The New Baleno Did Something that Hatchbacks Were Not Supposed to Do

Driver assistance technology arrived in India the way most technology does: at the top of the price ladder, as a reason to spend more. The assumption that followed was that it would take years to reach the cars most people actually buy.

The New Baleno did not wait.

Level 2 ADAS, in a premium hatchback. A monocular camera and millimetre-wave radar enable Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Advanced Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Vehicle Sway Warning and High Beam Assist, available on the specified Alpha variant. Read that list again and note where it sits in the market.

Why adaptive cruise matters more here than the spec sheet suggests. Most Indian driving conversation assumes ADAS is a highway feature. The function that actually changes daily life in Mumbai is the one that manages following distance in slow traffic, because that is where fatigue accumulates. Lane departure warning on the Expressway at the end of a long drive is the other.

The engine is all new. The New 1.2-litre Z-Series petrol engine, 1197 cc, produces 61 kW at 5700 rpm and 112.4 Nm at 4500 rpm, with a 5-speed manual or AMT. Certified efficiency reaches 23.80 km/l* on the manual and 24.77 km/l* on the AMT, with the S-CNG version at 33.61 km/kg* in the manual. Those CNG numbers are the quiet argument for anyone doing high monthly mileage.

Standard safety, not variant-dependent. Six airbags across all variants, ESP with Hill Hold Assist, ABS with EBD, TPMS, reverse parking assist with camera, ISOFIX anchorages and three-point ELR seat belts for every occupant. The phrase worth noticing there is "as standard", because it means the base buyer gets the same protection as the top-variant buyer.

The cabin is where the money shows. A 22.86 cm SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Head-Up Display. 360 View Camera. Front ventilated seats with leatherette upholstery. A Clarion premium sound system. A wireless charging dock with active cooling, which matters in an Indian summer when ordinary wireless pads simply give up. Rear AC vents, auto-dimming IRVM, a sliding centre armrest, and both Type-A and Type-C fast-charging ports. A 60:40 split rear seat handles the luggage problem.

Outside, NEXA's design language is doing deliberate work. The signature NEXWave grille with 3D detailing, LED projector headlamps with NEXTré LED DRLs, NEXA signature LED tail lamps, fender chrome garnish and a shark fin antenna that reduces drag and wind noise. Seven colours including Enigmatic Teal Green, NEXA Blue and Opulent Red.

The dimensions tell you what it is for. 3990 mm long, 1745 mm wide, 1530 mm tall, on a 2520 mm wheelbase. Under four metres, which is to say sized for the city it will mostly live in.

See it at NEXA Shivam Autozone, part of Shivam Autozone, an authorised Maruti Suzuki dealership for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar. Doorstep test drives are available, the exchange desk values the current car, and the service network covers all three regions. Book a test drive to try the ADAS functions in real traffic, which is the only test that counts.

FAQs

Q1. Does the New Baleno premium hatchback have ADAS?

Yes, the New Baleno offers Level 2 ADAS on the specified Alpha variant, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Advanced Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Vehicle Sway Warning and High Beam Assist.

Q2. What engine powers the New Baleno?

The New Balneo comes with an all-new 1.2-litre Z-Series petrol engine producing 61 kW at 5700 rpm and 112.4 Nm at 4500 rpm, with a 5-speed manual or AMT. An S-CNG option is also available.

Q3. What mileage does the New Baleno deliver?

New Baleno premium hatchback delivers 23.80 km/l* for the petrol manual, 24.77 km/l* for the petrol AMT and 33.61 km/kg* for the S-CNG manual, as certified under Rule 115 of CMVR 1989.

Q4. How many airbags does the New Baleno have?

New Baleno has six airbags as standard across variants, along with ESP with Hill Hold Assist, ABS with EBD, TPMS and three-point ELR seat belts for all occupants.