Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Baleno: what owners and experts say

Routine service cost

Swift: Strongly positiveBaleno: Generally positive

Swift: “Four paid services up to 45,000 km cost about Rs 22,000-25,000 in total, roughly Rs 5,000-7,000 each; not a single rupee extra beyond that (translated from Hindi)”

Baleno: “My first (10,000 km) service experience was fine overall — I got the car back within 4-5 hours.”

Handling

Swift: Strongly positiveBaleno: Generally positive

Swift: “When it comes to handling it is the Swift that takes the edge, it is much more sharper and because it's a smaller car it just turns tighter and that's always nice”

Baleno: “You like how easy the Boleno is to drive. The steering doesn't require much effort, and even when you're going faster, there's a good sense of confidence that you get. The grip levels are good, and the feel is of driving a pretty large car”

Ground clearance

Swift: Generally positiveBaleno: Mixed reviews

Swift: “The departure and approach angles are very good; I never felt it got obstructed or stuck, even on difficult terrain like Jammu and Srinagar (translated from Hindi)”

Rear seat space

Baleno: Strongly positiveSwift: Mixed reviews

Baleno: “It is a bigger car overall, it has a better wheelbase as well so space inside is quite nice, knee room is very good, head room is definitely better than the Swift, and seating three at the back will be an ease”

Swift: “The people at the back will get less space if their height is above six feet... if you're over six feet I'd suggest looking at another car; up to 5'10" you can consider it comfortably (translated from Hindi)”

Ride comfort

Baleno: Strongly positiveSwift: Mixed reviews

Baleno: “A highlight on the Boleno is ride comfort. It feels really cushy on the worst of our roads, and even when you're going faster, there isn't any undue body movements. It feels pretty settled”

Swift: “Its ride is slightly on the stiffer side... at high speeds, body movements can be felt in the car quite sharply”

Fit & finish

Baleno: Mixed reviewsSwift: Strongly negative

Baleno: “The plastic finish isn't that good, and as time passes rattling noise increases — even if you drive carefully, because of Indian roads full of potholes and harsh speed breakers, rattling will happen”

Swift: “Now and then plastic parts keep making noise... sometimes the front wiper rubber, some noise comes from somewhere, goes away, comes back (translated from Hindi)”

Which is better, the Swift or the Baleno?

Owners and experts rate the Swift better for routine service cost, handling and ground clearance, while the Baleno comes out ahead on rear seat space, ride comfort and fit & finish. Go for the Swift if routine service cost and handling matter most to you. Pick the Baleno if you care more about rear seat space and ride comfort.

Which is cheaper, the Swift or the Baleno?

The Swift starts at ₹5.83 lakh and the Baleno at ₹5.98 lakh ex-showroom, so they cost about the same to get into.

How did CarDhoondo compare the Swift and Baleno?

We went through 20 owner and expert video reviews of the two cars, tagged every statement by topic, such as mileage or rear seat space, and scored how positive it was. Nobody paid for this comparison and it is not sponsored.