maruti swift price, maruti baleno features, comfort, performance and specs – Introduction

Maruti introduced the all-new fourth-generation Swift in May 2024, and in the first two months, the new Swift already secured the podium position twice – once at the top spot, and once at number two. But with the new generation amd added safety and premium kit, the Swift has gotten expensive – its ex-showroom prices range between Rs 6.49 and 9.44 lakh, thus placing it very close to its Nexa sibling, the Maruti Baleno, that’s priced between Rs 6.66 and Rs 9.83 lakh. That’s a difference of merely Rs 39,000 when you look at their top variants. For this reason, we’ve decided to bring these two siblings together in their top-spec automatic variants, to find out which one deserves your money.

Maruti Swift vs Maruti Baleno: design and engineering

The Swift’s unmistakable silhouette, its clamshell-like bonnet and a distinctive body line which runs through its length, shapes this new-gen’s character, as do L-shaped LED headlamps and an oval front grille. In this company, the Swift certainly looks more youthful, and in line with its exuberance, Maruti offers it with bright body colour options like the ‘Sizzling Red’ (worn by our test car); on the other hand, the Baleno is available with more mature paint options.

Both cars are based on Maruti’s Heartect platform, however the Baleno is shorter in height, but it is longer and wider, and its horizontally-oriented headlamps and tail lamps further accentuate its width. Its larger, 16-inch wheels compliment its stance well, and the chrome garnishing on the grille and boot add a touch of premiumness. 

Maruti Swift vs Maruti Baleno: interiors

The Swift’s layered dashboard with a free-standing screen follows a design philosophy similar to Baleno’s, however its dark themed cabin is devoid of vibrancy, which could have lifted its perceived quality and added to its youthful vibe. Both cars share several interior bits, which are mostly hard plastic which don’t feel very premium. Appreciably, the Swift’s flat-bottomed steering and superbly sculpted front seats feel very sporty. 

With the Baleno, the designers have been more adventurous by opting for a blue and black colour scheme. In comparison, it gets a healthier dose of padded bits including a front armrest which adds to comfort. Furthermore, the driver gets steering reach and rake adjustment (Swift offers only rake adjustment), to fine tune your driving position.

Headroom and seat comfort are similar in both cars, however the Baleno’s longer wheelbase and wider rear bench, translates to more rear knee room and better shoulder room to accommodate a third passenger. Also, while both get three-point seatbelts for all rear passengers, only Baleno offers three adjustable rear head restraints; Swift gets just two. 

The Baleno has a more voluminous 318-litre boot (versus the Swift’s 265 litres). For added flexibility, both get 60:40 split rear seats, and while their boot lips are high, the Swift’s is lower, which makes loading/unloading heavier cargo a bit easier.

Maruti Swift vs Maruti Baleno: equipment and safety

A fully loaded Swift ZXI+ AMT will cost you Rs 9.44 lakh ex-showroom, while a top-spec Baleno Alpha AMT is priced just Rs 39,000 higher. But the Baleno’s added outlay gets you a lot more. To start with, the Baleno gets wider 195/55 tyres with 16-inch alloys, compared to the Swift’s 185/65 R15 tyres. Then, it features tinted windows, head-up display, front armrest, telescopic steering adjustment and a 360-degree camera, all of which the Swift misses. Common features include auto LED headlamps, cruise control, climate control, 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, wireless charging, rear AC vents, six airbags, ESP and hill-start assist being the prominent ones. The only feature that the Swift gets over the Baleno is the option of a dual paint colour scheme.

Maruti Swift vs Maruti Baleno: performance

The Swift’s new 82hp three-cylinder petrol engine is down on power compared to the Baleno’s 90hp four-cylinder petrol engine, but we’re happy to report, the Swift’s drivability doesn’t feel compromised. Actually, it feels adequately peppy in the urban environment and its 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT) is well tuned too. In fact, the AMT feels smoother and more intuitive compared to the Baleno’s AMT unit. 

But demand more out of this 1.2-litre and you’re likely to be disappointed. When driven with a heavy foot, acceleration feels slow, and fast overtakes on the highway aren’t as effortless as in the Baleno. To put it into perspective, Swift AMT takes 2.08 seconds and 1.73 seconds more than a Baleno AMT to accelerate from 20-80kph and 40-100kph respectively.

* Figures are not as per Autocar India test standards

Despite having a three-cylinder under the hood, vibrations in the Swift are well in check, and the engine is quite muted. What’s nice is that even at higher revs, the added sound insulation keeps the three cylinder thrum at bay. However, the Baleno’s four-cylinder unit certainly gives it an edge – not only does it sound nicer, but the cabin is also devoid of vibrations, which can be felt (at idle) in the Swift if you’re really paying attention.

Both these Marutis are equipped with an automatic engine stop-start system to keep fuel consumption in check, while idling. In our real world range test, the Baleno AMT achieved 11.86kpl in the city and 17.21kpl on the highway, and even though we haven’t put the Swift AMT through our instrumented tests, we expect it to be more fuel efficient, given that this new generation engine’s claimed fuel efficiency is 25.75kpl in the Swift, higher than Baleno AMT’s 22.94kpl.

Maruti Swift vs Maruti Baleno: ride and handling

Swift is more fun-to-drive thanks to its sharper handling and a better tuned AMT.

Small tweaks to the fourth-gen Swift have resulted in improved driving dynamics. The Swift feels chuckable and agile when you’re navigating through traffic or attacking corners on a winding road. And beside feeling sharper and pointier, its steering’s returnability (return to its original position after making a turn) feels more natural than the Baleno’s. What’s nice is that sporty handling doesn’t come at the cost of ride comfort; bump absorption as well as high speed stability are equally impressive. 

That said, the Baleno’s softer suspension shines when it comes to low speed ride comfort – it is one of the nicest in its class, absorbing potholes and road imperfections in a very mature manner. But when you up the pace, road shocks come through rather sharply and at high speeds its ride feels relatively busier. 

Maruti Swift vs Maruti Baleno: verdict

In keeping with its youthful character, the Swift is more fun to drive thanks to its sharper handling and a better tuned AMT as well. For some buyers, its taller fuel efficiency claim will be a big draw too. However in all other areas it’s the Baleno that comes out on top. Outright performance is better, there’s a larger cabin and boot, it gets more equipment and has an upmarket interior too, all at a premium of merely 39,000 over the top-spec Swift. Furthermore, there’s Nexa’s premium sales and service outlets that’s likely to enhance the ownership experience. With so much going for it, it is the Baleno which comes across as the better sibling.

Also see:

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift review

Maruti Suzuki Baleno review