Suzuki Baleno review: Missing safety kit nail in the coffin for small car
The Baleno is the more practical version of the Suzuki Swift, and one element is a big advantage. But a serious lack of safety equipment are a big worry.
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Suzuki’s Baleno is basically a more practical alternative to the popular and stylish Swift.
Cheap to own and run, the Baleno may be short on thrills but some buyers — especially the mature demographic — appreciate its surprising roominess.
Introduced in 2016 but updated last year with new bumpers, grille, LED headlights and alloys, the Baleno comes in base GL and fancier GLX grades. We test the latter, yours on the road for $19,990 with auto.
First impressions
Iain: Remember when we were young and childless and bought a new Suzuki Swift?
Jules: I loved that car. So much personality, fresh looks and the latest features such as airbags and MP3 player.
Iain: Well, 13 years later you can still get a Swift but there’s also this more practical Baleno. Ideal now we’re old and sensible.
Jules: Speak for yourself. The Baleno looks like something my granny would’ve driven in her 90s.
Iain: And she’d have very much enjoyed the extra boot space — 355 litres versus a Swift’s 242.
Jules: But surely, no matter your age, isn’t style a primary purchasing factor?
Iain: Probably. The Baleno’s not bad-looking. Just a bit bland.
Jules: The alloys are funky but our car isn’t helped by being painted rental-car white.
Iain: It’s the range-topping GLX, on the road for less than $20K. Rivals are the Toyota Yaris, Mazda2 and Kia Rio. The Baleno’s boot is bigger than those and bigger even than in the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 in the class above.
The living space
Jules: It feels much larger inside than a Swift.
Iain: Its exterior design may be ungainly but its high roof gives loads of headroom and good outward vision.
Jules: The seats are comfy but it’s short on verve inside.
Iain: Yes, slabs of hard plastic and no wow factor, even if the dash and centre console designs are clean and user-friendly.
Jules: The dials light up blue for a bit of wow and you can mirror your phone with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Iain: Pick this GLX over the GL and you get such goodies as push-button start, 4.2-inch driver info display and centre armrest.
The commute
Jules: I’m glad you mention that driver info display. It shows such vital things as cornering G-force and current torque reading. Is this for when Granny tackles Mt Panorama? Far more useful would be a digital speedo.
Iain: Good call. Speed limits won’t easily be broken with this engine — it’s a non-turbo
1.4-litre four-cylinder with 68kW and 130Nm. Put the kettle on while you’re waiting to reach 100km/h.
Jules: I remember our Swift being full of character and playfulness. The Baleno seems noisy and unwilling when you put your foot down.
Iain: Shame of it is, before the 2019 update, the GLX had a turbocharged three-cylinder with zestier 82kW/160Nm. It also had more modern six-speed automatic — this new GLX has just four ratios.
Jules: Can I get a manual gearbox in the hope of having more fun?
Iain: Only in the base GL Baleno. Our GLX’s automatic fusses and lurches a bit. It’s hard to drive smoothly in town, where most Balenos will operate.
Jules: It has a really good turning circle and it’s easy to park and manoeuvre. Much like most Suzukis.
Iain: But it’s pretty noisy at 110km/h on the motorway. With kids in the car I could barely hear what they were saying.
Jules: Isn’t that a bonus?
The shopping
Iain: I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a deep boot floor.
Jules: It’s big and almost cave-like — ideal for shopping bags as their handles are at boot lip level.
Iain: I put a 20kg bag of pool salt in and it was a mission to retrieve. It’d be the same for a slab of beer. It’s pretty awkward lifting such things out again.
Sunday run
Jules: Its engine may be gutless but it handles well and the steering’s lovely and light.
Iain: That’s a function of its weight. Suzuki builds light cars and the Baleno is under a tonne, even with driver on board.
Jules: I still recall the Swift being much more fun.
Iain: That’s why the Baleno should still use the personality-packed turbocharged three-cylinder. It survives in the Swift.
The family
Jules: Cars this size aren’t usually great for more than two people but our two kids had ample rear space.
Iain: If you’ve got four adults heading off to bingo, I’m struggling to think of a sub-$20K car that will fit them in with space to spare. I’m six feet and had decent rear head and legroom.
Jules: There are no air vents for rear passengers.
Iain: The bigger concern for me is that the Baleno’s not been crash tested and there’s no active safety gear such as autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitor or lane-departure warning.
Jules: That rules it out for me. Can’t you option extra safety kit?
Iain: No. The Suzuki Swift is five-star crash rated in all but the base model. I can get a Swift GL Navigator for $19,690 on the road with radar cruise control, AEB and lane-keep assist. Unless you really needed the Baleno’s bigger rear seat and boot, the Swift’s the pick with head and heart.
The verdict
Jules: Suzuki usually does fun and stylish cars and this one doesn’t hit that mark. The lack of modern safety kit puts the nail in the coffin for me.
Iain: The Baleno is cheap and roomy but feels a generation behind some rivals. I’d pick a Swift unless boot space was paramount.
Suzuki Baleno GLX vitals
Price: $19,990 drive-away (fair)
Warranty/servicing: 5 yrs/u’ltd km, $1635 for 5 yrs/75,000km (good)
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cyl, 68kW/130Nm (not thrilling)
Safety: Untested, 6 airbags, rear camera, rear parking sensors, hill hold, brake assist (poor)
Thirst: 5.4L/100km (average)
Spare: Space-saver (not great)
Boot: 355L-756L (very good)
Originally published as Suzuki Baleno review: Missing safety kit nail in the coffin for small car
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