In India's growing premium hatchback segment, two models consistently stand out — the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Toyota Glanza. While both cars share the same DNA, they cater to slightly different buyer preferences. Designed under the Maruti-Toyota global alliance, these vehicles offer a smart blend of style, efficiency, and features. But how do they compare on paper and on the road?
Platform & Powertrain: Identical Engineering
Both the Baleno and Glanza are built on the Heartect platform and come equipped with the same 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine. This engine delivers:
Power: 89.7 PS
Torque: 113 Nm
Transmission options: 5-speed Manual and 5-speed AMT (Maruti); 5-speed MT and CVT (Toyota in earlier models)
Fuel efficiency figures are also nearly the same, with mileage ranging between 22 to 23 km/l, making both models highly fuel-efficient urban commuters.
Exterior Design: Slight Variations
While the core body shell remains identical, there are subtle styling differences:
Front grille: The Glanza features a Toyota-style chrome-accented grille, while the Baleno carries Maruti's signature wave grille.
Badging: Obvious brand-specific badging at the front and rear.
Color options: Both offer unique shades — Toyota adds a few exclusive colors for its premium image.
From a distance, the Baleno and Glanza may look alike, but a closer look at the face reveals the brand differentiation.
Interior & Features: Premium in Both
Inside, both hatchbacks offer a rich feature list:
9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Auto climate control, push-button start, rear AC vents
6 airbags in top variants
360-degree camera (on higher trims)
Head-Up Display (HUD) and Arkamys-tuned sound system
The Glanza sometimes adds soft-touch materials or tweaked color themes, but the overall layout and tech remain the same.
Pricing & Warranty: A Key Difference
Maruti Suzuki Baleno:
Ex-showroom price: ₹6.66 lakh to ₹9.88 lakh
Standard warranty: 2 years / 40,000 km (extendable)
Toyota Glanza:
Ex-showroom price: ₹6.81 lakh to ₹10 lakh
Standard warranty: 3 years / 1,00,000 km (Toyota Advantage)
Toyota positions the Glanza as a slightly more premium alternative with a longer standard warranty and better after-sales packages.
After-Sales Service: Maruti vs Toyota
Maruti Suzuki has India's largest service network, with better reach in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Toyota focuses on premium service quality, low cost of ownership, and often provides better service packages with fixed maintenance costs.
Which One to Choose?
Criteria
Maruti Baleno
Toyota Glanza
Wider service network
✅
❌
Lower starting price
✅
❌
Longer warranty
❌
✅
Brand perception
Neutral
Slightly premium
Same engine & features
✅
✅
- tomclark's blog
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