Published : 22 February 2022
Read Time : 5 min
Author: Mohammad Osaaf
The 2022 Maruti Baleno’s brochure has been leaked ahead of its launch on February 23. It reveals a rather interesting detail – the new Baleno is heavier than the older model. Does the added weight affect the performance of the new Baleno in any way? Well, we already know that the new Baleno is less fuel efficient than its predecessor. Here’s why we think Maruti decided to add more weight to the 2022 Baleno.
But first, let’s take a look at how the weight of the premium hatchback has changed and how it has affected its fuel efficiency:
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The slight decline in the fuel efficiency of the Baleno manual transmission variants could be due to the added weight. As the weight of a car increases so does the effort needed to pull it down the road.
That said, the mileage of the Baleno automatic variants are better than before. This is down to two reasons. First, an AMT is inherently more fuel efficient than a CVT automatic transmission. Second, the automatic variants now come with mild-hybrid technology, which was not available earlier.
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Here’s why we think Maruti Suzuki decided to trade in fuel efficiency for more weight:
Safety
People often mock the Baleno for its poor safety record. Last year, the India-spec Baleno was put through Latin NCAP’s crash tests, where it fared poorly. The Baleno received a less than impressive 0 stars in the test. The results led to rumours of Maruti improving the quality of sheet metal used in the new Baleno’s construction. Maruti says it has used high strength steel in critical areas of the premium hatchback. Stay tuned for the launch for more details about this change. Furthermore, the new Baleno’s extra safety features, such as ESC and 6 airbags, could have also led to the increase in weight.
More Premium Feel
Customers typically complain about the door thud in the Baleno being very unsatisfying. The tinny feel of the doors makes customers feel less confident about the car. While opening or closing the doors, bonnet and tailgate were effortless in the old Baleno thanks to the low weight, it did leave many unsatisfied as similarly priced cars in the segment, such as the VW Polo, offered a rock-solid build quality in comparison. Hence, Maruti could have added more heft to these panels to improve the premium feel of the new Baleno.
Also Read: 2022 Maruti Baleno - 5 Things To Know
These could be the reason behind the added weight and decreased efficiency of the new Baleno. Maruti is set to reveal the prices of the new Baleno tomorrow (February 23). However, we will have to wait for its crash test to have a better look at its safety.
Meanwhile, stay tuned for our detailed road test of the new Baleno to know whether its build quality feels more premium than before. Bookings for the new Baleno are currently open for an amount of Rs. 11,000. If you are interested, you can watch our variants explained video to know which variant of the Baleno suits your requirements.
2022 Baleno Variants Explained w/ Expected Prices | Sigma, Delta, Zeta, Alpha | Feb