By: Dave Abrahams
Frankfurt Motor Show - Suzuki's new Baleno hatchback is definitively its most Euro-focused design yet, a high-waisted mix of flowing curves and crisp edges, looking more like a miniature SUV than a conventional B-segment family car.
But, at 3995mm long on a 2520mm wheelbase, 1745mm wide and 1470mm high, compact is exactly what it is, and it follows the current Euro-trend towards force-fed one-litre engines and electric assistance - although not in the same model.
The new one-litre Boosterjet direct-injection three-cylinder turbopetrol uses a small turbocharger with a constantly variable wastegate that closes to provide more boost under high-load conditions but remains open during normal driving to reduce pumping losses.
It's rated for 82kW at 5500 revs and 170Nm from 2000-3500rpm, driving the front wheels via either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre Dualjet petrol four uses multiport fuel-injection to deliver 66kW at 6000 revs and 120Nm at 4400rpm, driving the front wheels via either a five-speed manual 'box or a constantly variable belt-drive transmission.
The 1.2 will also be available as a mild hybrid, with a belt-driven integrated starter/generator that assists the engine under acceleration (although Suzuki doesn't say how much), recharges its compact, high-performance lithium-ion battery under braking and provides a smooth, jerk-free re-start for the idle-stop function, rather than the crunch of a conventional bendix gear.
INSIDE
The Baleno provides seating for five, with a versatile luggage compartment that'll take 355 litres of retail therapy in conventional mode, almost infinitely extendable by lowering the luggage board and/or folding the rear-seat backs.
A large, high-definition multi-information colour display between the two main instruments in the binnacle shows driving G-force, engine output and torque, accelerator/brake operation, and, for the hybrid version, energy flow.
The seven inch central touch-screen with USB port and SD slot can be connected to an iPhone for access to Apple CarPlay functions such as maps, phone, messages and music, as well as podcasts, audiobooks, and third-party Apple CarPlay-compatible audio apps.
It also displays the view behind the car when in reverse gear.
The Baleno's standard adaptive cruise control uses millimetre wave radar to monitor following distance and maintain the following distance you set from the vehicle directly in front; it features a speed limiter as well, that won't allow the car to pass a pre-set limit no matter how hard you stand on the loud pedal.
Also standard issue is rear brake support, which uses the radar signal to detect when the Baleno is travelling faster than the car in front; first it warns you, then it increases your braking force to help prevent a collision and finally, if you don't brake at all, it'll do it for you.
Sales of the Baleno will start in Europe in the second quarter of 2016; Suzuki SA says it is definitely coming to South Africa but can't say when, as it hasn't even gone into production in Europe yet.