AUSTRALIANS probably need another small car like they need another change of government. And there’s been plenty of both lately.

Just why Suzuki deemed it necessary to introduce the Baleno small car when it already has a string of compact-car choices – everything from the S-Cross crossover wagon to the enduring Swift and street-biased Vitara – is a mystery.

The upside is that while it is a few centimetres longer than the Swift, the Baleno is a more refined car with a level of comfort and road confidence that could produce a buyer rethink about the brand.

The problem is that it has to be driven to be appreciated. And then, what model? Tested here is the silky-smooth turbocharged petrol version but budget buyers may be equally swayed by the entry-level 1.4-litre petrol variant.

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