Maruti Baleno is a hatchback that is available in pure petrol and CNG options. First launched in 2015, the car has received several upgrades over the years. The latest Maruti Suzuki Baleno comes with the 1.2-litre K-Series Dualjet petrol engine and you can also avail it with the factory-fitted CNG kit. Baleno petrol variants are available with 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT (Auto Gear Shift) transmission options. The CNG variants are available with a 5-speed manual transmission only. Though the petrol variants are also quite fuel-efficient, the highest mileage of 30.61 km/kg is claimed by the CNG variants.
Hyundai i20 is also a popular hatchback in India. First launched in 2008, the current generation i20 models are available with a 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine and 1.0-litre turbo petrol (TGDi) engine options. The 1.2-litre petrol engine comes with 5-speed manual or Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) gearbox. The turbo petrol variant comes with either 6-speed manual or 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The automatic variants with the IVT transmission and 1.2-litre petrol engine deliver the best claimed mileage of 20 km/l in its lineup. More details about the real-world mileage of these cars and how they compare with each other are provided in the below sections.
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Maruti Baleno vs Hyundai i20 Specs
Let’s compare the key specifications of Maruti Baleno vs Hyundai i20 before assessing their claimed mileage and real-world mileage figures. The below table contains some key specs of both these cars:
| Specification | Maruti Baleno | Hyundai i20 |
| Engine | 1.2-L 4-cylinder Petrol1.2-L petrol + CNG | 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine Naturally Aspirated (NA)1.0-litre Turbo Petrol |
| Displacement | Petrol: 1197 cc CNG: 1197 cc | Petrol: 1197 cc Turbo Petrol: 998 cc |
| Power | Petrol: 88.50 bhpCNG: 76.43 PS | Petrol: 87 bhpTurbo Petrol: 120 hp |
| Torque | Petrol: 113 Nm CNG: 98.50 Nm | Petrol: 114.7 NmTurbo Petrol: 172 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual transmission (MT)5-speed automatic transmission (ASG) | 5-speed manual transmission (MT)IVT automatic transmission 7-speed automatic transmission (DCT) |
| Drive layout | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) |
| Kerb weight | 940 kg to 960 kg (depending upon the variant) | 1210 kg to 1220 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | 37 litres | Petrol: 37 litres |
Both the cars are similar in terms of size, but i20 variants are quite heavier than the Baleno models. Also, the turbo petrol variants of i20 generate much more power and torque than the Baleno models that are only available with the 1.2-litre NA engine. These factors can play a role in determining the mileage of these cars too.
Maruti Baleno vs Hyundai i20: ARAI Mileage Figures
Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is an independent body that conducts mileage tests for all the cars in India. These tests happen in a controlled way under supervision. Also, the cars have a minimum load and the driving conditions are ideal. These factors ensure that the maximum mileage potential of the vehicle can be recorded. However, we don’t get such ideal conditions in the real world and therefore, the real-world mileage figures always fall short of the actual mileage. The below table highlights the claimed ARAI mileage figures for every powertrain of Baleno and Hyundai i20 cars:
| Engine & Transmission | Fuel Type | Maruti Baleno – ARAI Mileage (km/l) | Hyundai i20 – ARAI Mileage (km/l) |
| 1.2-litre NA Petrol – 5-Speed MT | Petrol | 22.35 km/l | 21 km/l |
| 1.2-litre NA Petrol – 5-Speed AMT/IVT | Petrol | 22.94 km/l | 19.65 km/l |
| 1.0-litre Turbo Petrol – 6-Speed MT | Turbo Petrol | – | 20 km/l |
| 1.0-litre Turbo Petrol – 7-Speed DCT | Turbo Petrol | – | 20.28 km/l |
| 1.2-litre Petrol + CNG with 5-speed manual | Petrol + CNG | 30.61 km/kg | – |
The ARAI claimed mileage of Baleno variants is higher with the 1.2-litre petrol variants. The turbo petrol variants are missing in the Baleno whereas i20 does not come with any CNG variant. Therefore, we cannot compare the ARAI mileage figures in these powertrains. However, the Maruti Baleno variants prove to be an overall winner when it comes to the overall mileage of the cars. Now, let’s see whether this trend follows in the real-world conditions as well.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Maruti Baleno vs Hyundai i20: Real-World Mileage
The real-world mileage of the cars depend on factors such as road conditions, driving style, engine tuning, and more. Therefore, let’s compare Maruti Baleno vs Hyundai i20 on the basis of their real-world mileage now:
| Maruti Baleno (1.2-litre NA Petrol) | Hyundai i20 (1.2-litre NA Petrol) | |
| City | Manual: 15.50 km/lAutomatic: 14 km/l | Manual: 12.25 km/lAutomatic: 11.75 km/l |
| Highway | Manual: 20 km/lAutomatic: 18 km/l | Manual: 17.25 km/lAutomatic: 16.75 km/l |
| Average | Manual: 17.75 km/lAutomatic: 16 km/l | Manual: 14.75 km/lAutomatic: 14.25 km/l |
| Tank range | 625 km | 531 km |
| Balemo (1.2-litre Turbo Petrol) (Not Available) | Hyundai i20 (1.0-litre Turbo Petrol) | |
| City | – | Manual: 11 km/lAutomatic: 10 km/l |
| Highway | – | Manual: 16.5 km/lAutomatic: 15.5 km/l |
| Average | – | Manual: 13.75Automatic: 12.75 |
| Tank range | – | 591 km |
| Baleno CNG | Hyundai i20 CNG (Not Available) | |
| City | Manual: 21.50 km/kg | |
| Highway | Manual: 28 km/kg | |
| Average | Manual: 24.75 km/l | |
| Tank range | 247 km per fill |
When it comes to the 1.2-litre NA petrol variants, both Baleno and i20 deliver high fuel-efficiency. However, Baleno proves to be more fuel-efficient than i20 by a considerable margin. The turbo petrol variants of i20 deliver better real-world mileage than the NA petrol variants because of the lower displacement of the 1.0-litre TGDi engine as compared to the bigger NA engine. Also, the engine and transmission have been tuned to maximise the fuel-efficiency despite being a variant engineered to deliver great power.
