Maruti Suzuki was late to enter the premium hatchback segment with the Baleno, but the automaker surely has been compensated well for the same with highly appreciable numbers to its credit. With a strong start, the Baleno managed to outsell the segment best seller the Hyundai Elite i20 in December 2015 with Hyundai retailing 10,379 units, whereas Maruti zoomed ahead with 10,572 units sold during the same period.
Launched in October last year, the Maruti Baleno raked in 4229 units in its first month of sales grabbing the third spot right behind the Hyundai Elite i20 and Honda Jazz in the segment. The competitively priced model saw numbers increase further in November 2015 garnering 9074 units as opposed to the 10,074 units clocked by the Hyundai Elite i20, whereas the previous month witnessed a difference of mere 193 units in sales but has put Maruti Suzuki back in the spotlight.
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Hyundai i20: Features Comparison
The Maruti Baleno was the Indian auto giant's much-delayed response to the Hyundai i20 that arrived in 2009. Nevertheless, the segment leading features and frugal engine options have succeeded in bringing buyers to Maruti's newfound upmarket NEXA dealerships. The success of the hatchback has also been a saving grace for the automaker in light of the S-Cross failing to perform as per expectations.
In comparison, the Hyundai Elite i20 despite being similarly equipped loses out on the value for money quotient, which the Baleno offers in abundance. Even with the recent price hike, the Maruti premium hatchback is still cheaper than its rivals by a sizeable margin and gets a little pricey only on the range-topping Alpha trim that boasts of projector headlamps, DRLs and the Apple CarPlay system. Sales are expected to remain unaffected by the hike, but the same will help Maruti create better price differentiation between the Swift and Baleno as the former did take a hit in sales due to the close pricing.
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Hyundai i20 vs Honda Jazz: Specification Comparison
With Hyundai aggressive about increasing its market share in India, Maruti Suzuki is making sure to maintain its number one position and has an onslaught of launches lined up in the following months including the Vitara Brezza and Ignis sub compact crossover, both of which will be showcased at the upcoming Auto Expo.
