What Makes Baleno RS The Practical Hot Hatch?

Posted by Rahul Aggarwal on September 18th, 2018

Baleno, in many ways, is the cornerstone of brand NEXA. Its mature design, upmarket looks, spacious interiors and punchy performance made it an instant success, and that continues to work in its favor even now. But there had to be gradual progression where brand NEXA had something in store for the enthusiasts, something that upped the ante in terms of performance. That very need marked the introduction of Baleno RS in March 2017.

But does it tick the right boxes as a hot hatch which makes it worth your consideration? Let’s take a look:

Looks

The Baleno has a very European coupe-like design language, and the Baleno RS retains that. But as a hot hatch, it has to have a sense of ‘aggression’ about it. To ensure that, the front and the rear bumpers have blackened elements, the projector headlamps are also ‘blacked’ out, and so are the alloy wheels. The tyres too have been upsized from 185/65 R15 to 195/55 R16 to aid in better handling.

Engine and Performance

This is the trump card of the Baleno RS, a 1.0 l turbocharged petrol engine, branded as the Boosterjet, which makes 101 bhp@5500 rpm and 150nm@1700rpm. The engine is responsive without being over-the-top, and since the turbocharger kicks in early, the power delivery in strong through the rev range, ensuring spirited performance. For the sake of keeping the drive an engaging one, the Baleno RS comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox where the shifts are precise, and you have enough grunt in each gear to pull forward with ease. In short, this is an engine that’s fun to drive all across.

Safety

Full marks to the Baleno RS on this front! It has standard dual front air bags along with ABS (Anti-Lock Brakes) and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution). The fact that both its front and rear brakes are disc brakes, helps it come to a halt in a reassuring way.

Space

No other car in the hot-hatch segment comes close to the space that the Baleno has. In fact, it offers more leg space and boot area than most of the other compact SUVs presently available in the Indian automobile market. The leg space in the rear is even greater, and its headroom allows for even a 6-feet-tall person to sit comfortably in the car without any kind of problem.

The Way It Drives

Let’s give it credit where it’s due. The HEARTECT platform has been a revelation for the brand, and works extremely well for the Baleno RS. The combination of the Boosterjet engine, larger alloy wheels, stronger chassis and stiffer suspension (by 10%) means that the Baleno RS has strong handling characteristics, and enough merit in it to be there on a track-day at a racing circuit. The increase in weight also helps, which is surprisingly well-masked by its swift in-gear acceleration.

Advanced Infotainment System

The Baleno RS gets all the bells and whistles of the top trim, which means you get the top-of-the-line infotainment system which supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. As a buyer, you’re sorted when it comes to in-car entertainment.

And finally, the Price

At 8.47l ex-showroom Delhi, Baleno RS is well-priced for a performance-oriented hatchback considering all that it has on offer. The fact that the price of Baleno undercuts the competition while offering a very well-rounded package, speaks a lot about this sporty offering from brand NEXA.