Suzuki Baleno Review (1995 to 2002)

Quick Summary

For many, the Baleno will be the ideal reliable, comfortable compact family car. If that's all you want, then this is something you can buy and be almost certain it will never go wrong.

Overall:

Models Covered:4-door saloon, 5-door estate: 1.6, 1.8 (estate only), [GS, GLX, GLX SE]

A RELIABLE CHOICE

With the Baleno, Suzuki was keen to prove that it was capable of making a sensible compact family car. It wasn't exciting but it was carefully priced, solid, reliable and well equipped.A three-door hatch was offered but most bought either the saloon or the estate. Since most first owners will have been older drivers, used buyers can be sure their cars will have been well looked after. A sensible Escort or Astra alternative then, provided driving dynamics are not high on your priorities.
Used Suzuki Baleno for sale

History of the Baleno

The Baleno was launched in May 1995 as a saloon or a 3-door hatch. An estate model joined the range in October 1996 powered by the same 1.6-litre 16V engine. Late in 1998, the styling was 'refreshed', with a sleeker, rounded and raked new bonnet, contoured side panels and faired-in semi-elliptical-shaped lighting clusters incorporating multi-reflector halogen headlamps, parking and indicator lamps. There was also a new 'honeycomb' grille integrated with a new curved bumper. At the rear, there was new badging and, on the saloon and estate, a redesigned rear bumper. The dashboard was also given a much-needed restyle.A few 1.8-litre saloons made it into the country early on but this engine was only standardised in June 1999 when it was fitted to the estate. By late 2000, the range had been slimmed down to just two models: the 1.8-litre estate and a new 1.8-litre GSR three-door hatchback.
Used Suzuki Baleno for sale

Suzuki Baleno Road Test

Competent – but not much fun. As reliable, comfortable A to B transport, the Baleno has much to commend it but if you want to enjoy your driving, it's best to look elsewhere.
Used Suzuki Baleno for sale

Buying a Suzuki Baleno

Build quality is good however and few faults have emerged so far. Most previous owners are likely to have treated the car well and examples without service histories are rare.
Used Suzuki Baleno for sale

Suzuki Baleno Typical Pricing

The earliest M-reg three-door hatchbacks start at around £1,200 and you'll be asked to pay about the same for the first M-reg saloons. A P-reg estate costs from around £1,500, while 99T-reg hatches and saloons cost from around £1,900. A GLX estate on a 1999 T plate will require around £2,100 to see your name on the registration document.
Used Suzuki Baleno for sale

Suzuki Baleno Parts

(approx based on a 1.6 saloon - ex Vat) A clutch assembly is around £105 and an exhaust system about £550 with a catalytic converter, £225 without a converter. Front and rear brake pads will be in the vicinity of £30-40 a set.A radiator is about £100 reconditioned or £250 new, an alternator is about £215 reconditioned, or £200 to 500 new, a starter motor £105 reconditioned or £200-300 new and a replacement headlamp about £125.
Used Suzuki Baleno for sale