:Suzuki Cultus Crescent

File:Suzuki Baleno.jpg|Suzuki Baleno hatchback with alternative grille (pre-facelift, Italy)

File:Suzuki Baleno front 20080220.jpg|Suzuki Baleno hatchback (Germany)

File:Suzuki Baleno rear 20080220.jpg|Suzuki Baleno hatchback (Germany)

Suzuki Baleno sedan (rear).jpg|Suzuki Baleno sedan (Indonesia)

File:Suzuki Baleno 1.6 GLX-SE Wagon 1998 (rear) (cropped).jpg|Suzuki Baleno wagon (Chile)

The Cultus Crescent was introduced in Japan in January 1995{{cite web|title=History 1990–|url=http://www.globalsuzuki.com/corporate/history/1990.html|work=Global Suzuki|publisher=Suzuki Motor Corporation|access-date=20 May 2021}} and then to the global market in the first half of 1995. It was Suzuki's first attempt in the competitive compact segment. As a North American replacement for the Suzuki Cultus (Swift) sedan (the three-door hatchback remained after it was redesigned in 1995), it was built on a slightly stretched Cultus platform for improved cabin room, but otherwise sharing most of internal components with the smaller model—and marketed as a distinct model.

The Cultus Crescent was initially available as a three-door hatchback and four-door sedan, with the SOHC belt driven 16-valve G-family engines, in 1.3- and 1.5-litre form, with power ranging from {{convert|85|to|97|PS|hp kW|0|abbr=on}}. The 1.3-litre was only offered in the hatch while a 1.5-litre was only fitted to the sedan. Eventually, four-wheel drive was offered with the 1.6-litre variant in February 1996,{{cite web|url=https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/catalog/SUZUKI__CULTUS_CRESCENT/#2/1996|title=SUZUKI CUTUS CRESCENT|access-date=20 May 2021|website=www.goo-net-exchange.com}} basically the same engine as found in the Suzuki Escudo, with power raised to {{convert|115|PS|hp kW|0|abbr=on}}. At the same time, 1.8-litre DOHC chain driven 16-valve J18A engine with {{convert|135|PS|hp kW|0|abbr=on}} appeared,{{cite web|url=https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/catalog/SUZUKI__CULTUS_CRESCENT_WAGON/5501777/|title=SUZUKI CUTUS CRESCENT WAGON GT|access-date=20 May 2021|website=www.goo-net-exchange.com}} the lineup was also extended with the wagon body style, called Cultus Crescent Wagon GT. This was Suzuki's first station wagon (excluding kei cars), also with the same 1.6-litre, which also received the optional four-wheel drive in the wagon.

In Europe, the 1.5-litre engine was not available for sale. The 1.8-litre engines was exclusively fitted to GTX sport model and was rated at {{convert|121|PS|hp kW|0|abbr=on}} (EEC).{{cite web|url=https://www.veikl.com/d/Suzuki-Baleno-1-8-GTX-Brochure-1996-DE-EN-FR-36476/6|title=Suzuki Baleno 1.8 GTX Brochure 1996 DE EN FR - Page 6|website=www.veikl.com|access-date=20 May 2021}} A commercial van with higher roof was also available in several European countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.veikl.com/d/Suzuki-Baleno-Brochure-1999-NL-36393|title=Suzuki Baleno Brochure 1999 NL|language=Dutch|website=www.veikl.com|access-date=20 May 2021}}

Cultus Crescent also assembled in Colombia at GM Colmotores in 1995, marketed as Chevrolet Esteem and only available as sedan with 1.3-and 1.6-litre engines. Suzuki also produced this car locally in Indonesia, which was launched in July 1996 as replacement of previous Cultus sedan (marketed as Esteem there) and sold as Suzuki Baleno and only available as sedan with {{convert|118|PS|hp kW|0|abbr=on}} 1.6-litre engine and 5-speed manual transmission. The Suzuki Esteem was introduced in the Philippines in 1996 and sold until 2000, and was only available as a wagon. Suzuki then dropped the "Esteem" name in favour of Chevrolet, who had just been returning in the Philippine-market to have at least one sedan model to compete with other popular Japanese-made sedans.

File:99-00 Suzuki Esteem sedan.jpg|Suzuki Esteem sedan (first facelift, US)

File:99-02 Suzuki Esteem wagon rear.jpg|Suzuki Esteem wagon (first facelift, US), with North American specification tail lights.

File:2000 Suzuki Baleno (SY416) GL hatchback (2011-12-06).jpg|Suzuki Baleno hatchback (first facelift, Australia)

File:Suzuki Baleno 1.6 Wagon 2003 (36182573346).jpg|Suzuki Baleno wagon (second facelift, Chile)

File:Suzuki Cultus 002 (cropped).JPG|Suzuki Cultus sedan (Japan), dropped the "Crescent" suffix in 1998.

