We’ve had BS VI-compliant cars in India for a while now but all of them are from premium carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Now, however, a mainstream carmaker has joined that bandwagon. Maruti Suzuki has announced the pricing of the petrol-fed, BS VI-complaint Baleno. They start at Rs 5.58 lakh and go all the way up to Rs 8.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Within that bracket, the Baleno will be offered with two BS VI-compliant engines.

The first one is the existing 1.2-litre engine which has received both hardware and software upgrades to meet the stricter emission norms. Because of that, the prices have also gone up. If you opt for the Zeta MT or CVT variants, you’ll be paying Rs 11,000 more than before. For Sigma MT, Alpha MT and Alpha CVT, Maruti Suzuki is asking for an extra Rs 12,000. However, the biggest jump in pricing (with the existing engine) is in the Delta variants, both (MT and CVT) of which are now Rs 19,000 dearer.

The second engine is making its debut – a 1.2-litre petrol engine which comes coupled with SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) tech. Maruti Suzuki is yet to reveal the power and torque figures but in the UK, it is tuned to produce 90PS/120Nm. Compared to the existing but upgraded petrol engine, that’s 6PS/5Nm more. Thanks to the mild-hybrid technology, it is also more frugal with a claimed mileage of 23.87kmpl. The only transmission option available with this engine will be a 5-speed manual unit.

The new power-plant will be available in just two trims – Delta and Zeta. While the former will cost Rs 7.25 lakh, the latter will wear a price tag of Rs 7.86 lakh. Compare those prices with the Delta MT and Zeta MT variants which come with the lesser but upgraded petrol engine, there’s a difference of Rs 89,000. It remains to be seen what happens with the Baleno RS, which is powered by a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.

The Balneo is not only the bestselling premium hatchback in its segment but also one of the bestselling cars in the country. It holds more than 27 per cent of the market share in the A2+ segment. Since its launch in 2015, the Baleno has clocked over 5.5 lakh sales for Maruti Suzuki. In the last fiscal alone, during which the Baleno saw a growth of 11 per cent, the carmaker retailed more than 2 lakh units. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno received a mid-life update in January this year. The following month saw the carmaker triggering a voluntary recall for the hatchback.