What is it" New ?rational? supermini line to sit alongside Suzuki?s Swift.
What?s new" The Baleno is an all-new model line nothing like the last Suzuki to bear the name, which was last sold in 2002. According to its makers this is a car to appeal to supermini buyers that are too ?rational? to buy Suzuki?s most popular car, the Swift.
Chief among the newcomer?s attractions is its space, the car 150mm longer than the Swift ? claimed as class-leading, the interior really can accommodate five adults while the boot is enormous for the segment, going from 320 litres to 1,085 litres with the seats folded down.
The Baleno is built on a new platform, the first under Suzuki?s ?Next 100? plan, and saves significant weight, some models tipping the scales at only 935kg. Engine choices are two, both petrol. The 1.2 89bhp unit is most efficient, at fuel economy of 70.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 94g/km, helped by Dualjet twin-injector technology debuted on the Swift in 2014, and for the first time a mild hybrid system that provides energy assistance under acceleration and gathers electricity through regenerative braking.
Most buyers are expected, however to choose the direct-injection 1.0 Boosterjet turbo petrol engine of 110bhp, first seen in the Vitara earlier this year. It?s claimed to offer the performance of a much larger 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated unit but with better fuel economy ? 62.7mpg at best, with 105g/km emissions.
What do we think of it" Suzuki says the Balen...