Maruti Suzuki has launched the 2026 Baleno facelift in India, with prices starting at Rs 6.10 lakh (ex-showroom). The mid-life update brings a new 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, Level 2 ADAS and several changes to the exterior and cabin. The updated Baleno also continues with a factory-fitted CNG option, and the Baleno facelift brings a total of 15 changes.
Engine & Gearbox
| Engine Specification | Old Baleno 1.2 K12N | New Baleno 1.2 Z12E |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Capacity | 1.2-litre | 1.2-litre |
| Cylinder Configuration | 4-cylinder | 3-cylinder |
| Maximum Power | 90 HP | 82.93 PS |
| Maximum Torque | 113 NM | 112.4 NM |
| Transmission Options | 5-speed manual / AGS | 5-speed manual / AGS |
| Claimed Efficiency | Lower than new engine | 23.80 KM/L manual / 24.77 KM/L AGS |
The facelift replaces the outgoing Baleno’s 1.2-litre 4-cylinder K12N engine with Maruti Suzuki’s Z12E 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. The new engine produces 82.93 PS at 5,700rpm and 112.4 NM at 4,500rpm.
The engine comes with Idle Start-Stop technology and Dual VVT. Buyers can choose between a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AGS automatic transmission. The manual returns a claimed 23.80 KM/L, while the AGS version returns 24.77 KM/L.
New 3-Cylinder Engine Affects Refinement
The new Z12E engine produces slightly less power than the outgoing 4-cylinder unit, which made 90 HP. Its torque output also drops marginally from 113 NM to 112.4 NM. The move from four cylinders to three will affect engine refinement. A 3-cylinder engine generally has greater inherent vibration than a 4-cylinder engine because of its firing characteristics. Maruti Suzuki has not stated whether the new Baleno uses additional measures to offset this difference.
The main reason for the introduction of the Z12E engine is to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency, both of which have been achieved at the cost of engine refinement and power.
Driving Impressions
The new Z12E engine offers adequate response at lower revs, making the Baleno reasonably easy to drive in the city. However, its limitations become clearer as the revs climb. Acceleration starts to feel weaker at the top end, while the engine gets louder without delivering a similar increase in performance. The three-cylinder layout also affects refinement compared with the outgoing four-cylinder engine. Vibrations become more noticeable when the engine is pushed. Meanwhile, the 5-speed manual gearbox does its job but lacks the slick shift action expected from the segment and feels very notchy. The setup clearly prioritises efficiency over driving engagement.
The seat comfort is good and comfortable, along with good over the bonnet visibility. The lack of rear disc brakes clearly show in the car’s braking performance as it is simply not good. The combination of the very notchy gearbox and the Z12E which gets very vocal at higher rev ranges is mediocre and not as refined as the pre-facelift Baleno.
Maruti Baleno CNG Specifications
The Baleno continues to offer a factory-fitted S-CNG option with the new Z12E engine. In CNG mode, the engine produces 69.75 PS and 101.8 NM. Maruti Suzuki offers the CNG version with a 5-speed manual transmission. The company claims a fuel efficiency figure of 33.61 KM/KG, which represents a 9.8 percent improvement over the previous model.
Exterior Changes
Most of the exterior changes focus on the front end. The Baleno gets a larger grille that houses the radar hardware for its ADAS system. Maruti Suzuki has also moved the Suzuki logo above the grille.
The facelift gets a redesigned front bumper and lower grille, along with revised LED fog lamps, but the indicators are still in halogen which could have been improved. Other additions include a chrome fender garnish and shark-fin antenna. The existing LED headlights, three-block DRL design, 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and tail-lights continue unchanged. The Baleno now gets a new teal blue colour as well.
Interior & Features
The facelift retains the existing dashboard layout, analogue instrument dials and colour MID. It also continues with the 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system, flat-bottom steering wheel, physical climate controls and Head Up Display.
New equipment includes ventilated front seats, a Qi-certified wireless charger with active cooling and a Clarion sound system. The Baleno also continues with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360-degree camera and Suzuki Connect connected-car features.
There are still various features that are missing, such as a single pane sunroof, adjustable seatbelt height, cooled glove box, and rear disc brakes are missing as well.
Safety
The biggest safety addition comes in the form of Level 2 ADAS. The system uses a combination of radar and camera hardware and includes Advanced Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Prevention, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, High Beam Assist, Vehicle Sway Warning and Forward Collision Warning.
The facelift also gets 6 airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Control, reverse parking sensors and seat-belt reminders. A tyre pressure monitoring system is also new.
Price In India
The 2026 Maruti Baleno starts at Rs 6.10 lakh (ex-showroom). Maruti Suzuki has opened bookings at Rs 11,000, while detailed variant-wise pricing is yet to be announced. The quoted starting price applies to Bengaluru.
The Baleno continues to compete with the Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz and Toyota Glanza. The addition of Level 2 ADAS gives the updated Baleno a feature that its direct rivals currently do not offer.
Verdict
The Baleno facelift adds useful equipment, but its new engine makes the update difficult to view as an outright improvement. The Z12E delivers adequate low-end performance, yet it loses the stronger top-end response of the outgoing four-cylinder engine. Under hard acceleration, the engine becomes noticeably louder without offering much extra performance. The improvement in claimed efficiency comes with a clear compromise in power and driving feel. Refinement is another area where the new Baleno falls short. The three-cylinder engine does not feel as smooth as the outgoing four-cylinder unit, particularly when pushed.
The 5-speed manual gearbox also lacks the slickness expected from a premium hatchback. Braking performance remains adequate, but the continued use of rear drum brakes adds to the list of areas where Maruti Suzuki could have gone further. The facelift does improve the Baleno’s equipment list with Level 2 ADAS, ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera and a cooled wireless charger. However, those additions cannot fully compensate for the weaker engine character and reduced refinement. The new Baleno therefore makes a stronger case for efficiency and features rather than performance. However, more was expected since this is the first facelift in four years, and the nose job could have been executed better.
