I have a Baleno Vxi, fully loaded, which was bought new in 2006 just before the product was discontinued (may be early 2007). However, my user satisfaction is excellent in terms of handling by dealers, good accessories, prompt service and followup even after 5 years from various dealers with whom I had left for servicing.
Smooth Gears, Easy drivability, Powerful a/c (even some of the competition like i10s, i20’s, Beat, Scorpio can’t match the effectiveness of the A/C to this car’s A/C). I have driven to various hilly areas, long tours as well as daily office commuting all these years. Driving is quite comfortable with its powerful engines on hilly sides too. Only disadvantage is that on bumpy, pothole ridden roads and roads with humps, you have to be quite slow while crossing, else the underchassis will be hit hard.
People will have to be careful during entry/exit. Slightly lesser leg space for rear seats. Because of its longish bonnet, parking would be a constraint couple of times (Slightly old style). Bountiful Luggage space.(Foldable rear seats too). On city mileage ranges from 12km to 14km/ltr depending on timings with A/C on (Consistent throughout 5years). On highway, it has given me 21-23km/ltr. All in all, to summarize, good car to drive.
- Friends, I am updating this column again in Feb 2013, where as the original views were expressed about an year and half ago.Quite a few of you had posted some queries whether to go in for a 2nd hand model now or not in the recent past. Personally speaking, I had to change my car after I met with an accident and found that BALENO spares were not only costly but were not easily available.
Hence I would suggest anybody to keep this point in view while going in for a car whose model has been phased out quite sometime back. Thanks Bye.