2019 Baleno Facelift Photo Shows New Bumper

• Exterior changes will be limited to new a bumper design and alloy wheels.

• No changes expected to the interior design.

• Seatbelt reminder, reverse parking sensors will be offered as standard.

• 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engine to be carried forward.

It’s not just the new WagonR that Maruti has in store for us. The Baleno, Maruti’s blockbuster premium hatchback, is all set to get a facelift too. Notably, this is the first time that the hatchback is getting an update ever since it was launched way back in 2015.

Do Read: New 2019 Wagon R Photos: All Details

A single spy photo leaked online shows us a new bumper. The fog lamp cluster has moved closer to the headlamps and flanks the (now larger) air dam. Interestingly, we don’t spot the fog lamps themselves, which leads us to believe the car spotted is among the lower variants. But it does feature projector headlamps with daytime running lamps, suggesting that they could be offered as standard across the range.

Maruti Suzuki could also choose to tweak the rear bumper a bit, and the design of the alloy wheels as well. Don’t expect any other major changes, though. It’s a bit unclear what the Baleno RS is going to look like at the moment. That said, we expect similar changes to be carried forward to that variant as well.

With the update, the Baleno is also expected to get a bump up in passive safety features. It currently features dual airbags, ABS as well as ISOFIX child seat mounts as standard. In line with the upcoming safety norms, the Baleno is expected to get a speed alert system, seatbelt warning, as well as parking sensors as standard. There’s no word on any new features being offered. Maruti could choose to add in features that the current version of the Baleno misses out on vis-a-vis its rivals, including auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and cruise control.

We don’t expect any mechanical changes. The tried-and-tested duo of the 1.2-litre K-Series petrol and the 1.3-litre DDiS190 diesel engine will be carried forward. While the petrol will continue to have the option of a CVT, the diesel will be offered with a manual gearbox only.

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As far as the price is concerned, expect a negligible hike. Currently, the Baleno is priced between Rs 5.38 lakh - Rs 8.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). We’re expecting Maruti Suzuki to launch the 2019 Baleno soon after the launch of the all-new Wagon R on January 23. The updated Baleno will take on the likes on the Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz and the upcoming Tata 45X-based hatchback.

Also Read:

2018 Hyundai Elite i20 CVT Review

2018 Honda Jazz Review

Image Source: GaadiWaadi