Suzuki has repeatedly applied the Baleno marque to three different compact cars in the past since 1995 till 2010, and to an all-new subcompact car from 2016 to the present. These cars are the Suzuki Cultus Crescent, the Aerio or Liana, the SX4, and the non-rebranded Baleno super-mini car.
While there had been four generations and four different cars to the Suzuki Baleno name, there had been only two in Australia—the Cultus Crescent and the new Baleno. The two other models or generations were released in their original nameplates and are only mentioned briefly in this article to explain their connection to the Baleno.
Suzuki Baleno 1st Generation: Cultus Crescent (1995-2002)
The first Baleno was a rebranded Cultus Crescent, a compact or small passenger car manufactured by Suzuki from 1995 to 2002. Aside from the Suzuki Baleno name, as it was known in Australasia, Europe, and other markets, the Cultus Crescent was also sold as Suzuki Esteem in North America. Its Indian version was marketed as Maruti Baleno in India and Chevrolet Cassia in the Philippines, while Colombian-made versions were sold as Chevrolet Esteem.
1995
The Baleno was first introduced in Australia in 1995 as hatchbacks and sedans. Power was provided by a 1.6L 16-valve G16B I4petrol engine paired with either a 4-speed auto or a 5-speed manual gearbox (73 kW, 127 N⋅m). The available trim levels were elementary back then.
- The entry-level (GL) three-door five-seat hatchbacks came with power steering and radio cassette as standard features. A higher trim (GS) offered central locking and power windows as added features.
- The four-door five-seat sedans came in entry (GL) and higher level (GLX) offerings identical to the hatchbacks. In both body types, the entry-level models were available only with 5-speed manual transmission, while the higher models were offered in both auto and manual transmissions.
1996-1998
In the spring of 1996, station wagons and sports variants (GTX) in all three body styles were introduced. This time, all the previous spec levels were available in both 4-speed auto and 5-speed manual gearboxes. The new sports variants were fitted with a new 1.8L J18A DOHC 16-valve petrol engine (89 kW, 152 N⋅m), which was available only with a 5-speed manual gearbox in both the sedans and hatchback, was offered with either a 4-speed auto or a 5-speed manual in the station wagons.
1999-2001
The same variants were offered in 1999 but with air conditioning and compact disc player now included as standard features. Production waned in 2000, but sales continued till 2001 in Australia. The sports models were the first to disappear. Curiously, a new variant called Baleno Cavaliero, a three-door five-seat hatch, was introduced just as the old models were being phased out. It also came with a new engine, a 1.6L G16A petrol engine, which replaced the previous 1.6L G16B version.
The following were the powertrains offered with the Suzuki Baleno during this period:
- 1.6L G16A petrol engine paired with either a 4-speed auto or a 5-speed manual transmission (71 kW, 134 N⋅m) - new - The five speed gearbox became very problematic in the 1.6l engines.
- 1.8L J18A DOHC 16-valve petrol engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission (89 kW, 152 N⋅m) – available only for the Baleno GTX sedan, the only remaining sports variant
This generation of the Baleno was discontinued in most markets in 2001, although some countries still sold them through 2002, overlapping with the so-called second-generation Baleno. In many parts of Asia, they were sold until 2007.
Suzuki Baleno 2nd Generation: Aerio (2001-2007)
The Suzuki Aerio replaced the Baleno/Cultus Crescent. Possibly for marketing reasons, Suzuki also rebranded the Aerio as Suzuki Baleno. The same Baleno-branding was done to the first generation of Suzuki SX4, which replaced the Aerio.
The second-generation Baleno (aka Aerio or Liana in other markets) is a compact car sold as hatchbacks and sedans from 2001 to 2007. It was introduced as Liana in Australia, Europe, Pakistan, and many other countries. Only the hatchback model of Liana was released in Australia in 2001. So for the record, what was referred to as the second-generation Baleno was not sold as such in Australia, but as Suzuki Liana, for which this website has a separate article. For more detailed information regarding its specs, please refer to the Suzuki Liana article.
Suzuki Baleno 3rd Generation: SX4 (2008 – 2010)
The Suzuki SX4 replaced the Baleno/Aerio/Liana in 2008. In the same curious tradition as the previous generation, it was again rebranded as a Suzuki Baleno. What was referred to in some markets as the third-generation Baleno, didn’t reach the Australian soil as a Baleno but as the SX4. So there’s a yawning gap from 2002 through 2015 in the history of the Suzuki Baleno in Australia, although both the Liana and SX4 had roamed this part of the globe during those periods.
The SX4 is a compact crossover jointly produced by Suzuki and Fiat and was available as hatchbacks and sedans. For the full specs and history of this vehicle, please refer to our separate article on the Suzuki SX4.
4th Generation: Baleno (2015-present)
The fourth-generation Suzuki Baleno—also referred to as the Baleno of 2015—is a five-door subcompact vehicle. For the first time, the Baleno was not a rebranded model but a completely new car. It debuted at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show and started selling in 2016.
2016-present
This front-engine front-wheel-drive super-mini hatchback arrived in Australia in 2016 offering the following powertrain specs:
- 1.4L naturally-aspirated K14B I4 petrol engine, attached to either a 4-speed auto or a 5-speed manual transmission (68 kW, 130 N⋅m)
- 1.0L Boosterjet I3 turbo petrol engine, attached to a 6-speed automatic transmission (82 kW,
- N⋅m)
In other markets, the powertrain options include:
- 1.2L Dualjet petrol engine
- 1.2L K-series petrol engine (84 kW, 140 N⋅m)
- 1.3L DDiS I4 diesel engine (75 kW, 190 N⋅m)
The Suzuki Baleno comes fully loaded with top-of-the-line equipment, in stark contrast to the barebones trim of the first generation. Air conditioning, brake assist, cruise control, electronic stability program, ISOFIX anchorage, dust and pollen filters, leather-accented steering wheel, power mirrors and windows, satellite navigation, a trip computer, and voice recognition are just a few of the equipment and trims that come standard with the entry-level GL variant.
In India, a facelifted Baleno was rebranded as Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Glanza, and Chinthe Baleno. Though marketed separately with their distinctive elements, they share one thing in common with the original Baleno—their flowing curves that are echoed from the sides to the front of the car. With its low and sporty stance, the Baleno looks both stylish and powerful.
By JMSL