Maruti has now launched the updated Baleno in India, priced at Rs 7.20 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). The Baleno facelift adds several new features and a revised front end. However, the major change is under the hood: the older Baleno used a 1.2-litre NA petrol, 4-cylinder mill, while the current one uses a 1.2-litre NA petrol, 3-cylinder engine. This revision comes with a pro and a con – the pro obviously is the mileage increase, but by how much? Let’s look into the details.Attention Readers! Join us on our WhatsApp Community for daily auto news updates.

Maruti Baleno Mileage: Old vs Current

As said, the new Maruti Baleno is powered by a 1.2-litre NA petrol, 3-cylinder mill, down from the 4-cylinder unit. This revision helped to bump up the mileage figures compared to the older model. 

Old BalenoNew BalenoEngine 1.2-litre NA petrol, 4-cylinder1.2-litre NA petrol, 3-cylinderPetrol Mileage22.35 km/l (MT), 22.94 km/l (AMT)23.80 km/l (MT), 24.77 km/l (AMT)CNG Mileage30.61 km/kg33.61 km/kg

While the 3-cylinder unit offers better mileage, it compromises power compared to the 4-cylinder unit. 

Old Baleno New BalenoEngine1.2-litre NA petrol, 4-cylinder1.2-litre NA petrol, 3-cylinderMaximum Power88 bhp80 bhpMaximum Torque113 Nm 112 NmTransmission5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT

With the 3-cylinder unit, horsepower has taken a hit, while torque remains quite similar. However, Maruti has carried over the manual and automatic gearbox options from the older model to the facelift. 

Also Read: New Maruti Baleno On-Road Prices In Top 7 Cities

This Engine Swap Has A Reason

Offering better mileage was not the main reason behind offering a 3-cylinder unit instead of the 4-cylinder, but there’s something more cooking behind the curtain. Maruti is already set to launch a new series of hybrid tech with its models. This strong hybrid setup is said to be paired with the model’s 3-cylinder unit. That has led Maruti to offer this 3-cylinder unit in most of its cars, which are expected to get Maruti’s series hybrid tech. 

This new series hybrid tech is expected to deliver strong mileage while keeping the initial purchase cost low. According to industry sources, this series hybrid tech is expected to debut with the Fronx and later expand to other models, including the Swift, Baleno, and others.

Also Read: New Maruti Baleno Rival Launching Next Month?