Toyota Glanza

Toyota Glanza

The Toyota Glanza is a rebadged Baleno from Maruti Suzuki, as we all know. The cross-badging strategy for the same model has not eaten into the Baleno’s sales figures. Rather, while the Baleno continues to go strong in the premium hatchback category, the Glanza has also notched up good sales figures for Toyota. Both companies are sharing technologies and models for consolidating their market positions in the category. Toyota has also done the same thing with the Urban Cruiser, which is a rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. The Toyota Glanza offers all the good bits of the Baleno, plus that extra bit of refinement that is expected from a Toyota car. 

How is the Design? 

Toyota has worked extensively to make the Glanza seem a little different from the Baleno in its latest avatar. There are new and eye-catching headlights with L-shaped LED DRLs (daytime running lights). There is a chrome band linking them, making the car appear wider than before, while also giving the front fascia more of a Toyota Camry Hybrid influence. There is a bull-horn touch near the air dam I front which is a bold touch, while the carbon fibre design is another masterstroke. The car gets decent chrome treatment for a flashier look and feel, while there are now 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels as well. The rear and sides remain absolutely similar to the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. The Glanza is slightly shorter and smaller, although the wheelbase remains the same. 

What’s the Interior like?

The Toyota Glanza now gets refurbished interiors, with a brand new dashboard and premium components. The black and beige theme looks refined, while adding a sophisticated touch to the interiors. Siler and piano black highlights make for a nice touch, along with the flat-bottomed steering wheel, the brand new free-standing infotainment touch screen, and the new climate control setup. The biggest attraction is a 9-inch touch screen infotainment unit with voice commands, Apple CarPlay, and connected car technologies through the smartphone app. There is a top-notch Arkamys audio system. 

However, there are still a few niggles, i.e. the lack of good visibility at some angles, an excessively reflective screen, and moderate sound output which lacks the thump that you would expect. Ergonomics are top-notch and you can find the right position easily with the telescopic and tilt steering, in tandem with several seat adjustment options. The cushioning is excessively soft for the seats however, and it may lead to some aches and pains while covering long distances. There is sizable space at the back, although tall passengers may not always be really comfortable. The seat width could also have been a little more, making it suitable for three people rather than two, which is the case at present. However, the Glanza now gets rear charging and air conditioning vents. Boot space has come down to 318 litres from 339 litres earlier. The high-set boot lip makes loading and unloading luggage something of a workout. There is a 360-degree camera which helps while parking in narrow/tight zones. Toyota also has a retractable HUD (heads-up display) which comes out from the dashboard. The Glanza also gets more safety features than before, although features like wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and wireless charging are missing, along with a sunroof. 

Toyota has also taken steps in the right direction by equipping the Glanza with new safety kit such as ESP, hill-start assist and six airbags. 

Tech and Infotainment?

The Toyota Glanza comes with a 9 inch touch screen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, connected car technologies (app-based) and voice commands, in tandem with an Arkamys sound system. There is also a 360-degree camera, along with a retractable HUD (heads-up-display), which comes out from the dashboard. 

How does it perform?

The K12N petrol engine in the Glanza churns out 90 hp and 113 Nm of maximum torque. There is no CVT unit anymore and a 5-speed AMT slots into the picture now. This enhances fuel economy greatly for the automatic variant. There is also a 5-speed manual transmission unit which is more efficient than before. The four cylinder engine is one of the punchiest in the segment, offering a sporty-enough experience in the city while the overall feel is refined and quiet. The performance may be a little toned-down in the current avatar, although crank the throttle, and it will engage responsively, with another lease of life after 4,500 RPM, and a pleasing engine note. 

The manual gearbox is super-smooth and the hydraulic clutch is extremely light, making the overall experience seamless for drivers. The 5-speed AMT may have its share of detractors, considering how most rivals have CVT and dual-clutch options in the category. The AMT helps achieve the best possible gear swiftly for maximum efficiency. It works well amidst light traffic conditions although higher traffic may hinder the possibilities of maintaining consistent speeds. 

How’s the Driving Experience?

