Skip advert
Advertisement

New Suzuki Baleno SHVS 2016 review

We drive the SHVS mild hybrid version of the Suzuki Baleno supermini

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Suzuki Baleno
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

For those who value ultimate efficiency over performance, the Baleno mild hybrid won’t disappoint; it proves cheap to run around town. The Boosterjet petrol is much punchier and more relaxing to drive, however, and is more refined at speed. You’re also limited to the top-spec model with this hybrid version, which makes the value of the entry-level Baleno difficult to ignore.

Advertisement - Article continues below

We’ve already been impressed with the Suzuki Baleno in 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo guise, but the brand also offers a Suzuki Baleno SHVS mild hybrid. Is it worth considering?

• Best superminis on sale right now

While the petrol-electric system itself is new to Suzuki, the petrol engine it’s paired with is the familiar naturally aspirated 1.2-litre Dualjet unit you’ll find in the Swift.

It uses an integrated electric starter motor to assist the engine during moderate acceleration, helping it to consume less fuel. The set-up also provides power for the on-board systems thanks to regenerative braking. The Baleno SHVS claims to emit 94g/km of CO2 and return 70.6mpg. That can’t match a Toyota Yaris Hybrid, but it’s still one of the most efficient petrol superminis on sale.

It’s a very simple system to produce, so it doesn’t bump up the price, but the engine needs to run at all times. It doesn’t provide a significant power boost, either; the SHVS takes 12.3 seconds to cover 0-62mph – almost a second longer than the Boosterjet - but the gap feels much bigger than that.

With just 120Nm of torque on offer, it doesn’t give the same mid-range grunt. This harms real-world efficiency, but take it easy and you can nudge 60mpg. Even so, it’s quite noisy on the move and not as refined as the regular petrol model; you can hear the starter motor whine at low speeds.

The Baleno hybrid is even lighter than the Boosterjet, meaning it’s better to drive than you might expect, with the same agile handling on the road. There’s quite a bit of body roll, and the ride can get unsettled on really rough tarmac, but overall it’s comfortable and pleasant.

It retains the standard Baleno’s strengths inside, too, offering impressive rear seat space and a big boot, but the mild hybrid is only available in top-spec SZ-5 trim, giving it a starting price of £500 more than the Boosterjet. Still, you get loads of kit, such as climate control, sat-nav, DAB radio, adaptive cruise control and active city braking.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Capri review
Ford Capri - front

Ford Capri review

This is no sports car, nor even a retro reboot – rather a capable, refined and well-built EV that happens to sport a controversial name
In-depth reviews
29 Oct 2024
New Audi RS 3 2024 review: is there a new hyper-hatch king?
Audi RS 3 - front

New Audi RS 3 2024 review: is there a new hyper-hatch king?

The Audi RS 3 renews hostilities with the Mercedes-AMG A 45, but this time it might just have the edge
Road tests
27 Oct 2024
Hot new Abarth 600e is the performance outfit’s most powerful car ever
Abarth 600e - front

Hot new Abarth 600e is the performance outfit’s most powerful car ever

The fiery electric SUV uses Abarth’s own newly developed e-motor that produces up to 278bhp
News
28 Oct 2024