Hyundai i20 vs Maruti Suzuki Baleno: which should you buy?
The full picture
The Hyundai i20 and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno cost much the same to get into, at ₹5.99L and ₹5.99L ex-showroom Delhi.
They run together up to ₹9.99L, where the Baleno tops out. Past that only the i20 has anything left to sell you, up to ₹10.39L.
Fuel is a real difference here: the i20 comes in petrol, the Baleno in petrol and CNG.
Same money, which car?
Take ₹9.99L to both showrooms and you come out with the i20 Sportz(O) at ₹9.26L or the Baleno Alpha (O) at ₹9.99L, the i20 leaving ₹73,000 of that in your pocket.
Our take
₹73,000 more buys level 2 (core suite) ADAS and 360° camera
- Choose the Hyundai i20 Sportz(O) if
- You would rather keep the ₹73,000 than pay for kit you will not missOnly one here withtyre pressure monitorBose premium sound systemsingle-pane sunroof
- Choose the Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha (O) if
- Safety kit matters more to you than keeping the moneyOnly one here withlevel 2 (core suite) ADAS360° camerablind spot monitor
i20 vs Baleno, on paper
| Spec | Hyundai i20 | Maruti Suzuki Baleno |
|---|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom Delhi) | ₹5.99L to ₹10.39L | ₹5.99L to ₹9.99L |
| Variants | 10 | 11 |
| Body type | Premium Hatchback | Premium Hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Fuels | Petrol | Petrol, CNG |
| Cheapest automatic | ₹8.81L | ₹7.50L |
| Boot | 311 litres | 318 litres |
| Length | 3,995 mm | 3,990 mm |
| Width | 1,775 mm | 1,745 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,580 mm | 2,520 mm |
| Ground clearance | 170 mm | - |
| Fuel tank | 37 litres | 37 litres |
| Warranty | 3 years or 1,00,000 km | 3 years or 1,00,000 km |
The working behind our take
₹73,000 more buys level 2 (core suite) ADAS and 360° camera. Here is everything that fed that call.
- Extra kitBaleno Alpha (O)headlamps (LED projector against Halogen)head-up displaywired CarPlay / Android Auto60:40 split rear seat
- Trade-offBaleno Alpha (O)tyre pressure monitorBose premium sound systemsingle-pane sunroof
The full story
Worth the extra ₹73,000: the Baleno Alpha (O) adds level 2 (core suite) ADAS, 360° camera and blind spot monitor for it. The useful extras on top: touchscreen (9" against 8") and connected car tech.
- Also on the Baleno Alpha (O): headlamps (LED projector against Halogen), head-up display, wired CarPlay / Android Auto and 60:40 split rear seat, and some minor trim beyond that
- Going to the Baleno Alpha (O), you give up tyre pressure monitor, Bose premium sound system and single-pane sunroof, which the i20 Sportz(O) keeps
Whichever you pick, the variant is where the money goes
i20 vs Baleno: the questions people ask
- Is the Hyundai i20 or the Maruti Suzuki Baleno cheaper?
- Neither, to speak of. The i20 starts at ₹5.99L and the Baleno at ₹5.99L ex-showroom Delhi, which is close enough that the variant you pick matters more than the badge.
- Hyundai i20 vs Maruti Suzuki Baleno: which gives you more for the same money?
- At ₹9.99L it is the i20 Sportz(O) against the Baleno Alpha (O). Worth the extra ₹73,000: the Baleno Alpha (O) adds level 2 (core suite) ADAS, 360° camera and blind spot monitor for it. The useful extras on top: touchscreen (9" against 8") and connected car tech.
- Which is cheaper as an automatic, the Hyundai i20 or the Maruti Suzuki Baleno?
- The Baleno: its cheapest automatic is ₹7.50L against ₹8.81L for the i20, ex-showroom Delhi. A gearbox is usually the biggest single step on either ladder, so check what else that trim brings before you read it as the price of the automatic alone.
Prices are ex-showroom Delhi and change without notice. Specifications are compiled from public sources; always confirm with a dealer before buying.