Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Suzuki Baleno hatchback (2016-2019)

"The Suzuki Baleno is a practical supermini thanks to its roomy interior. In fact, it gets a lot right, but can’t match all its rivals for material quality"

Carbuyer Rating

3.1 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.8 out of 5

Read owner reviews

Pros

  • Impressive standard equipment
  • Efficient hybrid version
  • Lots of interior space

Cons

  • Dull styling
  • No diesel option
  • Poor interior quality

Over recent years, Suzuki has sold two distinct types of cars in the UK, satisfying either buyers of affordable SUVs, or those after a frugal and fun supermini. The Suzuki Baleno fits into the latter group, but also offers a bit more space.

With more conservative styling than most rivals – and the recently announced Suzuki Swift replacement – the Baleno is a rival to superminis like the Skoda Fabia, Kia Rio and Dacia Sandero, which prioritise practicality and value. In fact, the Baleno has one of the biggest boots in its class, along with plenty of space for passengers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In terms of roominess, the Baleno is almost between classes, offering almost as much carrying capacity as models like the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon from the family hatchback segment, but with a lower price tag. You can, however, see the savings inside, where there’s a lot of grey plastic instead of the soft-touch black trim found in supermini's like the Volkswagen Polo.

Happily the Baleno is full of standard equipment, which should at least help distract buyers from the lacklustre interior. Impressively, you even get sat nav from the off, along with alloy wheels and air-conditioning, setting it apart in the class.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The engine range is very simple, with either a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 89bhp or a 1.0-litre ‘Boosterjet’ petrol with 111bhp thanks to its turbocharger, despite only having three cylinders. We recommend the latter, which is a more advanced engine with slightly more power than the equivalent Fiesta and Corsa and CO2 emissions of 105g/km.

While most versions of the Baleno cost the same £140 in annual road tax, there’s a mild-hybrid SHVS version of the 1.2-litre which returns the best fuel consumption of 70.6mpg, costs £130 in road tax and represents a great buy for company-car drivers, thanks to its low 15% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rating. The 1.0-litre Baleno returns 62.8mpg, while the standard 1.2-litre manages 67.3mpg. There’s also a 1.0-litre with an automatic gearbox, but this drops economy to 57.6mpg.

As a brand, Suzuki has a good reputation for reliability and finished 15th out of 27 manufacturers in our overall 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction standings. With mainly smaller engines, it could only manage 23rd for performance, however. Safety is one potential cause for concern, with the Baleno scoring four out of five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests when fitted with a safety pack (with autonomous emergency braking), and three stars without it. It scored between 80 and 85% for adult occupant protection.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?
Polestar 4 Prototype drive front quarter
News
22 Mar 2024

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
28 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
best electric cars
Best cars
28 Mar 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024