Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Hyundai i20: Performance, Features and Price

Both the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20 are high-end hatchbacks for an everyday functional car with comfortable interior and modern amenities. The 2026 Baleno features an updated petrol engine, new safety technology and even CNG as an optional package. The Hyundai i20 is available in petrol and manual and automatic transmissions. Here are the performance, features and pricing differences of the two hatchbacks.

Performance

The 2026 Maruti Suzuki Baleno will be equipped with a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder Z12E petrol engine, offering 83 PS of power and 112.4 Nm of torque. It comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox and 5-speed Auto Gear Shift (AGS) transmission. The manual fuel economy on petrol is claimed to be 23.80 x 100 / 1000 or 23.80 km/l and the fuel consumption of the AGS version is 24.77 km/l. There is also a factory-fitted CNG option available, which gives around 70 PS and 102 Nm of torque.

Hyundai i20 is powered by a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder Kappa petrol engine. It will deliver 83 PS (transmission manual) / 88 PS (transmission Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT)) based on transmission. The engine has around 114.7 Nm of torque. It is offered with a 5-speed manual and IVT automatic transmission.

Both vehicles are good for city driving and frequent highway trips. Both the Baleno and the i20 come with a CNG (compressed natural gas) option for those who prefer an alternative to petrol, while the Baleno also has a four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Features: Safety and Comfort

The Baleno's 2026 touchscreen infotainment control panel will include a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera and ventilated front seats on higher-trim models. It also includes automatic climate control, wireless charging, as well as rear AC vents. The new version brings Level 2 ADAS to the top-spec Alpha (O) model and six airbags and electronic stability control.

The Hyundai i20 comes with an 8-inch touchscreen on the selected models and a 10.25-inch infotainment system on the higher-end trims. Other options include wireless smart phone connectivity, automatic climate control, cruise control, a digital instrument display, a sunroof and a Bose premium sound system on select variants. It has six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill start assist and rear parking sensors.

The Baleno has features like ventilated front seats, head-up display and Level 2 ADAS while the i20 has a sunroof and a bigger infotainment screen on select variants. Available depending on variant.

Price

The price of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno in the ex-showroom range starts from ₹5.99 lakh and the ex-showroom price of the Baleno reaches up to ₹9.99 lakh. It has an added advantage of factory fitted CNG options for customers.

The Hyundai i20 offers a price range of around ₹5.99 lakh to ₹10.63 lakh (ex-showroom), depending on its variants and transaxle type.

Want to know the features of Maruti Suzuki Baleno? Click here

Conclusion

On its top variant, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno is available with petrol and CNG engines, fuel-efficient engine options and more features for the driver. It has a 4-cylinder petrol engine, an IVT automatic available and has the extra features of a sunroof and a bigger touchscreen on select trim levels. Before deciding to purchase, buyers can compare the different variants to see if they are in their budget, if they have a favourite transmission system and if they need a specific feature.