Maruti Baleno is the latest entrant in the premium hatchback segment and this is competing with the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz. The Honda Jazz is another new entrant and it comes loaded with similar features at a similar price so which one should you buy and why? Following are some of the pros and cons:
Styling:
This is a very subjective topic. Someone might like the Jazz while somebody else will pick the Baleno. Hence there is no clear winner in this.
Interiors:
On the inside, both are equally good. The Honda Jazz and the Maruti Baleno both come loaded with similar features and there isn’t much to differentiate between the duo when it comes to the features list. The quality on both are equally good however it is the Baleno that is offered with dual airbags and ABS as standard on all the variants. This plays in the favour of Maruti Suzuki. On the other hand, the Jazz is more spacious, flexible and practical too. So, each have their pros and cons in this part.
Power and Performance:
Both are offered with petrol and diesel engine options, however in petrol our pick is the Baleno. The lighter body weight of the Baleno makes it a lot more peppy. The Baleno’s petrol engine has similar specs to that of the Jazz, but the lesser body weight turns the table in the favour of Maruti Suzuki. With diesel, both are equivalent as Honda’s diesel engine is more powerful and is a six-speed transmission instead of a five.
Value for money:
With the current introductory price of the Baleno, it wins over the Jazz. This makes it a better vale for money proposition. The Jazz is a great hatchback to pick and both are equally good, but only in better value for money proposition, the Baleno edges ahead. Honda being a premium brand, there is an extra cost for the badge, but then it is something you can flaunt. Our recommendation is the Maruti Baleno.
