Planning to buy Maruti Baleno? Which variant to buy?

Maruti Suzuki is one of the largest car manufacturing companies in India. It has a large market in the low-entry car market. It has tried multiple times to enter into premium markets but unfortunately  it failed. Though previous Baleno and SX4 are good cars, they could not hit the right cord on what the Indian public want. As the demand for premium markets is increasing, it is necessary for Maruti to have good models for being No 1. 

Okay. Enough of introduction. Maruti has launched Baleno and they got it right! Be its European derived looks or the practicality it offers, Maruti have given their very best! I know you might have seen the reviews and did a little research onto what the car is if you are here. So I wont give you all the details of whats the fuel efficiency or boot size or back seat space or what the engines are. If you want to know I will leave the cars specifications below. I will talk only on which variant to buy. 

Maruti sells Baleno under their Nexa premium dealerships. That means you wont get the typical variant badging (Lxi, Vxi, Ldi, Vdi, etc.) Whenever Maruti releases any model under Nexa, they get new variant badging, Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha. Sigma being the base or entry variant and Alpha being the high end variant.  I wont talk on every features here but I focus on the most essential things which you get and not get for each variant. And in the last I will give my argument on which one is best for the buck.

Also Read: 

Maruti Suzuki Baleno Facelift could be To Launch By June 2019 - from our sister site

Maruti Suzuki ramped up the production of Vitara Brezza. - from our sister site

Maruti Suzuki launched Ertiga 2018 for Rs 7.44 Lakh. Gets mild hybrid petrol engine. - from our sister site

Safety

Safety is the most important aspect to discuss as nothing is more valuable then life. But unfortunately this is given less importance in our market. Anyway I am really happy that Maruti has been giving tremendous importance to safety in recent times! For all the variants ABS (Anti-lock braking), EBD (Electronic brake-force Distribution) and Dual Airbags are standard! This is a very good focus on safety and all the other brands should opt it.

Sigma (Petrol: 5.11 Lakh, Diesel: 6.21 Lakh)*

Most of the manufacturers release a base variant for showing of the cost. I mean they release it for the purpose of showing the starting price to the public. Eg: You might have read " Maruti launched new Baleno, starting from 5.11 Lakh". Only for that. Hey thats my feeling :). Because the base variant actually don't get much! Not even power windows for passenger seats. Thats ridiculous when you are talking of a premium hatchback and putting more then 5 lakh for it! Ok. Now lets talk about the features we get for this variant.

• As I told you before ABS, EBD and Dual Airbags are standard. 

Sigma variant: Dash 

Sigma Variant: Dual Airbags

• Front power windows are standard. But no power windows for rear passenger seats

Sigma variant: Front power windows but not for rare windows

• No central locking as standard.

Delta (Petrol: 5.76 Lakh, Diesel: 6.86 Lakh)*

Delta variant is the second in line and gets most of the essential stuff which are used regularly.

Delta Variant: Nice chrome lining on the grill which looks nice

Delta variant: Dash

Features we get for this variant.

• Central locking and speed sensing door lock is provided.
• Power windows for all the doors.
• A music system is added to this variant with four speakers. It has many features like bluetooth, Aux, USB, Streering mounted controls, AM/FM radio.

Delta variant: Steering mounted controls and bluetooth, telephony

• It also gets Automatic Climate control.

Delta variant: Automatic climate control and 2 Din music system

• Rare parking sensors are included. This is one of the important features when you are trying to reverse it. Its a nice useful feature for safety.
• Multi Information display is given which gives you a variety of information like temperature, avg fuel economy, digital time, etc

Delta varient: Multi Information Display

• USB and power sockets for charging your phone. Maruti didn't forget back seat passengers. They too get a charging port!

Delta variant: Ports for Charging

Delta variant: Rare charging port

• And also wheel caps for the tyres are included.

Zeta (Petrol: 6.36 Lakh, Diesel: 7.46 Lakh)*

Zeta is the third variant in the lineup. The highlight features which you get in this variant is the keyless start Button and a Digital information display.

Zeta variant

Features which Zeta gets

• All the features of Delta are included.
• Smart keyless access is one good feature. It helps you to get in and out or start the car without removing your key from the pocket.

Zeta variant: Start/Stop Button

• A nice TFT display is included for information display. This display contains nice animations for indicating open doors, RPM reading. It also gives information like avg fuel consumption, avg speed instantaneous consumption. 

Zeta variant: Nice colour TFT display.

• Alloy Wheels with nicely designed wheel caps and fog lamps.
• Driver side arm rest.
• Little more chrome on door handles and back windshield.

Alpha (Petrol: 7.06 Lakh, Diesel: 8.16 Lakh)*

Alpha variant is the top of the line variant. It gets all the bells and whistles which are offered by Maruti. The main highlights for this variant is projector headlamps and touchscreen display.

Alpha variant: Projector headlamps and DRLs

Features which we get for Alpha variant

• All the features of Zeta variant.
• This is the only variant which gets the smart looking projector lamps and DRLs (Day light running lamps).
• A touch screen infotainment Display. It includes reverse camera,  GPS navigation, voice command. This is the only infotainment display which doubles up as Apple's car play system.  This means if you have an iPhone, when you connect it, the display converts to Apple's car play system. Using this we can use Apple's apps like maps, music, send messages, etc.

Alpha variant: Touch screen infotainment display

Alpha variant: Apple's car play system when iPhone is connected

Delta Automatic (Petrol: 6.81 Lakh)*

There is also an automatic variant available. Unfortunately it is available under one variant. I guess Maruti has done this to reduce the over price range. It gets all the features of the Delta variant + an auto gear box.

Delta Automatic variant: Auto gear box

Which variant to take?

Personally I would never recommend anyone to take the base (Sigma) variant since it doesnt get any of the premium features which anyone expects from such a segment. Delta variant gets all the basic features right. Automatic climate control, power windows, music systems, power outlets, steering mounted controls. This is the best value for money variant you can get. Though you spend nearly ₹65,000,  you get a lot of the missing features. All the features which are offered in Zeta like keyless entry, start/stop button, TFT instrument clusters or Alpha's projector lamps and touch screen display are luxury. I am not against opting them and its fine to select them if you have the money. But you need to spend a lot for getting those features. For example you will have to spend nearly ₹70,000 for getting projector lamps and touch screen info system and for the other extra luxury, you will have to spend a whooping ₹1,40,000 over the Delta variant. I could spend this all money in fuel to run the car and you get 1,40,000/65 = 2154 lts  (I took petrol cost as ₹65) of petrol. Lets take 10 kmpl for the car in city and you get nearly 21,540 kms of driving. You see, it is significant amount of driving and if a person don't use a car too much, I strongly think they should opt the Delta variant. 

:) :) This is my opinion and I really apologies if I don't agree with your opinion. But I would still want to know your opinion on this and your side of the argument. Please leave a comment below on what you think. 

Till then,

Sreewathsa.

Also Read:
Suzuki in fear of electric vehicle shift in India

2018 Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift being spotted on Indian roads

* All costs are Ex showroom Delhi and is given only for indication

Image Source: Gaadiwaadi, few other channels.