Suzuki Launches New Baleno In The UK, Priced From £12,999

The all-new Suzuki Baleno has arrived in the UK, with sales commencing from June 1.

One of the biggest highlights of the Japanese supermini is that new turbocharged 1.0-litre three-pot petrol engine with direct injection, producing 111PS (109hp) and 170Nm (125lb ft) of torque.

This is the second member of the Boosterjet family of engines, joining the 138hp turbo 1.4-litre unit used in the latest Vitara and allowing the Baleno to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 11.4 seconds with a manual and 11 seconds flat with the automatic transmission. CO2 emissions are rated at 105g/km for the manual models.

The other available engine in the range is a mild hybrid powertrain which pairs a four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol with an integrated starter generator (ISG) and a compact lithium-ion battery. What the ISG does is assist the petrol engine during take-off and acceleration and also generate electricity through regenerative braking.

Suzuki claims a combined fuel economy of 70.6mpg UK for the 1.2-litre SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) and 94g/km of CO2 emissions.

The 2017 Baleno is also the company’s first European model to use Suzuki’s new platform. The company also offers an automated city braking safety system on all models bar the entry-level one.

Inside the cabin, the large seven-inch touchscreen display of the infotainment can also be used when wearing gloves. Mirrorlink, Apple CarPlay and a 3D navigation system are integrated into the system.

The new Suzuki Baleno is priced at £12,999 for the basic 1.0-litre Boosterjet manual version and £13,499 for the 1.2-litre SHVS model.