I was coming from a diesel car and was worried about the petrol costs. The Baleno, however, has been a pleasant surprise. It's not diesel level efficient, but it's close enough to make me happy.

I do miss the sharp handling sometimes, as they come from a Honda. The extra space in the Baleno makes up for it, and I've never had the extra space in the Baleno when I've been hauling stuff or have passengers.

I've been in the auto business, and I can tell you that the Baleno's build is clever, actually. Key areas have been made of high strength steel, with overall weight kept down. This is a modern way of designing cars.

It's okay, nothing special. The gripe about the touchscreen that’s laggy at times and “Hey Suzuki” voice commands that are hit or miss are all true. Half the time I just end up using my phone.

It’s a personal preference; I think it depends on how you drive. But the AMT, although as well executed as the Geartronic and almost as competent, can be surprisingly smooth if you're not in a hurry to go anywhere. It’s all about driving adaptation.