Maruti Suzuki Baleno sedan: 15 years ownership review

Maruti Baleno was one of first premium sedans that manufacturer had launched in India. It was launched back in late 90’s and it was meant to compete with cars like Ford Escort, Opel Astra and many more. Over the years, Maruti Baleno has gained popularity in car communities and is now loved by enthusiasts. Like many other models, we feel that Maruti Baleno sedan was one of those models that was way ahead of its time. Maruti Baleno was offered as a sedan and a station wagon. The Baleno Altura was the station wagon which did not do well in the market at all. We still have some well kept examples of Maruti Baleno sedans in the country and here we have one such video, where the owner shares his 15 year experience with the vehicle.

The video has been uploaded by Talking Cars on their YouTube channel. The model seen here is a 2006 model Maruti Baleno and one of the presenter who is seen in the video is the owner. He bought it new in 2006 and since then it has been with him only. Both the presenters start by talking about the looks of the car.

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

They can be heard saying in the video that Baleno has a polarising design and even they did not like it when it got launched. Eventually the design grew on them and now the design looks great. The Baleno seen here is a facelifted version. The pre-facelifted model with different headlights and grille never got launched in India.

The owner mentions that, he really like the Baleno as it is more engaging to drive. It feels like a proper driver’s car. he has been servicing it from a Maruti’s authorised service center for the last 15 years and he has never faced any major problems with the car. The only negative he pointed out in the video is that in comparison to a Honda City, the engine feels a bit less refined.

Being Maruti, servicing has never been a problem for Baleno. He mentions that some of the part that were made by Suzuki are quite expensive and as it shares a lot of parts and components with other Maruti’s, one can always find an alternative which is less expensive. Maruti Baleno also has a 1.6 litre petrol engine which means it is a lot more expensive to insure in comparison to other cars. The car has been with the owner or presenter for the last 15 years and the car looks well maintained.

The owner has also made minor changes or modifications to improve the looks and driving experience. The Baleno here sits lower than the stock version. The lowering springs itself has changed the overall look of the car. It now looks a lot more sportier than before. The multi-spoke alloy wheel also add to the overall look. The presenter has also made minor modifications to the bumper and on the inside, he has opted for a slightly bigger steering wheel. Other than this, the car looks well maintained and in stock form. The owner was pretty happy with the car and he definitely recommends it to others.

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