Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Rivals: The Premium Hatchback Price War

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has managed to shake up the premium hatchback segment in India with its aggressive pricing strategy and we think it is well placed to take on the likes of Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo and Honda Jazz head on.

India’s biggest carmaker has hit something of a home run with its pricing, with the base petrol model starting at Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Maruti offers the Baleno in a total of 4 trim levels - Sigma, Delta, Zeta, and Alpha - and has total of 9 variants across 4 trim levels, with 2 engine options and 2 transmission options.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno Review

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno does not skimp on safety features with all its variants, including the base-level Sigma, which are equipped with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, anti-theft security system and front seat belt pre-tensioners and force limiters, among other features.

In comparison, Hyundai i20's base level model, Era, does not have most of these safety features but is priced much higher at Rs 5.36 lakh (petrol, ex-showroom, Delhi). The Polo's base Trendline comes in higher at Rs 5.44 lakh and the Jazz E at Rs 5.36 lakh.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno Premium Hatchback Launched in India

Now, the variant above the base model is generally the highest selling and most in-demand for all auto manufacturers and companies usually pay a lot of attention to get the price point just right for this particular trim level. The petrol Delta variant comes priced at Rs 5.71 lakh and it's Rs 6.81 lakh for the diesel.

And the consumer gets a lot of goodies for the money that he/she is shelling out. Apart from the usual features like remote keyless entry, all-four power windows, steering-mounted audio controls, FM/MP3/CD, AUX & USB and Bluetooth connectivity, the Delta variant also gets automatic climate control AC, electrically foldable ORVMs, reverse parking sensors, and a rear wiper, washer and defogger. Quite a fancy list, that!

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno Variants and Features

The competition pales in comparison with none of them offering half as many features. The i20's Magna petrol trim comes in higher at Rs 5.90 lakh and the diesel at Rs 7.02 lakh. Polo's Comfortline variant will set you back by Rs 6.06 lakh for the petrol and by Rs 7.41 lakh for the diesel version. The Jazz petrol S trim, meanwhile, costs more than the Delta at Rs 5.99 lakh and the diesel is Rs 7.19 lakh.

The Baleno's top-end model, the Alpha, which comes with all the bells and whistles you could wish for is priced at Rs 7.01 lakh (petrol), while the i20 is slightly higher at Rs 7.19 lakh. The Volkswagen Polo's top-level variant, the Highline, comes in at a lower price point of Rs 6.47 lakh but does not include as many features. The Jazz VX is priced higher than the Alpha at Rs 7.34 lakh.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Hyundai i20 - Battle of the Premium Hatchbacks

As for the automatic transmission variants, which are all in petrol, the Baleno offers only the Delta with a CVT auto box and is priced at a competitive Rs 6.76 lakh. The Jazz's automatic versions come in two trim levels - S (Rs 7.04 lakh) and V (Rs 7.90 lakh). The Hyundai i20 and the Volkswagen Polo, meanwhile, do not have automatic gearbox versions.

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The automatic transmission Polo GT TSI is mated to a DSG box but we are not including it in this comparison since it has a turbo-charged 1.2-litre petrol engine under the hood and is slotted in the 'hot hatch' segment.

So, to conclude, what is our verdict with regard to pricing? The Baleno, at least on paper, is a winner hands down and is set to give its rivals a run for their money.