The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is a car that offers unparalleled value for its price. With its fuel efficiency of over 15 km/l, it is an ideal choice for those looking for a cheap and reliable car to drive.
The Enthusiast’s Perspective
A recent post by a BHPian architect, who has been driving the Maruti Suzuki Baleno for over 7 years, highlights the car’s remarkable reliability and affordability. The architect mentions that despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 lockdowns, border closures, and GRAP restrictions, the car has consistently performed well, crossing the 1,50,000 km mark in just 7 years and 4 months.
- COVID-19 lockdowns and border closures disrupted driving habits, but the Baleno remained a reliable choice.
- GRAP restrictions, which rendered BS-4 diesel vehicles unusable, also failed to deter the car’s performance.
- The architect’s projection of 2 lakh km in 10 years was exceeded, showcasing the car’s remarkable reliability.
The architect attributes the car’s remarkable performance to its affordability. With a fuel efficiency of over 15 km/l, the Baleno is an economical choice for daily driving. The car’s maintenance costs are also relatively low, with the architect spending approximately Rs 3,50,000 on maintenance and insurance renewals over 7.5 years.
| Year | Fuel Consumption | Maintenance Costs |
| 2017-2018 | 15 km/l | Rs 30,000 |
| 2019-2020 | 16 km/l | Rs 40,000 |
| 2021-2022 | 17 km/l | Rs 50,000 |
“The other reason I am driving a lot is that it is a car cheap to drive,” says the architect. “It consistently gives me over 15 kmpl on an annual average basis (AC + non-AC). Note the range on a full tank of 60L in the second photo!”
Despite the high purchase price, the Baleno’s affordability is a significant advantage. The architect mentions that the car’s overall cost, including purchase, fuel, maintenance, and insurance renewals, is approximately Rs 14/km.
“I have spent only Rs 9,90,000 on purchase including Extended Warranty, Rs 8,18,000 on fuel and approximately Rs 3,50,000 on maintenance and insurance renewals bringing the overall cost to about Rs 14/km. This will only reduce as we go further when purchase costs and all the preventive maintenance get adjusted and hopefully, some resale value will kick in too.”
— BHPian architect
The architect also highlights the GRAP restrictions, which have impacted driving habits and forced the car to be used more frequently. However, the Baleno’s reliability and affordability have made it a reliable choice despite these challenges. The car’s performance is also influenced by its maintenance costs, which are relatively low. The architect mentions that the car’s battery, which is prone to replacement, has been replaced several times, but the cost is minimal. Key Highlights:
• The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has consistently shown remarkable reliability and affordability over the years. • Despite the challenges posed by GRAP restrictions and COVID-19 lockdowns, the car has performed well. • The Baleno’s overall cost, including purchase, fuel, maintenance, and insurance renewals, is approximately Rs 14/km.