Used Maruti Suzuki Baleno Automatic: A Smart Buy as Demand Surges

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno’s popularity in the Indian car market is unquestionable. It regularly finds itself among the best sellers list, and this is especially true in the used car market. As a matter of fact, it was the fifth best selling used hatchback in 2024, capturing 5% of the total used hatchback market (the used Swift led the way, with an 11% used hatchback market share).

The Baleno is available with both manual and automatic transmissions, but which gearbox has been the transmission of choice? Our used car sales report reveals that there has been a decisive preference in transmission choice for the Baleno in the used market. In this article, we will take a closer look at what transmission option buyers have preferred over the years for the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, and what the trend reports projects about the future.

Used Baleno Sales Favor Manual, But Auto is Catching Up

In the used car market, manual transmission still dominates Baleno sales, primarily because of its affordability, higher fuel efficiency, and lower maintenance costs. Here’s how the sales split looked in 2024

• Petrol engine with manual transmission: 74% of all used Baleno sales
• Diesel engine with manual transmission: 15% of all used Baleno sales
• Petrol engine with automatic transmission: 11% of all used Baleno sales
   

This data highlights that nearly nine out of ten used Balenos sold had a manual gearbox. Even though used automatic cars provide ease of driving, especially in traffic-heavy cities, they haven't gained the same level of traction in the used car market. The reasons? Lower resale value, higher maintenance costs, and the perception that manuals deliver better driving engagement and fuel efficiency.

Demand for the Baleno Automatic are on the rise since 2021

Over the past four years, the preference for manual transmission in the used Maruti Suzuki Baleno has remained strong, but automatic variants have started gaining ground.

• 2021-2022: Manual transmission variants accounted for nearly 94% of used Baleno sales, as automatics were still considered niche in the hatchback segment.
• 2023: The automatic variant’s share rose slightly to 9%, as more buyers began considering convenience over cost.

• 2024: With an 11% share, automatic transmission-equipped Balenos continued their slow but steady rise in demand.

   

Despite this shift, the manual Baleno remains the top choice, particularly in smaller cities and rural areas, where automatic models are harder to service and are perceived to be less fuel-efficient.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno Engine and Transmission options

Since its launch in 2015, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno has been available with multiple engine and transmission configurations.

Petrol Variants

1. 1.2-litre K12B Petrol Engine (Discontinued in 2020)

    

• Transmission options: 5-speed Manual, CVT
• Power output: 83 hp
• Torque: 113 Nm
   

2. 1.2-litre DualJet Petrol Engine / CNG (2020-Present)

• Transmission options: 5-speed Manual / 5-Speed AMT
• Power output: 90 hp / 78 hp

• Torque: 113 Nm / 98 Nm

   

3. 1.0-litre BoosterJet Turbo Petrol (Baleno RS - Discontinued in 2020)

• Transmission: 5-speed Manual only
• Power: 102 hp

• Torque: 150 Nm

   

Diesel Variants 

1. 1.3-litre DDiS Diesel Engine (Discontinued in 2020)
   • Transmission: 5-speed Manual
   • Power: 75 hp

   • Torque: 190 Nm

      

Maruti discontinued the diesel variant, and the Boosterjet  in 2020 due to stricter BS6 emission norms, leaving only petrol options in the lineup. The CVT was also replaced with an AMT in 2022, making the newer automatics more affordable but less refined.

Used Maruti Suzuki Baleno sells for ₹6.74 lakh on average

A big contributing factor to the Maruti Suzuki Baleno’s success in the used car market is the fact that it commands an impressive resale value.

Key takeaways
 

1) Strong resale value: The Maruti Suzuki Baleno retains high resale value, with an average used selling price of ₹6.74 lakh. This highlights its popularity in the second hand market.

2) Manual vs. automatic price difference:

• The Petrol Manual variant averages ₹6.46 lakh, making it the most affordable among petrol options.
• The Petrol Automatic variant commands a higher resale value at ₹7.17 lakh, indicating a premium for convenience.

• The price range for used Petrol Automatics (₹4.39 lakh - ₹9.95 lakh) is higher than the Petrol Manual (₹3.54 lakh - ₹9.38 lakh), reinforcing that automatics hold better resale in urban markets.

   

3) Diesel variant's depreciation: The Diesel Manual variant has the lowest average resale price (₹5.35 lakh), reflecting reduced demand after Maruti Suzuki phased out diesel engines in 2020. Despite this, its price range (₹3.75 lakh - ₹6.95 lakh) shows that it still holds some value for buyers seeking fuel economy.

4) Used vs. new price comparison:

• The new Baleno's price ranges from ₹6.70 lakh to ₹9.92 lakh, meaning well-maintained used models can retain a significant portion of their original value, especially automatics.

• The automatic petrol variant's new price starts at ₹8.04 lakh, explaining why its resale value is higher than manuals.

   

5) Manual variants are more accessible: Despite the increasing resale value of automatics, the manual transmission remains the more budget-friendly choice in the used market, aligning with its higher sales preference (89%) in 2024.

Conclusion

While automatic transmission is growing in popularity, pre owned manual cars still reign supreme in the used Baleno market. Lower maintenance costs, better resale value, and perceived superior fuel efficiency make the manual Baleno the clear choice for most buyers. However, in metro cities, where stop-and-go traffic is a daily reality, automatics are becoming a more viable alternative.

For buyers prioritising convenience, the CVT-equipped Baleno (2017-2022) is the smoothest automatic option, while the newer AMT models (2022-present) offer an affordable entry into automatic transmissions. Yet, for enthusiasts and those looking for the most cost-effective ownership experience, the manual Baleno remains the go-to option.