Maruti recently launched the 2026 Baleno in India at Rs. 7.20 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). This time, the hatchback received styling updates, a few new premium features, enhanced safety, and the brand’s latest three-cylinder petrol engine. Now, those who are aware will know that the Baleno’s launch will automatically trigger the launch of another rival hatchback. Here’s a look at the model in question.Attention Readers! Join us on our WhatsApp Community for daily auto news updates.

When Will This Baleno Rival Launch?

The model we are referring to is none other than the Baleno’s badge-engineered sibling, the Toyota Glanza. Now that Maruti’s hatchback has been updated, the Glanza will follow suit. Recent reports suggest that the 2026 Glanza is nearly ready for launch and is expected to debut sometime next month (October).

Representative Image: 2026 Toyota Glanza Design Render

2026 Toyota Glanza: Expected Design Changes

On the Baleno, Maruti restricted the visual changes largely to the car’s front. A new, extended triple-slat 3-D pattern grille (which integrates the ADAS radar), a revised bumper with new fog lamp housing, and the Suzuki logo now set above the front grille headline the key updates. Other additions, such as the chrome front fender garnish and a shark-fin antenna, complete the Baleno’s exterior changes.

The Glanza is likely to get the same exterior changes too, but in typical Toyota fashion, we expect them to be a bit more subtle. Inside, expect the 2026 Glanza to get a new dual-tone theme with leatherette upholstery. Toyota might even throw in a few more cabin updates to give it an edge over the Baleno. However, the exact list of changes is yet to be confirmed.

Also Read: New Maruti Suzuki Baleno: All Changes Explained

New Petrol Engine Incoming

The 2026 Baleno ditched the outgoing 1.2-litre four-cylinder K12N Dualjet NA petrol engine (89 bhp & 113 Nm of torque). It switched to the newer 1.2-litre three-cylinder Z12E NA petrol engine, which is already used in the Swift and Dzire. The five-speed manual and AMT gearboxes remain unchanged. The Baleno continues to get the CNG-equipped version as well. Expect the Glanza to make the same switch. Again, to give it an edge over the Baleno, Toyota could introduce the much-awaited CNG-AMT variant at launch – a significant update everyone expected at the Baleno launch but did not get.

2026 Toyota Glanza: Feature Updates

Given the feature updates we saw on the Baleno, the updated Glanza will get Level-2 ADAS, ventilated front seats, leatherette upholstery, a new Clarion sound system, and a cooled wireless phone charging pad. From this list, we think the Level-2 ADAS is the most significant addition, as it brings multiple crucial features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, advanced emergency braking, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), to name a few.

Also Read: Rs 17 Lakh SUV Gets Cheaper By Rs 2.5 Lakh

Expected Price

When comparing on-road prices of the pre-facelift Baleno and current Glanza, one will notice that the Glanza’s base variant is priced higher than the Baleno’s. The current Glanza’s prices start from Rs. 7.93 lakh, while the Baleno’s started from about Rs. 7 lakh. So, given that the new Baleno’s pricing now starts from Rs. 7.20 lakh, we expect the new Glanza’s launch price to cross the Rs. 8 lakh mark. All prices considered are on-road in Mumbai.