Baleno RS Review

Baleno RS Review

When Maruti named the Baleno after one of its most iconic cars ever made, it already set the expectations high for enthusiasts and potential buyers alike. The Baleno however, with the same old 1.2 petrol and 1.3 diesel engine options felt a bit too executive. It sold like hot cakes (still does) and the people who bought them were well, executives! There was not much for the enthusiast in the Baleno package and that was a bit of a bummer. Maruti heard us and after deliberations, finally decided to put a badge on the Baleno and the badge read: RS! Now with the RS badge, Maruti set the performance expectations even higher. Could they deliver? Lets find out.

So what the RS brings in new in terms of mechnicals as well as styling is:

-Suzuki's 1.0 litre Turbocharged Boosterjet petrol engine
-A stiffer suspension set up
-A stiffer chassis
-Shorter initial gear ratios
-All 4 disc brakes
-A different front grill
-A different rear bumper
-Black alloys
-The RS badge at the rear
-That's all

The interiors lack the sense of sportiness to it and look exactly the same as a regular Baleno. Since the RS only comes in the top of the line Alpha variant, it gets all the possible creature comforts one can wish for at that price, including a touchscreen infotainment system, a reverse parking camera and other bells and whistles that Maruti has thrown in at its most premium hatchback offering.

Now that we've got the brochure out of the way, it's time for business. The 3 cylinder, 1 litre Boosterjet engine from Suzuki has been detuned to suit the low octane fuel available in India. The car will also require engine additives to be added every 20,000 kms to prevent carbon formation due to the ethanol blended fuel that we get in India. But when we have soldiers protecting our borders, ministers working 18 hours a day and businessmen paying taxes, we can surely play our part by making do with low quality fuel for the betterment of the nation, can't we? So how does this detuned boosterjet behave on the road? Well there are two parts to it. There's a Dr. Banner who is ever smiling and likes to work in peace, without any sense of aggression. He exists between idle and around 2000 RPM. However, as soon as you cross that 2000 RPM mark, you've summoned the Hulk. The turbo kicks in and the car surges ahead with a sense of urgency, throwing you back in your seat and spinning the front wheels furiously in the process. The ratios being short in the first two gears, the rev limiter kicks in pretty early and you need quick shifts to keep the momentum going. Third gear onwards the gear ratios seem to lengthen and the power delivery becomes somewhat predictable. The 5 speed gearbox, like any Maruti gearbox, is slick and precise. The clutch is light and the throws, short. If you enjoy driving manual transmission cars, you'll love the clutch and transmission setup on the Baleno RS.

Hot hatches aren't all about straight line fun, are they? The driving dynamics play a vital part in making a car fun to drive and the Baleno RS is let down in a big way there by the stock Apollo tyres. Despite having a firmer chassis and suspension setup, the RS suffers from a lot of understeer and in sharp turn ins, the nose refuses to change direction in a way that puts a smile on your face. Once turned in, the car holds its line and accelerates out of corners rather well. Another area where the Apollos let the RS down is braking. The all four discs offer a sharp bite but the ABS kicks in pretty early and the car feels rather skittish under heavy braking. Thankfully, I believe both issues can be sorted out with better rubber.

So to sum it up, the engine on the Baleno RS lives up to the RS badge. I really wish that Maruti had thrown in some sporty interiors, a sharper steering and better bolstered seats to complete the package. It's that last mile that leaves the driver in you wanting for more. So who should put in that extra money and buy a Baleno RS over a regular Baleno and more importantly, who shouldn't? If you want the car primarily for getting to work in every day traffic, you shouldn't buy the RS. The turbo lag will make you wish you had bought an Alto instead. If you're buying the car as a status symbol, you shouldn't buy the RS either. You can get a full sized sedan or a compact SUV for that kind of money. But if you enjoy Marvel comics, still have that bit of a child in you and at the same time, don't want to compromise on space, safety, comfort, reliability and affordability, the Baleno RS is for you. Few people reading this review would've read Tell Me Your Dreams by Sidney Sheldon. For those who have, buy the RS, put it in gear, dump the clutch, cross 2000 RPMs and..... "Pop Goes the Weasel!"