Baleno does not come with a turbo petrol engine and therefore, we cannot compare it with the turbo petrol engine of i20. Also, the CNG variants of Baleno prove to be a clear winner in terms of fuel-efficiency but we cannot compare i20 models here because they don’t offer the CNG option. So, despite Baleno leading with its real-world mileage with multiple powertrains, we cannot determine the clear winner between the two.
Maruti Baleno vs Hyundai i20: Fuel-Cost Comparison
Now, let’s see how much difference do the real-world mileage figures create when we compare the periodic fuel costs associated with Baleno and i20 variants. For the sake of comparison, we have considered that both the cars run 1500 km every month. The petrol rates are taken as Rs. 111.52 and CNG rates are taken as Rs. 97.50 for the sake of calculation. The below table shows the fuel-cost comparison for a month, year, and 5-years for both Baleno and i20 models:
| Baleno 1.2-NA Petrol | I20 1.2-NA Petrol | Baleo 1.0-litre Turbo Petrol (Not Available) | I20 Turbo Petrol | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | 1500 km | 1500 km | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 89 L | 103 L | – | 113 L |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹ 9925 | ₹11,486 | – | ₹ 12,601 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 1.19 lakh | ₹ 1.37 lakh | – | ₹ 1.51 lakh |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹ 5.95 lakh | ₹ 6.89 lakh | – | ₹ 7.55 lakh |
| Baleno CNG | i20 CNG (Not Available) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 61 kg | – |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹ 5947 | – |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 71,370 | – |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹ 3.56 lakh | – |
The periodic fuel costs of Hyundai i20 NA petrol models are much higher if we compare them with the periodic fuel costs of Baleno NA petrol models. The periodic fuel costs of Hyundai i20 cars are even higher than their own NA petrol variants. So, Baleno is clearly the cheaper option when it comes to fuel costs. Also, as i20 does not have a CNG option, Baleno CNG variants prove to be the most fuel-efficient models in this comparison.
Also Read: Things to Check Before Buying a Used Maruti Suzuki Baleno Car
Maruti Baleno vs Hyundai i20 Price
The price of Maruti Baleno and Hyundai i20 cars from base to top-spec variants are mentioned below:
| Model | Variant (Base to Top) | Price (Ex-Showroom) |
| Maruti Baleno | Sigma to Alpha Top | ₹ 5.99 to ₹ 9.84 lakh |
| Hyundai i20 | Era to Asta (O) | ₹ 7.04 to ₹ 11.21 lakh |
Hyundai i20 proves to be the more expensive car when we compare the price of its base and top models with the price of Baleno’s base and top-spec models. So, Baleno is not only more fuel-efficient but also less expensive than Hyundai i20 when we compare their ex-showroom prices in India.
Summary
From the above comparison, it is clear the Baleno models, especially the CNG ones, are the most fuel-efficient option for the car buyers. For highway driving, the turbo petrol variants of i20 prove to be better for managing quick overtakes. However, the Baleno variants prove to be the more fuel-efficient option here as well. For city driving, you can prefer the NA petrol models or CNG models of Baleno.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Hyundai i20
FAQs
Q. Which car is more suitable for city driving: Baleno or i20?
Baleno is more suitable for city driving than i20 because of its light handling, easy manoeuvrability in tight parking spaces and narrow lanes, and high fuel-efficiency.
Q. Does Baleno have a hybrid powertrain to improve its fuel-efficiency?
The earlier models of Baleno did have the mild-hybrid system to improve their fuel-efficiency. However, the current generation models do not have it.
Q. Do the i20 turbo petrol models offer better mileage on the highway if we compare them with the i20 NA petrol models?
No, the i20 NA petrol models offer better mileage than the i20 turbo petrol models in both city and highway driving conditions. However, the difference between their highway mileage is very less to affect a buyer’s decision.
Q. Which car has the automatic start/stop button for stopping the engine automatically during idling: Baleno or i20?
Both the cars have the automatic start/stop feature for stopping the engine automatically during idling to save extra fuel. Baleno provides it in the form of a button that can be used to turn-off this feature when not required. On the other hand, i20 has integrated this feature directly in its computer and therefore, you cannot see a physical button reserved for this on the car dashboard.
Q. Which variant of Baleno is more suitable for city driving?
If you prefer mileage over performance, you can prefer the CNG variants of Baleno in the city. However, if you want a decent performance along with high mileage, you can prefer the 1.2-litre NA petrol models. The automatic variants are also available with the NA petrol models for those seeking convenience during city traffic.
