Hyundai i20 vs Maruti Suzuki Baleno (2026)
Hyundai i20 (₹6.00 Lakh – ₹10.68 Lakh) and Maruti Suzuki Baleno (₹5.99 Lakh – ₹9.99 Lakh) go head-to-head in the premium hatchback space. Here is how they compare on the numbers (October 2026).
- Both start at almost the same price (within ₹0.10 Lakh of each other).
- The Hyundai i20 is the more powerful car, with 118 bhp against 81 bhp.
- The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is more efficient on paper — up to 33.61 kmpl vs 20 kmpl.
- Only the Hyundai i20 has a published NCAP crash-test rating (3 stars).
- The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has the bigger boot: 318 litres vs 311 litres.
Specification Comparison
Shortlisting a third car? See the full three-way comparison →
Hyundai i20 in short
The i20 is Hyundai's premium hatchback flagship, taking on the Maruti Baleno, Toyota Glanza and Tata Altroz. It stands out for its European-inspired styling, a genuinely upmarket cabin with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and the sporty i20 N Line turbo-DCT for enthusiasts. The 2023 facelift sharpened the design and made six airbags standard on top trims.
Full i20 prices & variants →Maruti Suzuki Baleno in short
The Baleno is Maruti's Nexa premium hatchback, comprehensively facelifted on 5 September 2026. The new car swaps the old 90 PS K12 for the Swift's 82 PS 1.2L Z12E engine (with a big mileage jump to 23.8-24.77 kmpl), adds segment-first Level 2 ADAS on the new Alpha (O) trim, six airbags standard, a 9-inch touchscreen, ventilated front seats and CNG on both Delta and Zeta trims. The 11-variant lineup runs ₹5.99–9.99 lakh — the base is actually ₹11,000 under the widely reported ₹6.10 lakh launch figure, per Maruti's own pricing feed.
Full Baleno prices & variants →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper: i20 or Baleno?
Both start at almost the same price (within ₹0.10 Lakh of each other). (Ex-showroom prices, October 2026.)
i20 vs Baleno — which is safer?
NCAP ratings: Hyundai i20 — 3 stars; Maruti Suzuki Baleno — not yet tested.
Should I buy the i20 or the Baleno?
Both start at almost the same price (within ₹0.10 Lakh of each other). The Hyundai i20 is the more powerful car, with 118 bhp against 81 bhp. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is more efficient on paper — up to 33.61 kmpl vs 20 kmpl. Beyond the numbers, shortlist by test-driving both — ride quality and dealer experience differ by city.