Baleno review

To write about Baleno
I think it is value for money car. Before it was discontinued, it was available at 6.1 lakhs on road (with 70,000 corporate discount) value for money. It is a race machine with a top speed of 175. It is one of the fastest cars in the segment (1.5-1.6 ltr) which can do 0-100 in 10-11 seconds ( though I never tried it, many of the forums say that it is faster than a Honda city)
Also I get a very good mileage of 11-12 within the city with AC and 15-16 on the highway while cruising between 100-140 with 5 people in the car. Not many cars in the segment have this good mileage. The gear ratio is very good. It goes at low speeds even at high gears. I don't have to change gears too often in the city traffic. I can pull through in 3rd gear even with 5 people.
Baleno has got one of the best ACs and the best sound proofing. I recently sat in a Honda city and could every conversation outside.
It does not have all those great interiors as the Verna, but has everything you can ask for in a car. It has got very comfortable bucket seats, 3 cup holder, 2 ashtrays (for front and back seats), Arm rests for both front and rear seats, power mirrors, steering height adjustment, cigarette lighter,central locking with auto cop, etc
The boot is quite spacious (though not as big as the new Honda city) and serves most my purpose.
Few things I think that the Baleno misses are the air bags, Rear window wiper and rear window defogger ( vxi has this - of course you can't give everything in Lxi).
Does not have the elegant looks of an Ikon or an Accent, but got a beasty look which I kind of like (may be because I own it). The rear design could have been better like that of a Honda city. The rear is what gives it the beasty look.

What I am most unhappy with Baleno is its headlight power. It should have been better. Night driving is not very easy especially on a highway, as the throw is not very far and not very bright. I am planning to put a higher wattage bulb

The Lxi and Vxi differences are mostly cosmetic which include rear spoiler, alloy wheels, Power antenna, automatic climate control, front seat driver seat height adjustment.

Overall, I am very happy with this car.