Baleno's design philosophy is called 'Crafted Futurism,' which encompasses sharp design cues and heaps of tech associated with the futurism aspect. You can follow our many long-term Baleno stories here.
Related: Suzuki Baleno vs Volkswagen Polo Vivo vs Hyundai i20: Which has the lowest running costs?
Infotainment is a major requirement for many car buyers. We live in a connected world, and many things revolve around our smartphones. This is the case with infotainment systems, which largely are radios but also provide other information about your vehicle and an area to adjust some vehicle settings. With this in mind, how does the Baleno's infotainment system compare to its contemporaries?
The Baleno's infotainment
We'll look at our long-term unit, the 1.5 GLX manual's infotainment system, to start with. Here, we have a 9-inch fully touchscreen system crowning the centre stack. The system can be operated via the screen, the touch options at the bottom of the screen or the steering wheel controls. The system is paired with six speakers and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Vehicle diagnostics, such as fuel consumption, can be viewed on the screen, and you can adjust the many vehicle settings here.
Along with the screen, you also have the monitor for the 360' augmented reality camera system that displays a reverse camera, which is pretty handy. Part of the creme de la creme is the heads-up display, which can display speed, fuel consumption and a rev counter. There are also navigation prompts that can be displayed on the screen as well. The system is responsive, the screen is high-definition, and it operates without a fuss. We wish there were some rotary dials for volume and radio tuning, though. You have one USB-A port in front and 2 USB-A charging ports in the rear. The GL variant has a smaller screen at 7 inches and omits the heads-up display and a 360-degree camera system. Still, it has a reverse camera and retains the same functionality, albeit with a standard-definition screen and only 4 speakers.
The Polo Vivo's infotainment
The latest Polo Vivo range features the 9-inch Mirgor infotainment system with 4 to 6 speakers, depending on which variant you choose. The system is touch-operated and uses steering wheel controls, too. This was done in favour of greater screen real estate. The system has a high-definition screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible, and features App Connect. USB connectivity is available. The reverse camera is an optional feature here, though. If you want to control volume, this is done so by a partition on the left side of the screen that includes the phone function and an option to access the app tray. The Mirgor system looks good and befits the interior of the Polo Vivo.
The Picanto's infotainment
The Kia Picanto range features an 8-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system and 4 speakers. The system has a standard-definition screen and features rotary dials for volume, radio tuning, and physical buttons to operate other system functions. There are steering wheel controls too. The system is easy to use and responsive enough. Regarding USB connectivity, there's a USB-A and USB-C port in the centre stack to handle your smartphone connectivity. There's also a USB-C port in the rear for charging. This system is also compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system also features a reverse camera across the range, as standard.
Who's the winner?
We'll have to give the trophy to the Baleno for being the most comprehensively equipped infotainment system. Some features you'd find here are in luxury vehicles, which are pretty neat. The Kia Picanto comes in second place thanks to having a reverse camera, which is standard. While the Mirgor system in the Polo Vivo is good, the reverse camera here is only optional.
If you're sold on a Baleno after reading this, you can search AutoTrader for the latest used and new offerings and sell your car, too.
