Suzuki Baleno vs Hyundai Grand i10

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Suzuki Baleno in South Africa

Suzuki Baleno

1.5 GLX AT Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 341,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 138 Nm ⛽ 17.5 km/l
VS
Hyundai Grand i10 in South Africa

Hyundai Grand i10

1.2 Fluid Petrol 5-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 242,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 114 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Baleno
Fuel Economy Baleno
🛡 Safety Baleno
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Baleno
Grand i10 starts ZAR 51,000 cheaper Baleno from ZAR 269,900 · Grand i10 from ZAR 218,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Baleno Grand i10
Maximum Power 77 kW @ 6000 rpm 61 kW @ 6300 rpm
Maximum Torque 138 Nm @ 4400 rpm 114 Nm @ 4200 rpm
Engine Size 1462 cc 1197 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 17.5 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 150 mm 170 mm
Boot / Load Bay 314 l 235 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 985 kg 975 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Baleno and Grand i10 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Baleno +7 pts
Efficiency Baleno +1 pts
Safety Baleno +19 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership Baleno +6 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

Baleno

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Grand i10

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Baleno

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Grand i10

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Baleno Grand i10
Model Introduced Year 2022 2014
Generation Second generation globally launched in 2022; entirely new platform and body compared to the first-generation Baleno; shares K15B engine with Fronx, Ertiga, XL6, and Grand Vitara for parts commonality Second generation Grand i10 sold in SA with a 2023 facelift; based on the global third-gen i10 platform adapted for emerging markets
Facelift History Second-generation Baleno launched in SA in 2022 as a full redesign on a new platform — wider, longer, and significantly better specified than the first-generation model; no facelift of the second generation yet Second generation arrived in 2017; facelift with updated front styling and infotainment in 2023
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Color Note Pearl Arctic White, Metallic Grandeur Grey, Metallic Midnight Blue, Pearl Burning Red, Solid White White, Silver, Red, Blue, Grey
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Fluid grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Hatchback Hatchback
Tare Mass Kg 975 kg 975 kg
Vehicle Type Hatchback Hatchback
Spec Baleno Grand i10
Length 3990 mm 3665 mm
Width 1745 mm 1660 mm
Height 1500 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase 2520 mm 2385 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 150 mm 170 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 37 l 35 l
Boot/Cargo Space 314 l 235 l
Kerb Weight 985 kg 975 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1430 kg 1410 kg
Payload Capacity 445 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.1 m -
Front Headroom 993 mm -
Rear Headroom 985 mm -
Front Legroom 1043 mm -
Rear Legroom 900 mm -

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Baleno leads by 6 points

Baleno and Grand i10 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 61 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 89% source coverage
61
#1 Index leader

Baleno

89% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 67
Safety 87
Practicality 55
Ownership 71
Leads by 6 points
55
#2

Grand i10

90% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 68 Check Performance 27
Performance 27
Efficiency 66
Safety 68
Practicality 55
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Baleno +7 Efficiency Baleno +1 Safety Baleno +19 Practicality Level Ownership Baleno +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Baleno

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 71/100

Grand i10

Performance 27/100
Efficiency 66/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 65/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Suzuki Baleno leads the catalogue index with 61 pts vs 55 pts for Grand i10

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Baleno leads. However, Grand i10 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This Baleno and Grand i10 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Baleno 34 vs Grand i10 27.

Efficiency index: Baleno 67 vs Grand i10 66.

Safety-equipment index: Baleno 87 vs Grand i10 68.

Practicality index: Baleno 55 vs Grand i10 55.

Ownership-cover index: Baleno 71 vs Grand i10 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.