The Toyota Glanza Is An India-Only, Rebadged Suzuki Baleno

The first model to bear fruit from the Toyota-Suzuki partnership, the Toyota Glanza, has been launched in India. Manufactured by Suzuki and supplied to Toyota under a contract manufacturing agreement, the Glanza is produced at Suzuki's Indian plant in Gujarat, the same plant that also makes the Baleno, which the Glanza is based upon.

As part of the collaboration, first announced back in February 2017, Suzuki will leverage Toyota’s know-how in hybrid technology and vehicles to expand its presence in the global market. Toyota on the other hand, will benefit from Suzuki’s knowledge in compact vehicles, and be given access to its Indian-assembled vehicles such as the Baleno, Vitara Brezza, and Ciaz, for the latter to sell in India and Africa. A co-developed C-Segment MPV is also slated to be introduced sometime in 2022.

Except for several aesthetic changes such as the front grille and some badging, the Baleno and Glanza are pretty much identical. The Glanza is offered in India in four variants across two engine choices and auto and manual transmissions.

Oddly, the cheapest variant, dubbed ‘G Smart Hybrid’ features a 1.2-litre mild-hybrid powerplant (with an integrated starter generator feeding the lithium-ion batteries) paired with a five-speed manual. The unit delivers 90 hp and 113 Nm of torque, inclusive of a Torque Assist function for better acceleration.

Other variants (the V MT, G CVT, and V CVT) are powered by a non-hybrid version of the 1.2-litre mill which delivers 83 hp and the same 113 Nm of torque. The powerplant is paired with either a five-speed manual or a CVT-type automatic.

The Glanza is equipped with dual front airbags and ABS with EBD as standard on all variants.

Prices on all variants are pretty much identical to the Suzuki Baleno, save the cheapest G Smart Hybrid which retails for INR 722k (circa RM43,200), undercutting the Baleno ‘Zeta Smart Hybrid’ which is priced at INR 788k (RM47,200).

The infotainment system in the Glanza, dubbed ‘Smart Playcast’, which features MirrorLink connectivity is also borrowed from the Baleno. The Smart Playcast is featured on all variants.

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