A little over a month after Maruti Suzuki launched the facelifted Baleno in India, Toyota has launched the Glanza facelift with an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh. That makes it significantly more expensive than the base-spec Baleno. It is even Rs 26,000 more expensive than the previous Glanza which used to start at Rs 6.73 lakh, ex-showroom. The range-topping variant now costs Rs 10.49 lakh, ex-showroom. Like the new Baleno, the facelifted Glanza also gets notable styling changes, more features and a new engine.
The new Glanza gets a refreshed exterior design. Most of the design changes are concentrated at the front. It gets new bumpers, a redesigned grille section, stylish Satin Silver accents, and a Toyota logo that sits on the leading edge of the bonnet, and in the middle of a Chrome embellishment. The grille now gets a mesh-style design and adds more character to the larger design. There is a stylish lower side skirt as well.
Overall, the new design aligns well with Toyota’s styling direction. It looks better than the model it replaces. Toyota says it has been designed for the ambitious young generation.
The car rides on 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. There are no changes in the side profile. Changes at the rear are also minimal. The new car is available in seven exterior colours.
Other features on offer on the new Glanza include a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic climate control, wireless charger with active cooling, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, head-up display, connected-car technology and rear AC vents.
Another major addition is that of ventilated seats. They circulate air through the seat surface to improve comfort during hot weather. This feature is extremely useful in hot Indian climates and is now becoming a common find in cars and SUVs. Its inclusion has made the Glanza more competent.
Toyota has not skimped on the safety front either. The premium hatchback comes with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Hill-Hold Assist and ISOFIX child-seat anchor points.
The new Glanza comes with one big mechanical change. It gets a new engine. The previous model used to be powered by a 1.2L, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol (K12) engine. The new model replaces this with a new 1.2L naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine (Z12E). The new engine makes 83PS and 112Nm. A five-speed manual and five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT) transmission options are on offer.
Toyota is also offering a factory-fitted CNG option on the new Glanza. The CNG version makes 70PS and 102Nm. The CNG version is now available with an AMT automatic option- just like the new Maruti Baleno.
In the Indian market, the new Glanza competes with models like the Tata Altroz, Hyundai i20 and the new Baleno facelift. The Baleno obviously, is its strongest rival. The Altroz is the only product in this segment to offer a diesel engine. The i20 is due for an update in the not-so-distant future.
The premium hatchback segment has lately been shrinking in India. However, sharply priced, well-packaged products can drive sales. That is a lesson that we got from the new Baleno facelift. Maruti Suzuki sold 25,000 units of the new Baleno in the first month itself.
Sales data from previous months show that the Glanza’s monthly numbers have historically stayed behind those of the Baleno. That trend may not change. But the new model will surely bring about a notable spike in Glanza’s monthly sales. The car has now become more appealing in terms of packaging and value offered.