This premium hatchback plays the role of a family car perfectly well. And we aren’t saying this just because its spacious but also due to the way it rides on city roads. The Baleno feels like a much larger vehicle, gliding over bad roads with ease. Maruti has worked hard to make sure this hatchback remains comfortable over a variety of roads and it shows. Though the top spec version, with 16- inch wheels, is not able to filter sharper undulations, lower versions with 15-inch wheels and taller side profile (extra rubber) does perform very well in this regard.

Further, the steering is light and though it doesn’t offer the best feedback, it will do the job just fine for a typical owner. We also appreciate the pliant feel at highway speeds which also imparts confidence in the driver. Yes, its a light car but not a nervous one at triple digit speeds.

In terms of handling, this is a neutral car. It doesn’t offer the sporty appeal of the Swift but, thanks to a light steering, remains effortless to drive. The Baleno offers a very tight turning radius of just 4.9m, less than that of the i20 and the Jazz and this is a boon for tight parkings and congested roads. At the same time though, rear visibility is poor, thanks to a thick C pillar and narrow rear windshield.

Worthy of a mention is the fact that suspension noise is well damped on the inside. But the same cannot be said about road and tyre noise that filters into the cabin easily.

This premium hatchback plays the role of a family car perfectly well. And we aren’t saying this just because its spacious but also due to the way it rides on city roads. The Baleno feels like a much larger vehicle, gliding over bad roads with ease. Maruti has worked hard to make sure this hatchback remains comfortable over a variety of roads and it shows. Though the top spec version, with 16- inch wheels, is not able to filter sharper undulations, lower versions with 15-inch wheels and taller side profile (extra rubber) does perform very well in this regard.

Further, the steering is light and though it doesn’t offer the best feedback, it will do the job just fine for a typical owner. We also appreciate the pliant feel at highway speeds which also imparts confidence in the driver. Yes, its a light car but not a nervous one at triple digit speeds.

In terms of handling, this is a neutral car. It doesn’t offer the sporty appeal of the Swift but, thanks to a light steering, remains effortless to drive. The Baleno offers a very tight turning radius of just 4.9m, less than that of the i20 and the Jazz and this is a boon for tight parkings and congested roads. At the same time though, rear visibility is poor, thanks to a thick C pillar and narrow rear windshield.

Worthy of a mention is the fact that suspension noise is well damped on the inside. But the same cannot be said about road and tyre noise that filters into the cabin easily.

This premium hatchback plays the role of a family car perfectly well. And we aren’t saying this just because its spacious but also due to the way it rides on city roads. The Baleno feels like a much larger vehicle, gliding over bad roads with ease. Maruti has worked hard to make sure this hatchback remains comfortable over a variety of roads and it shows. Though the top spec version, with 16- inch wheels, is not able to filter sharper undulations, lower versions with 15-inch wheels and taller side profile (extra rubber) does perform very well in this regard.

Further, the steering is light and though it doesn’t offer the best feedback, it will do the job just fine for a typical owner. We also appreciate the pliant feel at highway speeds which also imparts confidence in the driver. Yes, its a light car but not a nervous one at triple digit speeds.

In terms of handling, this is a neutral car. It doesn’t offer the sporty appeal of the Swift but, thanks to a light steering, remains effortless to drive. The Baleno offers a very tight turning radius of just 4.9m, less than that of the i20 and the Jazz and this is a boon for tight parkings and congested roads. At the same time though, rear visibility is poor, thanks to a thick C pillar and narrow rear windshield.

Worthy of a mention is the fact that suspension noise is well damped on the inside. But the same cannot be said about road and tyre noise that filters into the cabin easily.

This premium hatchback plays the role of a family car perfectly well. And we aren’t saying this just because its spacious but also due to the way it rides on city roads. The Baleno feels like a much larger vehicle, gliding over bad roads with ease. Maruti has worked hard to make sure this hatchback remains comfortable over a variety of roads and it shows. Though the top spec version, with 16- inch wheels, is not able to filter sharper undulations, lower versions with 15-inch wheels and taller side profile (extra rubber) does perform very well in this regard.

Further, the steering is light and though it doesn’t offer the best feedback, it will do the job just fine for a typical owner. We also appreciate the pliant feel at highway speeds which also imparts confidence in the driver. Yes, its a light car but not a nervous one at triple digit speeds.

In terms of handling, this is a neutral car. It doesn’t offer the sporty appeal of the Swift but, thanks to a light steering, remains effortless to drive. The Baleno offers a very tight turning radius of just 4.9m, less than that of the i20 and the Jazz and this is a boon for tight parkings and congested roads. At the same time though, rear visibility is poor, thanks to a thick C pillar and narrow rear windshield.

Worthy of a mention is the fact that suspension noise is well damped on the inside. But the same cannot be said about road and tyre noise that filters into the cabin easily.