Baleno vs Amaze – Specs, Dimensions & Features Comparison

Let’s lay them side by side and see what separates them besides the obvious. 

Honda Amaze versus Maruti Baleno Comparison - Dimensions

As you can see from the table, the two cars are equally long. The Maruti Baleno has marginally better ground clearance, it’s slightly wider, has a much better wheelbase and gets considerably wider tyres.  The Honda Amaze has a larger boot. The End. Even that advantage gets thrown out of the door when you have to move a house. The Maruti Baleno is a hatchback, which means, it has a wider opening boot lid. So you can carry larger items. And you can fold the rear seat to make room for more stuff.

Honda Amaze vs Maruti Baleno - Dimensions Comparison Winner: Maruti Baleno

Honda Amaze vs Maruti Baleno Specs Comparison - Petrol Engine Specs

Both the Japanese car manufacturers, Honda and Suzuki, are known for making refined and reliable petrol engines. The Honda engine here trumps the Maruti’s non-hybrid engine with better power even though it has slightly lower torque higher in the rev band. The fuel efficiency is better with the Maruti engine though. We’ll have to call this even. No clear winners here.

Honda Amaze vs Maruti Baleno - Petrol Engine Comparison Winner: Draw

Honda Amaze vs Maruti Baleno Specs Comparison - Diesel Engine Specs

While the petrol engine comparison was a draw, the diesel engine fight witnesses a clear winner. The Honda engine is a clear winner with its higher power and torque output, which comes without any compromise on fuel efficiency. Did we mention it comes with a CVT automatic? Yeah! All three critical figures take a dip with this transmission but that option alone gives it extra points over the Baleno’s Fiat-sourced 1.25-litre diesel engine.

Honda Amaze vs Maruti Baleno - Diesel Engine Comparison Winner: Honda Amaze

Honda Amaze Variants and Price

How expensive is Honda Amaze automatic?

The petrol automatic variants carry a premium of Rs. 83,000 to Rs. 90,000. The diesel automatic is pricier by Rs. 73,000 to Rs. 80,000.

How expensive is the Honda Amaze diesel engine?

The diesel manual variants are Rs. 1.12 lakh more expensive than their respective petrol counterparts. At the current New Delhi fuel price (Rs. 74 for petrol and Rs. 67 for diesel), it’ll take you 83,000km to recoup the extra cost.

In the automatic variants, the diesel powertrain is Rs. 1.02 lakh more expensive. At the same time, fuel efficiency takes a hit with the automatic. So, it takes you about 95,000km to recover the cost of switching to the heavier fuel.

Maruti Baleno Variants and Price

How expensive is the Maruti Baleno hybrid engine?

As is evident from the price tags, the Baleno Hybrid variants are about Rs. 89,000 more expensive than their respective variants without the hybrid tech. That seems like a steep premium to pay for a new technology for a modest gain in fuel efficiency of 2.9kmpl. Assuming the two cars deliver the advertised fuel efficiency, at the current petrol price of Rs. 74 in the national capital, it’ll take you 2,08,000km before you can recover that cost. Longer if you are also paying interest on that Rs. 89,000.

How expensive is the Maruti Baleno diesel engine?

The diesel engine will add another Rs. 1.1 lakh to the ex-showroom cost. At the current diesel price of Rs. 67, it’ll take you 87,600km to breakeven. So, even though, it may have a shorter lifespan in the national capital region, the diesel is a smarter choice if you expect to cover a lot of distance during its decade-long life.

How expensive is Maruti Baleno automatic?

The automatic variants of the Baleno petrol carry a premium of Rs. 1.32 lakh compared to the manual transmission variants.

Honda Amaze vs Maruti Baleno - Features Comparison: Base Variant

Honda Amaze Base Variant Standard Features

Here’s the list of features available in all variants of Honda Amaze:

• Chrome grille
• Manual AC and heater
• Power steering
• Front and rear power windows
• Small multi-info display
• Distance to empty and avg fuel efficiency display on MID
• 2 airbags
• ABS
• Front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters
• ISOFIX child seat mounting points
• Day/Night inside mirror
• Parking sensors
• Single horn
• Overspeed alert
• Non-body-couloured door handles and outside mirrors
• Internally adjustable outside mirrors
• Non-adjustable front seat headrests

Maruti Baleno Base Variant Standard Features

Here’s the list of features available in all variants of Honda Amaze:

• Chrome grille
• Manual AC and heater
• Power steering
• Front and rear power windows
• Small multi-info display
• Distance to empty and avg fuel efficiency display on MID
• 2 airbags
• ABS
• Front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters
• ISOFIX child seat mounting points
• Day/Night inside mirror
• Parking sensors
• Single horn
• Overspeed alert
• Non-body-couloured door handles and outside mirrors
• Internally adjustable outside mirrors
• Non-adjustable front seat headrests

Maruti Baleno Base Variant Standard Features

Here’s the list of features available in all variants of Maruti Baleno:

• Body-coloured door handles and mirrors
• No chrome on the grille
• 2 airbags
• ABS
• ISOFIX child seat mounting points
• Day/night inside mirror
• Parking sensors
• Manual AC and heater
• Power steering
• Central locking without remote
• Front power windows
• Tilt-adjustable steering
• Adjustable front headrests
• Dual horn

Based on our assessment, the Baleno appears to pack a serious punch. It has projector LED headlamps, DRLs, auto-dimming mirrors, rear washer/wiper, telescopic steering and illuminated boot. Meanwhile, the Amaze gets a seldom-used feature like cruise control and some gimmicks like handsfree boot unlock and old-school, reflector headlamps with halogen bulbs. Baleno being a driver-focussed car comes with front armrest while the Amaze gets a rear armrest, as a lot of demand for this compact sedan comes from the commercial segment. The UV filter windows also make a difference in the real world.

Hence, it’s safe to say that the Maruti Baleno is a clear winner in this battle of features regardless of whether you compare the base trims or fully-loaded options.

Honda Amaze vs Maruti Baleno - Top Variant Feature Comparison Winner: Maruti Baleno

Overall Comparison Winner: Maruti Baleno

Once we dug deeper into the matter, it became easier for us to understand why the Baleno sells in such large numbers. It was the second car for the Nexa line and dealers were desperate to get some return on their investments after the S-Cross (over) pricing debacle. Maruti Suzuki left no stone unturned to make sure the Baleno succeeded. Now, though, we can expect Maruti to rake in some profits by jacking up the Baleno’s price. But, they’re in no mood to lose the momentum and the most recent update for the car juggled some features around to make mid variants even better value for money.