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What to check: Suzuki Baleno

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Ranked across all years of the Suzuki Baleno, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 29.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 29.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 13.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Underneath, with a torchRuns high on this modelGet down and look at the sills, the subframes and the rear suspension mounting points. Flaking scale and bubbling matter; light surface rust does not. On older cars this is the one check that finds the fault that scraps them.Recorded on 2.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 1.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 26.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 10.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 3.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Check around the rocker cover and where the gearbox meets the driveshaft for oil staining or wetness.A leak here means a reseal job is due, budget upwards of ninety pounds.

Run the air conditioning on max cold for a few minutes during the test drive.Weak or warm air can mean a corroded condenser, a few hundred pounds to replace.

Watch the dashboard closely on start-up and while driving, especially the tyre pressure warning.Lights flickering on and off with no clear cause point to an electrical gremlin dealers have struggled to trace.

On SZ-T or SZ5 cars, pair a phone to the touchscreen and let it sit connected.Dropouts or failed pairing suggest the unit needs the software update, ask if it's already been done.

Lift off the throttle at low speed and let the car idle for a moment.Any rattle, tick or vibration as it decelerates or sits still is worth a specialist listen before you commit.

Check the service book for a full three-year, sixty-thousand-mile Suzuki warranty history.The Baleno sold in low numbers in the UK, so there's less owner data than usual, a complete paper trail matters more.

Compare the build date sticker (under the bonnet or on a door shut) against the registration date.A big gap means the car sat in stock a while, which can affect where you are in the warranty and service cycle.

Full Suzuki Baleno reliability report