2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno: What we know so far

Maruti Suzuki is working on refreshing the Baleno which is their premium hatchback. It is the best selling premium hatchback in our country. Baleno got its mild facelift in 2019 and now the manufacturer is working on another facelift that is supposed to launch by February’22 according to ACI.

This time the facelift will be a major one. So, expect it to come with quite a few changes. The spy shots reveal that the Baleno would come with redesigned tail lamps. It would be LED units and they could be sleeker than the current ones. The alloy wheels that the test mule is using are the same as the previous Baleno. However, the production-spec 2022 Baleno is expected to get all-new wheels. The front is expected to get some significant updates in terms of new headlights and a new bumper. Having said that as of now there are no images of the front of the test mule.

The interior will also get a host of upgrades in terms of a new dashboard design. There will also be a new steering wheel that which will be a multi-functional unit. There could be a new digital instrument cluster that will show various information to the driver. It is expected the same 7-inch SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment system that every Maruti Suzuki vehicle is offered with. It comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Having said that, the competitors now do have a better and larger infotainment system. So, we hope that Maruti Suzuki upgrades the infotainment system.

Also read: India”s first Maruti Baleno with “air suspension” looks gorgeous (Video)

Engine changes

The 2022 Baleno will not get any upgrades in terms of the engine. It will continue to be offered with a 1.2-litre DualJet naturally aspirated petrol engine that we currently get. It will produce 90 PS of max power and 113 Nm of peak torque.  The engine will be sold with a 5-speed manual gearbox. There should also be an automatic transmission on offer. However, as of now, this engine is not mated to an automatic transmission.

If you want an automatic transmission, the Baleno is offered with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 83 PS of max power and 113 Nm of peak torque. This engine is offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic transmission.

The DualJet engine also comes with SHVS  mild-hybrid technology. It has a Lithium-ion and Lead-Acid battery with an integrated starter generator. This enables engine start/stop which helps in saving some fuel and increasing the fuel efficiency of the engine. The batteries also enable torque assist function at lower speeds so that the engine does not have to work hard.

There are rumours that Baleno and other upcoming vehicles from Maruti Suzuki will get a strong hybrid system that will be developed with the help of Toyota. However, we do not expect that the 2022 Baleno will be a strong hybrid. We will have to see if Maruti Suzuki carries over a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine or not and what happens to the automatic transmission for the Baleno.

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Also read: 4-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift to launch in 2022: What it”ll look like