Suzuki go-getter
BALENO IS EAGER BY NATURE 6
Suzuki has introduced an RS model to its Baleno lineup. You know, RS, like ‘‘Rally Sport’’ or ‘‘Rennsport’’? That means a sporty performance version, right? Drop the sarcasm, because the Baleno RS actually delivers some decent performance upgrades.
Are you saying the RS name actually represents something meaningful on the Baleno?
Yes, it does. Quite a bit, in fact. The $2000 price bump over the Baleno GLX auto gets you Suzuki’s brilliant 999cc three-cylinder turbo engine that pumps out a massive
33 per cent more power than the GLX’s four (well, massive is relative; its 82kW compared to 62kW).
It also gets you a slick six-speed auto transmission (as opposed to the GLX’s crappy four speeder), rear disc brakes (the GLX has drums), bigger
16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, fog lights, keyless entry and push button start, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, climate control air con and engine performance screens in the infotainment system (including a G-force meter – yes, really).
Oh, and unfortunately, a lot more chrome comes with that too.
So, a better engine with way more power, a better transmission, bigger wheels, and upgraded brakes? That actually ticks a lot of the boxes an enthusiast would hope for when seeing an RS badge on a car.
Except you won’t actually see an RS badge on the Baleno RS (Suzuki call it that without actually badging it that), and it also still isn’t anywhere near what you would call an ‘‘enthusiast’s car’’ either.
After all the Baleno is essentially a larger Swift for even older buyers – a frugal, roomy and comfortable runabout that doesn’t offend.
Nothing wrong with that at all, but it is delightfully weird that a car like this actually does more to earn the RS name than many badge abusers (looking at you, Honda).
So it’s not a bigger Swift Sport then?
Most definitely not – it’s a bigger Swift RS.
The Baleno RS basically gets all the good stuff from the identicallypriced Swift RS in a larger, ever-soslightly heavier package (the Baleno RS adds 60kg to the Swift RS’s 945kg curb weight, although most of that is probably in chrome).
It also adds a further 113 litres to the Swifts boot space (for a total of 355) and an additional 70 millimetres to the wheelbase, pretty much all of which goes into the Baleno’s rear legroom.
While the RS might be the only Baleno to break the one-tonne mark, landing at 1005kg, it is still an absolute featherweight, thanks to Suzuki’s super-light new generation platform, which means the rorty little triple has no problem moving it along at an acceptably brisk rate, while remaining impressively frugal, even in the face of enthusiastic use of its eager and revvy nature.
Does light mean good handling, too?
Actually, it does.
On one hand you don’t expect a budget runabout like the Baleno to be much of a corner carver, but on the other hand, it is a Suzuki based on the same platform as the Swift, so there is a precedent there.
While the Baleno is that bit heavier and also more comfort oriented than the Swift, that low weight means it is still impressively amenable to being chucked around a bit and make use of those paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Manual shifts are swift (sorry) and refined, while the Baleno’s eagerness to switch direction is only slightly undermined by its softer nature and some tyres that aren’t quite as committed to the whole change of direction thing as the chassis is.
Still, it is surprisingly good, with steering that is even more surprising by being an electrically assisted setup that offers a degree of useful feedback, with nice weighting and responsiveness.
Of course, that wonderfully growly little turbo triple is hilariously gruff and impressively strong up in the revs, proving that even relatively slow progress on a winding road in a car with an eager nature, characterful engine and satisfying handling is fun.
So it’s a good alternative to a Swift then?
Well, let’s not get carried away – it does bear remembering that, while they are the same money, the Baleno does make trade offs for that whole ‘‘bigger size at the same price’’ thing.
Mainly in terms of interior quality and style – where the Swift has plenty of hard plastics inside it, the Baleno sees that, but raises the cheapness of it all with some very low rent plastics slathered around its insides.
Everything seems to be stuck down properly, but here is a flimsiness to it all that you simply don’t feel in the Swift, or even the cheaper Ignis for that matter.
Then there’s the issue of that larger boot – while it is bigger, the weirdly short tailgate and hugely tall rear lip make it a very awkward larger boot to use.
It is also rather dark and monochromatic inside the Baleno, but it still does get Suzuki’s excellent touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, as well as integrated satellite navigation.
Any other cars I should consider?
Well, at exactly the same price, the Swift RS is an excellent alternative if you don’t actually need that extra space.
Other similarly priced competitors, like the Mazda2, Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i20 and all the others, are closer to the Swift’s smaller size, while larger offerings all well exceed the RS’s budget price tag.
But there are two cars that take it right to the Baleno and they probably aren’t made by who you would think – the newly-enlarged Volkswagen Polo is well equipped, thoroughly excellent and slightly larger than the Baleno all round, although the auto is $2k more expensive.
But the brilliant Polo-based Seat Ibiza auto is priced exactly the same as the Baleno RS, packs a similarly characterful three-cylinder engine with slightly more power and torque, has loads of tech and a much higher quality interior.