2022 Baleno will get an AMT Gearbox like most other Maruti cars
Maruti is about to launch the new generation Baleno and there are quite a few changes tabled for this generation-change. The automatic transmission will now be an AMT instead of a CVT, there are a bunch of new premium features and, Maruti’s heavily reworked the design as well.
By Dhruv Paliwal
The Baleno came onto the scene in 2015 as a premium alternative to regular hatchbacks, And now, with the new model, Maruti is looking to achieve a similar outcome.
The launch of the new-gen Maruti Baleno is just around the corner. Now, unlike the outgoing model, the new-gen car will have an AMT instead of a CVT. Maruti has also dropped the 1.2-litre K12M engine and will only offer the 1.2-litre K12N (mild-hybrid), which makes 7bhp more.
We now also know that the new-gen Baleno will be made available in six variants: Sigma, Delta, Zeta, Zeta (O), Alpha, and Alpha (O). The base Sigma variant will be only available with a manual transmission, whereas the rest of the variants will be offered with both manual and AMT transmissions (5-speed). This takes the total possible combinations of engine, transmission, and variant to 11.
While the full reveal of the Baleno is yet to happen, we already know that Maruti has made wholesale changes to the design. Each body panel is new, and even the interior gets a major update, including a new touchscreen. There will be a host of new premium features as well, such as a head-up display, 360-degree camera, and Maruti’s latest infotainment software.
The Baleno, when it was launched in 2015, was a thoroughly premium hatchback, but it lost that edge with time. The new-gen car, with these updates, will look to get back on top in the premium hatchback space.
When it is launched, the new-gen Baleno will go up against the Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz, and the ageing duo of Volkswagen Polo and Honda Jazz. We expect it to be priced between Rs 6.50 lakh and Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom).
