India’s largest automaker Maruti Suzuki has quietly updated the safety features of its Baleno hatchback. This comes shortly after the Indian Government announced that it will be enforcing stricter safety standards from October 2023.
Maruti Suzuki Baleno: Upgraded with Safety Features
The Baleno now offers a three-point seatbelt for all passengers. Previously, the rear center passenger in the hatchback only had a lap belt. It also becomes the second premium hatchback in India to receive this update, following the Hyundai i20.
Besides this update, other safety features onboard the vehicle remain unchanged. It comes equipped with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP with hill-hold, a 360-degree camera, brake assist, and ISOFIX anchorages. The hatchback also provides the Suzuki Connect App which further adds functions such as emergency alerts, geo-fence, time-fence, and vehicle breakdown notification.
Maruti Baleno: Variants, Price and Rivals
Maruti Suzuki offers the Baleno in four trims, Delta, Alpha, Sigma, and Zeta. It is sold exclusively through the brand’s Nexa premium dealerships. Prices remain the same following the update, starting from Rs 6.61 lakh and going up to Rs 9.88 lakh (ex-showroom). It rivals the likes of the Tata Altroz, Toyota Glanza and the Hyundai i20 in India.
Stricter Safety Regulations Coming
Indian Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, recently announced that all new passenger cars will have to be fitted with three point seatbelts for all front facing passengers. He has also stated that all new cars will have to come with 6 airbags as standard. This comes as part of the government’s initiative to reduce road fatalities in India by 50 percent by the end of 2025, which also includes a new standardized crash test safety rating for all cars sold in India.
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