MotorScribes Magazine - April 2016
MotorScribes Magazine - April 2016
MotorScribes Magazine - April 2016
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CLICK HERETO READ THEFULLSTORY<br />
The1248ccdieselenginemakes74bhp@ 4000rpm andahealthy190Nm oftorque@ 2000rpm.Thanksthetothelow end<br />
torqueascomparedtothepetrolunit,thedieselversionfeelsmoreengagingtodriveandhasamoreresponsivebehaviour<br />
overal.Thedieselisonlyavailablewithafivespeedgearboxandlikethepetrol,thisboxisequalyslickandajoytouse.Whilethe<br />
dieseldelivers,MSILcouldhaveoptedtogoforthe90bhpversionofthesameenginethatdoesdutyintheCiaz.Thisisaneasier<br />
upgradeoptionthanthe1.4petrolasitdoesn’thampertheexcisedutyclauseatalandcouldhaveeasilybeendone.Weare<br />
keepingourfingerscrossedonthatoneandwhoknows,itjustmightbetheonetodebutalongwiththeSHVStechinthenear<br />
future.<br />
We’veoftenstatedthatnobodyunderstandsIndiandrivingconditionslikeMarutiandtheBalenoisafinetestamenttothat<br />
statement.Thesuspensionsetuponbothvariantsisspotonandtheridequalityisnotwhatyouwouldexpectfrom asub-four<br />
metrehatch.Itsitswelwhilecruisingdownthehighwayatthreedigitspeedsandisn’tnervousaroundcornersatal.Considering<br />
thefactthatIwasdrivingaroundJaipur,Irealydidn’tgettoseehow ithandlestherealtwistiesbutIhaveafeelingthatitwon’t<br />
betoobadinthehils.Nodoubt,thelarge16inchwheelsplaytheirpartaswel(TheBalenocomeswith185/65R15sonthelower<br />
variantsandthetopversiongets195/55R16s).<br />
Builtusinghightensilesteelthatissaidtooferalighterbodyshelyetmorerigidity,MSILhaspaidalotofattentiontosafetyas<br />
wel.Infacteverysinglevariantgetsdualairbags,frontdiscbrakes,ABSandEBD asstandard!Thatisagreatsignofthingsto<br />
comeandisawelcomefeaturefrom amanufacturerwhoislookingatdeliveringbeyondjustthestipulatednorm.<br />
IhavestatedthatthepriceoftheBalenowilplaythedecidingroleinitssuccess.Whilethepricingisn’toutjustyet,theBaleno<br />
wilhavetobepricedrathercompetitivelyagainsttheHyundaii20andtheHondaJazz.Itisintoughcompany,howeverasa<br />
productithasalotofmeritandforsomeonewhoissteppingupfrom asegmentbelow,thenew Balenowildelightthem.Maruti<br />
Suzukihasdeliveredafineproductforthemassesbutinalhonesty,itcouldrealybenefitfrom abitmoreperformanceandsome<br />
addedflair.<br />
MarutiBalenofirstdrive
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