Maruti Suzuki Baleno Facelift Teased; Launching Soon

Maruti Suzuki officially teases Baleno Facelift, /bookings now open in India

After much speculation, Maruti Suzuki has finally released a couple of images of its upcoming premium hatchback the Baleno Facelift. The homegrown automaker has further announced that the vehicle can now be officially booked for an amount of Rs 11,000 both online and via its Nexa dealerships across the country.  Rumours have it that the updated Baleno could be launched around the second last week of February 2022. 

From an exterior design point of view as most of us are aware the latest iteration will feature quite a few updates. As per the official images, upfront the Baleno Facelift looks very different from the current model. It features a new grille which is much bigger than the last one. Depending upon the variant, it will offer L-shaped wraparound headlamps equipped with LED daytime running lamps and projectors. The hood seems to be flat in comparison to the outgoing version. Its side profile remains more or less the same except for the front and rear fenders which seemed to have been worked upon in order to accommodate the new headlight and new tail lamp design. As for the rear, expect the 2022 Baleno Facelift to feature a new tailgate design, L-shaped tail lights and a new bumper.   

Maruti Suzuki has announced that the Baleno Facelift will offer a heads-up display unit (HUD), a first in segment feature. The unit will be offered with a foldable screen which would read out information such as time, speed, real time fuel efficiency, rev counter, and climate control details. There is also talk of a new dashboard design being introduced that would feature a free-standing infotainment screen. Expect the infotainment system to be updated to offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The safety equipment list on-board could also get an update in the form of 6 airbags likely to be introduced on the top end variant. There is also the possibility of Electronic Stability Program (ESP) being a part of safety on higher models. 

Mechanically, the premium hatchback is expected to remain the same. What the customer benefits to get are two 1.2-litre petrol engine options. The first one produces a maximum power output 83bhp while the other that features 12V mild-hybrid technology is capable of delivering 90 bhp power. Transmission options here would include a manual gearbox being carried over from before while it is speculated that Maruti could introduce the AMT stick from the Swift to replace existing CVT gearbox.

When launched, 2022 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Facelift will rival models like the New Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz, Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo within its segment.