Safety is naturally a concern for many new car buyers, and you often find a long safety list in new car brochures. The Suzuki Baleno prides itself on the high specification level while proving solid value for money motoring. You can check out our many long-term Baleno adventures here.
Related: 5 Stand-out features in the Suzuki Baleno
In both GL and GLX form, the Baleno comes comprehensively equipped with nearly every conceivable feature you could add at its price point, with some surprises, too. That applies to all facets of the Baleno, including the exterior, interior, and even safety. With this in mind, how safe is the Baleno?
What's on offer?
Let's look at what safety equipment is offered on both the GL and GLX variants:
| Safety Feature | GL | GLX |
| Front Airbags | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Side Airbags | - | ⦿ |
| Curtain Airbags | - | ⦿ |
| Seatbelts Front (3-point ELF with Pre-Tensioners and Force Limiters) | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Seatbelts Rear 3 point ELR x3 | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors with top tether anchorage x2 | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| ABS and EBD | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| ESP | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Hill Hold Control | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Brake Assist Function | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Rear Parking Sensors | ⦿ | ⦿ |
Even in GL form, the Baleno comes equipped with some good safety specifications, and the GLX steps things up by having 6 airbags versus the GL's 2.
The Safety Rating
The current generation Suzuki Baleno hasn't been rated yet by NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), an institution that rates and conducts stringent safety testing of new vehicles. We'll look at the previous generation Baleno under Euro NCAP testing as a reference. The Baleno in 2016, in standard fascia, scored 3 stars, and it excelled in Adult and Child occupant safety. Pedestrian safety faired alright, but where the Baleno lacked was in Safety assistance features. Still, with some optional features equipped, that rating can be raised. The report here is indicative of a solid structure.
Since that 2016 NCAP test, the current generation Baleno has ramped up the standard safety equipment. However, we'll have to wait until the official report from NCAP is released for the current vehicle.
Verdict
Looking at the safety equipment on offer, the Baleno appears safe and doesn't feel Spartan. You can be assured that you're in good hands. If you've decided on a Baleno after reading this, you can search AutoTrader for the used and new Baleno offerings and sell your car, too.
