When it comes to small cars made in the 2015-2020 era, there's no doubt that Suzuki punches well above its weight. After all, if you're looking for something supermini or citycar-sized from this period, few other brands provide as wide a choice, the Japanese maker offering the tiny Celerio, the small Swift supermini, the little Ignis Crossover and this car, the compact Baleno hatchback. There's sophistication beneath the bonnet too. Forget diesel power: Suzuki says you didn't need it here because both the petrol unit on offer delivers comfortably over 60mpg in regular use and sub-100g/km carbon dioxide emissions. In short then, on paper, what we're looking at here might very well be one of the most rational choices you could make. Aesthetically, the Baleno's role in the Suzuki line-up was to look conservatively stylish. That's something you notice most in the profile of this five-door design, its rounded roofline given a 'floating' effect by the blacked-out pillars. From the front, you'd be unlikely to guess the brand behind this car were it not for the bold badge on the sweepingly-styled front grille, the lower frame of which is emphasised by a chrome strip that rises up to meet HID projector headlights incorporating smart LED daytime running lamps. This Baleno will be offerd in with a Free RAC inspection, Free 1 Yr MOT and Free RAC Warranty. We also offer finance packages to suit most credit profiles Of course, as usual, what's more important is the stuff you can't see, namely this model's quite sophisticated platform, designed around what Suzuki calls 'Total Effective Control Technology'. This uses lots of high strength steel to make the structure very strong but also low in weight, which is the main reason why this Baleno is so relatively light by class standards. You feel that light weight when you slam the driver's door shut, which isn't ideal, but otherwise, by supermini standards, the cabin feels quite nice, providing you're not expecting acres of slush-moulded soft-touch plastic: Suzuki doesn't really go in for that kind of finishing. We approve of the brand's decision to instead spend the development budget on the provided 7-inch colour infotainment touchscreen, standard on all Balenos and the kind of thing that other superminis from this era often either don't offer or restrict to their priciest derivatives. It's also worth mentioning how airy and spacious this cabin feels by supermini standards, but you don't really appreciate that fully until you take a seat in the rear. Essentially, the room provided is pretty much as large as you'd find in a Focus-sized hatch from the next class up. This really is where the Baleno shines in comparison not only to its Swift sister model but also when you pitch it up against almost every other car in the segment from this period. Out back, the space on offer for luggage is just as impressive as the room provided for rear seat folk. It's a pity that you have to lug your items over quite a high loading lip to get them in, but once you've done that, there's a usefully-sized 320-litre boot.

LED daytime running lights, ABS+EBD+Brake assist, USB connection, 12V Accessory socket, 15" steel wheels with full wheel covers, 3 point ELR front seat belts, 3 point rear seatbelts, 3 spoke leather steering wheel, 4 speakers + 2 tweeters, Automatic air conditioning