All-new Suzuki Baleno hatchback revealed

Full details of the all-new Suzuki Baleno hatchback have been revealed. The five-door hatchback will be slightly bigger and more practical than the Suzuki Swift and will go on sale in the UK in spring 2016.

The Baleno, which will be sold alongside the smaller Swift, is the production model of the Suzuki iK-2 Concept that was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Suzuki says the new Baleno showcases its ‘Liquid Flow’ design, with a chrome grille that sweeps into the headlights and smooth creases running along the sides. The rear consists of a steeply raked screen, a high bootlid and a subtle spoiler.

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The Baleno sits on a new mechanical platform and features the brand’s 1.0-litre BOOSTERJET turbocharged petrol engine. Also available is a 1.2-litre DUALJET engine that has ‘Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki’ (SHVS) technology – a small electric motor that supplies additional power when you first set off. That technically makes the 1.2-litre version of the Baleno a ‘mild hybrid’ due to the electronic assistance the engine receives.

No fuel economy figures have been confirmed yet, but Suzuki claims the 1.2-litre DUALJET engine with SHVS emits a ‘tentative’ 93 grams per kilometre of CO2, which would make it tax-free.

The interior features a cleanly designed dashboard with a seven-inch touchscreen taking pride of place. Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink phone connectivity options will be included and the screen also acts as a display for the rear-view camera. When specified with automatic climate control, a circular LCD screen accents the dashboard.

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The Baleno will be able to seat five occupants, with rear passengers receiving “ample legroom”. A 355-litre boot means the Baleno has more space for your luggage than a Suzuki Swift, Ford Fiesta or Skoda Fabia.

An automatic emergency braking system will be available, along with an electronic stability program and six airbags.

Suzuki has used the Baleno name in the UK before – it originally appeared on a moderately successful small saloon sold in the 1990s.

Suzuki is planning to launch the Baleno in the UK during the summer of 2016, but there's no specific launch date or pricing available just yet. We expect the Baleno will have a starting price of around £9,000.

For more on the current Suzuki range, including the Swift hatchback, check out Carbuyer's Suzuki reviews page.