child Occupant Protection rating from Bharat NCAP. It is built on Suzuki’s HEARTECT platform, complying with full frontal, frontal offset, side impact, and pedestrian protection regulations.

The cabin features 6 airbags as standard across all variants, front, side, and curtain. This is paired with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Hill Hold Assist, an upgraded braking setup with larger disc brakes, and seatbelt pre-tensioners with force limiters for front occupants. All seating positions get 3-point seatbelts and belt reminder alerts.

Additional features include ISOFIX child seat anchorages, a speed alert system, and rear parking sensors across the range. A rear-view camera and 360-degree camera are available on upper variants.

Notably, Baleno does not currently offer ADAS features.

Hyundai’s i20 and Tata’s Altroz stand out to be clear competitors to Baleno in its segment.

The i20 stands out with better interior quality and more advanced gearbox options, including CVT and dual-clutch automatics. However, the Baleno counters with slightly larger boot space (318 L vs 311 L) and typically stronger fuel-efficiency figures.

Altroz holds a clear safety edge in passive safety with a 5-star crash test rating and remains the only car in the segment offering a diesel engine. The Baleno counters with a more spacious rear cabin, a larger 318-litre boot, and the factory CNG option.