Though the Baleno was an abject failure when it was first introduced by Suzuki, thanks to the high price and the absence of a brand image (whoever heard of Suzuki making anything but small cars), it has done reasonably well after the company brought down the prices.
Well, I test drove the car recently and was amazed at how sporty it was. The suspension is really great for the indifferent Indian roads, and the engine and gears are perfectly matched to overtake most vehicles with ease. No downshifts for overtaking, ever.
The vehicle is also fairly roomy for its size, and the higher version offers alloy wheels, better trim etc. The air-con is fantastic.
Where it really falls down flat is the quality of the plastics used and the dashboard layout. The car has a switches and knobs that remind you of the good old eighties and nineties. The air-con switch is a slider, with a gaping space seen on either side of the control knob. Definitely a no-no for todays cars!
The company could also have offered a CD or MP3 player for both the versions. No ABS is available even if you are willing to pay for it.
Overall, I would say it is a good buy at the price, provided you dont mind the switches!