Used Suzuki Baleno 2016-2019 review review

'Baleno' is an Italian word meaning 'flash' or 'lightning' – not that those words necessarily come to mind when looking at this rather conservatively styled small car. It's a name that suggests dynamism and theatre, so if not on the outside, perhaps these qualities lie beneath its skin.

Under the bonnet of the Suzuki Baleno, you'll find most used examples feature a 1.0-litre Boosterjet petrol engine. This turbocharged three-cylinder unit has 109bhp, although it feels peppier than its performance figures suggest. It's not the most refined unit, however. There is noticeable vibration that can be felt through the steering wheel and pedals.

The other engine option is a mild hybrid (MHEV) 1.2, with a small amount of electrical assistance aiding fuel economy. With 89bhp, it's not as strong as the Boosterjet, but it isn't gutless either. Performance is aided by the Baleno's relatively light weight, with all model variants coming in at below a tonne.

Trim levels available on the used market include SZ-3, SZ-T and SZ-5. Entry-level SZ-3 is rather basic; it lacks alloy wheels, although it gets features such as Bluetooth connectivity and DAB radio. SZ-T is better equipped, adding sat-nav and tinted windows, while SZ-5 has LED headlights and climate control. Radar brake assist and adaptive cruise control are also present on SZ-5 models, helping to improve safety.

As for handling, the Baleno generates reasonable grip in corners, but it isn’t fun to drive. The steering doesn’t give much feedback from the front tyres, and it requires constant small corrections on motorways. You’ll also find yourself twirling the wheel an awful lot to get it round corners. There’s a lot of body lean in corners, too.

Despite the soft, generally comfortable suspension, you do sometimes feel the road’s surface and the suspension is noisy when it’s moving up and down. You'll hear quite a lot of road and wind noise at higher speeds, too. Still, it’s by no means the worst car in its class to be behind the wheel of.

Inside, the Baleno's interior feels flimsier than in many rivals; the plastics feel particularly cheap and areas such as the centre console are surprisingly flexible. On the other hand, the touchscreen infotainment system – found on SZ-T and SZ-5 models – is mounted high on the dashboard, making it easy to see even on the move. For the most part, it’s pretty responsive, although many of the icons are too small to press accurately when driving.

Practicality is a considerable strong suit. Space is impressive front and rear, while the Baleno has an unusually large boot for the class. With rear seats up, there’s easily enough space for a bulky pushchair in the boot.

If you're interested in buying a used Suzuki Baleno, or any of the other cars mentioned here, visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

For an early car with a mileage of around 80,000, expect to pay at least £6500. Around £7000 will get you an example with around 50,000 miles on the clock. Up the budget to £8000 and mileages get even lower and you can pick up a 2017 car. You'll need that sort of money for a 1.2-litre car as well; as previously mentioned, most used Balenos are 1.0-litre models.

The best news is that, even if you go for a 2019 car in range-topping SZ5 trim with a low mileage, you needn't spend more than £12,000.

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MPG

The 1.2-litre MHEV unit has an official combined fuel consumption figure of 70.6mpg, while the 1.0 Boosterjet promises 62.7mpg. Both of these figures are impressive, putting the model on par with some of the most economical cars in its class.

Road tax

Examples registered before April 2017 will have their road tax determined by CO2 emissions. As a result, the 94g/km MHEV will be free to tax, and the 105g/km Boosterjet will attract a fee of just £20 per year. Balenos registered after that date will attract the current flat rate of £155 per year.

Insurance, servicing and warranty

All Balenos will be cheap to service and insure. In terms of insurance groups, no variant rises above group 16.

If you buy an approved used car from Suzuki, you'll get a 12-month warranty – as long as the vehicle isn't older than eight years old and doesn't have more than 80,000 miles on its clock.

With the 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine being the most available engine, as well as possessing more performance than the 1.2-litre MHEV (at only a minor dip in fuel economy), it's our preferred unit. As for our recommended trim level, SZ-T gets you a good level of equipment at a reasonable price.

Our favourite Suzuki Baleno: 1.0 Boosterjet SZ-T

The small car class is a popular one, so rivals are plentiful. For instance, you have the previous-generation Ford Fiesta. It'll cost you similar money to buy and is a lot more common on the used market. With agile handling, the Fiesta is the most enjoyable car in the class to drive, plus it has punchy, economical 1.0-litre engines.

For a more premium (and generally more expensive) product, there's the Volkswagen Polo – also in previous-generation form. It has a classy and practical interior, plus it's refined to drive.

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If you're interested in buying a used Suzuki Baleno, or any of the other cars mentioned here, visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.