Suzuki Baleno facelifted for 2019

A lightly updated Suzuki Baleno range will begin rolling out through the local dealer network from August, the importer has revealed today, with the entry-level Suzuki Baleno GL first to arrive.

In September, the Baleno GL will be followed by the upmarket Suzuki Baleno GLX. Badged 'Series II', the mildly upgraded Baleno is mechanically unchanged. Only the UV protection for the windscreen of the Baleno GLX and its new headlights go beyond the scope of cosmetic change. Suzuki has forsaken the HID (xenon) units of the range flagship, opting instead for LED headlights, complete with auto-levelling function.

Visual changes across the range include a revised grille, new bumpers (front and rear), and new styling treatment for the wheels. The base-grade Suzuki Baleno GL continues with 15-inch steel wheels, but adorned with a new style of wheel cover, while the Baleno GLX features new 16-inch alloy wheels as standard.

Inside, the Series II Baleno is upholstered in a new colour of trim material for the door cards and the seat fabric is a new pattern and colour. Suzuki is offering the updated Baleno in a choice of five colours: Fire Red (pictured), Arctic White, Granite Grey metallic, Stargraze Blue metallic and Premium Silver metallic. The metallic colours incur an extra cost of $500.

Pricing is unchanged for the new Suzuki Baleno, starting from $15,990 for the manual variant of Baleno GL and rising to $16,990 for the automatic and $18,990 for the (also automatic) Baleno GLX.

"A welcome improvement has been introduced in the Series II with a sleek but aggressive sporty aesthetic, amongst other additions," says Michael Pachota, general manager for Suzuki Australia – Automobile. The new look design successfully freshens up the Baleno and remains perfectly fit in our Suzuki model line-up for the Australian automotive market."

"Impressively, even with these improvements, current pricing is sustained and with the recent introduction of a 1.4 litre engine in the GLX variant, bringing the entire range below $18,900 RRP, will no doubt further increase our opportunity in the light car segment" Pachota was quoted as saying in a press release.