Buy Or Hold: Wait For Toyota Glanza Or Go For Maruti Baleno & Other Rivals?

Expected to be priced at a slight premium over the Baleno it’s based on, we find out if the Glanza is the one to wait for over its rivals

The Toyota Glanza premium hatchback will be the first shared product from the Toyota-Suzuki tie-up. It is based on the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and has the same specs, features and looks the same too. Apart from its donor model, the Glanza will also compete with the likes of the Honda Jazz, Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai Elite i20 and the upcoming Tata Altroz. The Toyota hatch is likely to launch in May, so here’s a brief assessment of whether the Glanza is the car to wait for, or should you buy one of its competitors. Maruti Suzuki Baleno: BUY for efficient diesel engine and if badge not priority The Baleno’s pricing and features like the LED projector headlamps, auto AC, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, ISOFIX child seat anchors and others are key to its appeal. It is currently the only one in its segment currently available with 1.2-litre BS6 petrol engines. One is the existing unit now updated to meet new emission norms. It has a claimed mileage of 21.4kmpl. The other is a new Dual Jet Dual VTVT mild-hybrid option that has a claimed a fuel efficiency of 23.87kmpl. A diesel option is still available, with a claimed mileage of 27.39kmpl. All these engines come paired to a 5-speed manual while the existing 1.2-litre unit also gets a CVT auto option. If badging is not a concern, then as a near identical twin to the Glanza, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno is already available at NEXA dealerships. Hyundai Elite i20: BUY for added safety and comforts It may have a lower starting price than the segment-leading Baleno, but the Hyundai Elite i20’s strengths lie at the top end of the line. This hatchback is the only option here to currently offer upto six airbags and is well equipped in terms of comfort too, with rear AC vents, two interior themes and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system among other features. The Elite i20 is offered with a choice of three powertrain options - a petrol-manual, a petrol-CVT automatic and a diesel-manual, none of which are as fuel efficient as the Baleno. Honda Jazz: BUY for its spaciousness The Honda Jazz would be a closer rival to the Glanza and both will have a much higher starting price. While the Jazz doesn’t offer many additional features for the premium, it is the more practical family hatchback. It’s got more boot space than the Glanza/Baleno and it’s as spacious too, if not more. Honda’s hatch also gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, auto AC and a rear parking camera as part of its features list. The diesel-engine option of the Jazz returns the same mileage as the Baleno-diesel but with more performance. The petrol engine gets a CVT option too. Volkswagen Polo: BUY for petrol-automatic and as driver’s car only The Polo is the opposite of the Jazz as it is more of a driver’s car while the rear seats are not that spacious. It is also similarly well-equipped with features such as auto AC, a touchscreen infotainment unit with CarPlay and Android Auto and cruise control as well. Volkswagen’s hatchback is available with a relatively underpowered 1.0-litre petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel, both with manual gearboxes and lower fuel-efficiency than the Glanza/Baleno petrol. However, there is a more powerful 1.2-litre turbo-petrol GT TSI variant with a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG, which is the best automatic option available in this segment. Tata Altroz: WAIT for looks and features Tata’s first offering in the premium-hatchback segment is expected to launch later than the Glanza, sometime in mid-2019. The Altroz debuted at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show with its refreshing design and sharp looks that make it stand out from the current crop. It is likely to be competitively priced and was seen at Geneva with features like a 7-inch floating touchscreen unit, semi-digital instrument cluster, auto AC, rear AC vents and ambient lighting. If you have the time to postpone your purchase, the Altroz could well be worth the wait. Toyota Glanza: WAIT for the badge The Toyota Glanza doesn’t come across as anything more than a rebadged Baleno. It looks the same inside and out, has the same features and doesn’t seem to bring any added value to the car itself. It will be powered by the same 1.2-litre BS6 petrol engine with manual and CVT options and there won’t be a diesel option on offer. Toyota may find interest from their brand-loyalists and maybe allure buyers with its positive reputation in terms of service and ease of ownership. The Glanza is likely to have a higher starting price than the equivalent Baleno variant, but it remains to be seen what Toyota may offer to justify the premium. Disclaimer: This article has been sourced and published by cardekho.com