UNEXPECTEDLY GREAT (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 82

Suzuki's Baleno offers a sensible solution to supermini buyers in search of a more rational, affordably-priced choice in the small car segment in the 2015-2020 period. It'll particularly appeal to families who prioritise rear seat space and luggage room but don't fancy moving up to a larger class of car. Low running costs from the intriguing pair of petrol engines on offer will also be a draw, one of these even including mild hybrid technology. It's all been very thoroughly thought through.

Modelsword count: 6

5dr Hatchback (1.0, 1.2 SHVS petrol)

Historyword count: 362

When it comes to small cars made in the 2015-2020 era, there's no doubt that Suzuki punches well above its weight. After all, if you're looking for something supermini or citycar-sized from this period, few other brands provide as wide a choice, the Japanese maker offering the tiny Celerio, the small Swift supermini, the little Ignis Crossover and this car, the compact Baleno hatchback. Suzuki's expertise in models of this sort goes all the way back to 1955 and the launch of its very first vehicle, the little Suzulight. Since then, the company's cars have often been notable for their space efficiency and affordable pricing but not so much for fashionable styling or cutting edge technology. In 2015, this second generation Baleno set out to introduce both these elements into the brand's portfolio and in that regard, was a world away from its MK1 model predecessor, a deeply unremarkable design that sold as either a compact saloon, hatch or small estate between 1995 and 2002. Like its charismatic Swift stablemate, this modern Baleno was a supermini but, at around 4 metres long, a slightly larger one, in keeping with the role Suzuki wanted this contender to play as a stepping stone between its small cars and its various Crossover models. In fact, the new platform being used here promised standards of space not too far removed from those you'd find in Focus-sized hatches from the segment above. Yet it's so light that this car tips the scales at up to 200kgs less than some rivals. There's sophistication beneath the bonnet too. Forget diesel power: Suzuki says you didn't need it here because both the petrol units on offer deliver comfortably over 60mpg in regular use and sub-100g/km carbon dioxide emissions. Choose between a 1.0-litre engine using the company's efficient Boosterjet technology: or a 1.2-litre Dualjet powerplant bolstered by a clever mild hybrid system. In short then, on paper, what we're looking at here might very well be one of the most rational choices you could make in the small car segment from this period (this Baleno sold until 2020). But does it all add up as a used buy? Let's find out.

What You Getword count: 369

Aesthetically, the Baleno's role in the Suzuki line-up was to look conservatively stylish. That's something you notice most in the profile of this five-door design, its rounded roofline given a 'floating' effect by the blacked-out pillars. From the front, you'd be unlikely to guess the brand behind this car were it not for the bold badge on the sweepingly-styled front grille, the lower frame of which is emphasised by a chrome strip that rises up to meet HID projector headlights incorporating smart LED daytime running lamps. Of course, as usual, what's more important is the stuff you can't see, namely this model's quite sophisticated platform, designed around what Suzuki calls 'Total Effective Control Technology'. This uses lots of high strength steel to make the structure very strong but also low in weight, which is the main reason why this Baleno is so relatively light by class standards. You feel that light weight when you slam the driver's door shut, which isn't ideal, but otherwise, by supermini standards, the cabin feels quite nice, providing you're not expecting acres of slush-moulded soft-touch plastic: Suzuki doesn't really go in for that kind of finishing. We approve of the brand's decision to instead spend the development budget on the provided 7-inch colour infotainment touchscreen, standard on all Balenos and the kind of thing that other superminis from this era often either don't offer or restrict to their priciest derivatives. It's also worth mentioning how airy and spacious this cabin feels by supermini standards, but you don't really appreciate that fully until you take a seat in the rear. Essentially, the room provided is pretty much as large as you'd find in a Focus-sized hatch from the next class up. This really is where the Baleno shines in comparison not only to its Swift sister model but also when you pitch it up against almost every other car in the segment from this period. Out back, the space on offer for luggage is just as impressive as the room provided for rear seat folk. It's a pity that you have to lug your items over quite a high loading lip to get them in, but once you've done that, there's a usefully-sized 320-litre boot.

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