Comparison: Maruti Baleno vs Maruti Swift

The Maruti Swift and the Baleno are two of the most celebrated and popular hatchbacks to grace our Indian roads. The Swift has a rich legacy to it and can be credited for being India’s first premium hatchback when it launched in 2005. Ever since that, the Swift has been unstoppable with sales going through the roof. The hatchback has gone through two-generation updates, collecting a lot of customers and fans along the way. Currently, in its third iteration, the Swift is still a popular choice and one of the best-selling cars in India. 

Although many rivals from different carmakers have tried to dethrone this little Maruti Suzuki hatchback, the Swift held its ground and reiterated its success over the years. However, with Maruti Suzuki debuting the Baleno, the Swift finally had a worthy rival that could eat into its market share. The Baleno and the Swift are powered by the same engine, but the similarities end there as both hatchbacks take different approaches. The Swift is more of a value proposition, while the Baleno is an outright premium hatchback with class-leading features.

Having said that, when you look at the pricing and market positioning, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Swift are core rivals, and deciding between them might be an arduous task for a potential buyer. But that’s where we come in. Here’s how these two popular hatchbacks compare on paper: 

Maruti Baleno vs Maruti Swift: Dimensions

A little-known fact is that the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Baleno are based on the exact same Heartect platform that underpins most Maruti Suzuki cars sold in India. Although both these hatchbacks have identical underpinnings, they are clearly different when it comes to dimensions.  Looking at the big picture, the Swift is only ahead of the Baleno when you consider the height. Look past that, and it is clear that the Maruti Suzuki Baleno edges ahead of its sibling in every other parameter.

There’s no beating around the bush, the Baleno is the bigger car here – it is longer, wider, has the longest wheelbase, highest ground clearance, and most importantly, has a bigger boot that makes a huge difference. So all this translates to the Baleno being the bigger car here with more road presence, more space, and the biggest boot. 

Maruti Baleno vs Maruti Swift: Engine & Transmission

There’s not much that separates these two hatchbacks in this comparison. Being powered by the exact same 1.2-litre K Series DualJet petrol engine, both these cars have an identical output figure of 90PS & 113 Nm of torque. Furthermore, they also use the same gearbox options which include a 5-speed conventional manual and an AMT. The crucial difference is the fuel options available as the Swift is offered with an efficient CNG option which the Baleno misses out on.

Another area where both these cars differ is the fuel economy. Despite being powered by the same engine, the Swift returns more fuel economy out of the two here. It is not a big margin, and what helps the Swift here is its lower kerb weight of 875 kg compared to 920 kg for the Baleno. 

Maruti Baleno vs Maruti Swift: Features & Comfort

This is where both these hatchbacks are poles apart. The Maruti Suzuki Swift is fairly loaded for a hatchback of its size, but it is nowhere close to the Baleno when it comes to premium features. Some of the features in the Swift include a 7.0-inch infotainment system, smartphone connectivity, Auto AC, keyless entry, LED headlamps and tail lamps, electric mirrors, and cruise control. However, the Baleno offers some cool features such as a 360-degree camera, heads-up display, 9.0-inch infotainment, rear AC vents, dual-tone interiors, UV cut glasses, etc. The Baleno also features Arkamys sound system and connected car features. So, if you’re looking for a feature-rich hatchback out of these two, the Baleno is the clear winner.

Maruti Baleno vs Maruti Swift: Safety Features

There’s no contest here and it is obvious that the Baleno is safer than the Swift by quite a margin. The Maruti Suzuki Swift was tested by the Global NCAP resulting in a poor 2-star crash rating. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is yet to be tested but it should ideally fare well considering how much more safety kit it packs over the Swift. For instance, the Baleno offers 6 airbags, an electronic stability program (ESP), and a 360-degree camera over the Swift. In contrast, the Swift only offers two airbags. 

Maruti Baleno vs Maruti Swift: Price Comparison

Well, in all of the above comparisons, be it dimensions, engine, features, or safety kit, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno was the clear winner. But when it comes to the pricing, the tables are overturned and the Swift edges ahead. Despite the variant of choice, the Swift is the more affordable hatchback here and when you consider the range-topping variants, the Swift is easily almost Rs 1 lakh more affordable than the Baleno.

That said, the lower base and mid variants of both these hatchbacks are priced closely which favors the Baleno since it is the better car here in almost every other parameter. And even if you consider the top variants, the fact that you get an extra safety kit in the Baleno for the asking premium makes a solid case for it. 

Summary

At the end of the day, it is hard to not recommend the Maruti Suzuki Baleno in this comparison. It is the better car here by a good margin offering the most space, features, and safety. Yes, it does command a premium over the Swift but for that extra money, you get a lot of features and a premium experience which more than justifies the premium. However, the Maruti Suzuki Swift still remains a good purchase if you are looking for an all-rounded hatchback that offers the most value for your money.