Publications
Partners
- Suzuki's new Baleno range is on sale, and the cheapest one seems to be the best.
- A 1.5-litre engine offers decent poke during launch activity at coastal altitude.
- It's tough to beat and light on fuel, packed with features, yet priced like a smaller car.
- For motoring news, go to Wheels24
Forget about the new Suzuki Baleno GLX with its 360-degree view camera and high-tech SLDA infotainment system. It's a fantastic car, don't get me wrong, but I found myself in the entry-level GL model's driver's seat at its media launch, and this is the model South Africa needs right now amid rapidly rising fuel and new car prices.
Priced at R225 900, the Suzuki Baleno 1.5 GL is large enough to accommodate a small family of four comfortably, and it's perky enough to get along the city and the highway without using too much petrol. We averaged 5.1-litres per 100km overall during two days with the launch cars.
Day one saw us tackle an uphill route that started at the King Shaka Airport and ended in Hilton along the N2/N3 and R103. The car required a flat foot of revs in overtaking instances, but it didn't seem to labour or feel strained. If you drive it smoothly and anticipate the gear changes with an eco-driving mindset (we were in the manual), you can extract respectable driving performance. Suzuki bragged about the Baleno's power to weight ratio, and you feel this on the road as the car is swift and dynamic in the hands.
READ: Which one would you buy? Isuzu mu-X Onyx, Toyota Fortuner VX or Ford Everest Limited
Day two, we drove downhill back to the airport from Hilton, and here it shone as the vehicle barely sipped fuel to get us back to our return flights to Johannesburg. You could relax behind the wheel along the highway with decent tunes playing through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The GL doesn't come with the larger, fancier touchscreen you'll get if you spring for the GLX, but there's nothing wrong with the smaller screen. It's responsive and crisp, and offers a rear view camera.
Comes with everything
The GL comes with all the features you need in a mobility solution. Suzuki has added climate control with rear air vents instead of the previously used manual air conditioning system. The vents are mounted at the back of the new centre armrest with a storage box between the front occupants.
Would you consider the Baleno as a family car? Let us know in the comments section below.
The GL also comes with electrically adjustable and foldable side mirrors, cruise control and three USB ports (a Type-A port in front and a Type-A and Type-C port in the rear). Additional standard features include remote central locking, rear parking sensors, a 12V accessory socket and a leather-clad steering wheel.
READ: REVIEW | Practical and frugal - BMW 420d GC a wolf in sheep's clothing
Safety and security in the GL specification level are also sorted with dual front airbags, an electronic stability programme (ESP), ISOFIX child seat anchors and an alarm and immobiliser. Hill Hold Assistance is standard on the Baleno for the first time, so you won't roll if you struggle pulling away on inclines.
I didn't feel like anything was missing in the cabin. The seats were comfy, the view unrestricted, and the whole experience was fuss-free and dripped with simplicity. The price makes it even more compelling.
Ideal if you need space
We've established that the 1.5-litre engine with 77kW and 138Nm worked well. Four up, with luggage, you might have to use the revs, but once you're rolling, you should achieve good fuel consumption figures. They say the claimed combined cycle run will use 5.4 litres per 100km, but we came in less at 5.1l/100km. The five-speed manual is light and easy to operate, and you get an easy to use clutch.
At the Suzuki Baleno GL launch price point of R225 900, your alternatives are cars such as the Kia Picanto 1.0-litre Style (R219 995) and the Hyundai Grand i10 1.0-litre Fluid (R 232 900) or the evergreen Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1.4-litre Trendline (235 200). The Polo might give you similar space, but the Picanto and Grand i10 are more petite. Spec-wise, the Baleno is nicely balanced and undercuts these cars well if you need something that will cost less than R5000 per month.
READ: REVIEW | How we managed to cover more than 1 100km in Volvo's XC60 T8 Recharge
Like the Mitsubishi ASX we reported on, the new Baleno reminds me of the cars that make you want to pay off and keep because they are mechanically robust. Sure it's not some high-torque turbo monster, but in times like these, we need frugal engines as much as low-end grunt is handy. The Baleno comes with a five-year or 200 000km promotional mechanical warranty. This includes unlimited roadside assistance for the same period. Pricing also consists of a four-year or 60 000km service plan and an anti-corrosion warranty of six years and unlimited kilometres. The Baleno has a 15 000 km service interval.
Suzuki expects to sell 500 of these new Balenos a month in South Africa, and we think they are spot-on with this target as the company rises in the ranks with affordable vehicles to beat leading brands such as Toyota and Volkswagen in passenger car sales.
KEEP UP TO DATE with the latest motoring news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter, 'LET'S DRIVE'.
