The Baleno RS: Marutis First-Ever Hot Hatch Is Here To Stay

The Baleno RS: Marutis First-Ever Hot Hatch Is Here To Stay

At Rs 8.69 lakh ex-Delhi, the Baleno RS is not just better than its direct competitors but it annihilates them completely. It is less expensive than the VW GT TSI and the Fiat Abarth Punto and wears a Suzuki badge, which means it will be a lot more reliable than the other two. Then there is the definition of a hot hatch. People often confuse a hot hatch to be just performance-driven. But that's not the case. Yes, it might not be as frugal as the standard car and yes it has to be noticeably more powerful than the car it is based on, but you still have to live with it for years to come. That's where the Baleno RS really fits in well. As compared to its rivals from VW and Fiat, the Baleno is more roomy for passengers, has the biggest boot, comes loaded with features and will retain it's value a lot longer. Yes, the Baleno isn't as powerful as the other two but in the real world, you won't be using all the power all the time. I think Maruti has an another winner here.