Suzuki Baleno
Hatch has taught us not to judge a book by its cover
LIFE with the Baleno has been busy, and it’s already proven itself to be a more practical supermini than its smaller Suzuki Swift sibling. But one thing that’s gone relatively unnoticed is the engine.
The downsized 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is a real highlight, and has reminded me that while the Baleno might look a bit bland in our car’s £430 Ray Blue metallic paint, you should never judge a book by its cover.
The little triple produces 109bhp, so it’s on par with other compact hatchbacks when it comes to power, or even slightly ahead. However, whereas the likes of the naturally aspirated 1. 2 in the Honda Jazz might struggle to uproot a sapling, it feels like the Baleno’s brawnier engine could topple a tree.
It’s all relative, of course, but I’ve found that around town the Suzuki’s 170Nm of torque means you don’t have to change gear quite as often as in some rivals. It makes for more relaxed progress, as the engine can easily pull taller gears in slow-moving city traffic without any nasty vibrations, offering good performance at low revs.
Being able to access a lot of that performance while keeping the revs down has helped fuel economy, too. When I first got the car it was averaging just under 40mpg, but now my calculations show it recorded 47.3mpg on its last tank of fuel. My driving style and journeys haven’t changed over that time, either, so while traffic might account for a little variation, the Suzuki’s fuel-sipping engine is delivering the goods.
The thrummy three-cylinder also makes the car fun to drive, as it’s keen to be revved before revealing a little more of its character as it works nicely with the steering and chassis. But the Baleno has a few unusual traits I’ve noticed over the last few months. While there’s enough grip to make you feel safe and secure through corners, on the
“You don’t have to change gear as often as in rivals, which makes for relaxed progress”
motorway the car is affected by winds and gets buffeted around. It’s slightly unnerving and probably down to the light kerbweight.
And while safety aids such as autonomous braking and adaptive cruise offer peace of mind, the collision warning alert is irritating. I’ve already mentioned how sensitive it is (Issue 1,439) to the point where I prefer to switch it off rather than have it beeping at me aggressively. But it’s also been a little inconsistent recently. The buzzer has gone off in stationary traffic, while it’s not sounded when someone’s pulled out on me.
Everyone who has driven the Baleno has said how frustrating it is, like it’s balanced on a hair trigger. I’ll be keeping my eye on it to see if any more glitches appear.