The driving experience is refined and quiet. The engine is not switched off automatically when the car idles. If the cabin temperature goes beyond preset temperatures on the climate control console, then it will do this when the clutch pedal is depressed in the manual variant. It may also happen in the automatic variant, when the foot is taken off the brake pedal. Overall driving manners are crisp and refined. The suspension system has now been revamped for the Glanza, resulting in improved ride quality at lower speeds. This is one of the best suspension setups in the segment, taking bumps and potholes with ease. 

At higher speeds on the highway, however, the ride is not as luxurious as one would expect. One can feel shocks in the cabin and this is something that should have been eliminated by Toyota. The steering is more fluid and light while it also comes back naturally to the centre, which is a positive aspect. 

How’s the Mileage?

The Toyota Glanza offers reasonably good fuel economy in this segment. 

Safety Equipment

Toyota has added several handy safety features to the Glanza. These include six airbags, hill-start assist, ESP and ABS/EBD. The car also comes with automatic door locking by speed, hill hold control (only for the AMT version), vehicle stability control, immobilizer, high-speed alerts, and more. 

Which variant to buy? 

The Toyota Glanza has S and E variants, which lower the overall entry price for buyers. The top-end trims are feature packed, and come with the 9-inch touch screen, 360-degree camera, and the HUD (heads-up display), which is a nifty addition to the feature list. The entry-level E variant is competitively priced, while getting two airbags, ABS, EBD, and rear parking sensors along with automatic air conditioning, LED tail lamps, halogen projector headlamps, a 5-speed manual gearbox, and rear defogger. The S variant is comparatively costlier by a lakh or so and has additions like turn indicators, blacked-out pillars, body colored door handles and wing mirrors, a seven-inch touch screen infotainment unit with four speakers, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, and also steering mounted controls. There is also hill-start assist for the AMT option along with ESP and a parcel shelf in the boot. There are power adjustable mirrors too for this variant. 

The G variant gets you into mid-range territory and the prices automatically rise by another lakh or slightly less. This has both 5-speed manual and AMT choices along with add-ons like LED projector headlamps, alloy wheels, rear washer and wiper, automatic headlamps, a color 4.2 inch TFT, voice commands, 7-inch touch screen with SmartPlay Cast Pro remote control app and other connectivity features, six airbags, keyless entry, rear parking camera, rear AC, seat adjustability, 60:40 split for the rear seats, USB charging at the rear, adjustable rear headrests, and so on. This is the variant that offers great value to buyers. 

If you want nothing but the best, i.e. the top-end variant, and are willing to pay another lakh more, then choose the Glanza V option. This gets LED fog lamps and DRLs, UV-protect glass, the nine-inch touch screen infotainment unit with OTA updates, connectivity features galore, HUD, 360-degree parking camera, Arkamys audio system, cruise control, auto-dimming interior rear view mirror and auto-folding wing mirrors. Naturally, this is equipped with all the features that are expected at this price point. 

Which Cars Compete in this Segment?

The Toyota Glanza takes on the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, its near-identical model, and the Hyundai i20, along with the Tata Altroz. The Hyundai i20 is the costliest model in this category, while the Glanza is slightly costlier than the Baleno due to the Toyota badge and some differentiators. The Glanza has visual tweaks and a few added features, although it is mostly the same as the Baleno. Hence, some may choose it for the Toyota badge, especially the little refinements here and there. The Glanza is slightly more expensive than the Baleno as well. 

The Altroz is the most affordable option in the premium hatchback category. The Altroz and i20 both have diesel engine options, which are absent for the Baleno and the Toyota Glanza. The Baleno offers the most reasonably-priced automatic-petrol choice in the category. CVT-automatic options are available with the Hyundai i20 while the i20 turbo-petrol model has a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission system, making it the costliest in this category.

Verdict

You will appreciate the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Glanza along with its decent feature list and striking design. The Glanza serves as a value-proposition for most buyers, although the AMT option may not be to everyone’s liking. In fact, some may call it a step or two backwards. 

The seats become a little uncomfortable for long highway drives, and at highway speeds, road shocks can be felt in the cabin. However, buyers seeking a premium, feature-equipped, and stylish hatchback with an automatic option, will gravitate towards the Toyota Glanza. The AMT version may not be powerful enough to trounce the Baleno and even the i20. However, the manual variant stands a strong choice with its competitive pricing, excellent driving manners, and of course, great refinement. Fuel efficiency and the Toyota badge may tilt more buyers towards the Glanza ultimately.