File:Suzuki Cultus 004 (cropped).JPG|Suzuki Cultus Wagon (Japan)

File:Balint255.jpg|Suzuki Baleno interior (facelift; Pakistan)

Suzuki restyled the Cultus Crescent and renamed it Cultus (for the Japanese market only) in mid-1998. In this year, both India and Pakistan started producing Baleno in their countries.{{cite web|url=https://carspiritpk.com/globally-retired-cars-pakistan/|title=Globally Retired Cars in Pakistan|date=10 November 2019|access-date=20 May 2021|first =Usman | last = Ansari|website=carspiritpk.com}}{{cite web|url=https://gomechanic.in/blog/the-original-maruti-baleno/|title=The Original Maruti Baleno and Why rally enthusiasts love it?|first=Ritvik | last = Gupta|date=23 April 2020|access-date=20 May 2021}} Unique for Pakistan, Baleno was produced with pre-facelift front end (but facelifted in 2002), only available as a sedan and powered with 1.3- and 1.6-litre petrol engines.{{cite web|url=https://www.pakwheels.com/blog/suzuki-baleno-failure/|title=Suzuki Baleno And Its Failure| first = Laman | last = Samo|date=10 July 2015|access-date=20 May 2021}} While in India, the wagon body style also produced there and marketed as Baleno Altura{{cite book | title = Automobil Revue 2002 | editor-last = Nötzli | editor-first = Max | publisher = Büchler Grafino AG | ref = AR02 | location = Berne, Switzerland | language = de, fr | page = 550 | volume = 97 | date = 7 March 2002 | isbn = 3-905386-02-X}}{{cite web|url=https://gomechanic.in/blog/maruti-suzuki-baleno-altura/|title=Maruti Suzuki Baleno Altura, When Maruti tried making a Station Wagon!| first = Ritvik | last = Gupta|date=24 July 2020|access-date=20 May 2021}} and also the only country that produced Cultus wagon outside Japan. In North America, the changeover took place with the 1999 model year. The engine lineup was expanded to include Suzuki's J18A chain-driven DOHC engine that was fitted to the sedan and wagon. The Esteem 1.8-litre wagon completely replaced the Esteem 1.6, but in most markets the 1.8 sedan became the sports model. In some European markets, the 1.8-litre was installed in the hatchback and sold as the limited edition Baleno GSR.Automobil Revue 2002, p. 551 Europe also gained a turbodiesel version, with a SOHC belt driven 8-valve {{convert|75|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} XUD9 engine supplied by Peugeot.

In 1999, Indonesian market Baleno received new 1.5-litre petrol engine, replacing the old 1.6-litre engine, as the country imposed higher tax for cars with engine above 1.5-litre starting in the late 1990s.{{cite web|url=https://www.mobilmotorlama.com/2016/10/suzuki-baleno-baleno-millenium.html|title=Suzuki Baleno & Baleno Millenium|language=Indonesian| first = Charis | last = Alfan|date=28 October 2016|access-date=20 May 2021|website=www.mobilmotorlama.com}} 4-speed automatic transmission was later added in 2000.

In the Philippines, the facelift model was introduced in 2000 as the Chevrolet Cassia. Suzuki chose to drop the Esteem in the market in favor of Chevrolet Philippines, who have been re-introduced at that time to have an entry-level sedan competing against other Japanese-made sedans. Chevrolet's first sedan to be offered in the country for a new decade was not a market success. The 1.6-litre SOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder which made {{convert|97|PS|hp kW|0|abbr=on}} was the only engine choice offered and had fewer features than the rest of its rivals. Its main competitors were the Ford Lynx, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and the Mitsubishi Lancer. Due to poor sales, production ended in 2002, just 2 years after it was introduced. After its discontinuation, the car was replaced by the Chevrolet Optra.

A minor facelift appeared in 2001, with only changes on the front grille. For the Indonesian market, this facelift appeared with new white coloured rear blinkers and later arrived in India around 2006.

The Cultus was replaced in most markets by the new Aerio/Liana, which was launched in 2001.{{cite web | url = http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/carfamilytree?ReadForm&ID=DF1DFEC05C99353CCA257125001A165F | title = Suzuki Liana (Liana) | work = GoAuto | access-date = 11 January 2011}} In Japan, the sedan was discontinued in November 2001,{{cite web | url = http://www.goo-net.com/catalog/SUZUKI/CULTUS/index.html | script-title = ja:スズキ カルタス 1989年7月(平成元年7月)〜2001年11月(平成13年11月)　グレード一覧 |trans-title=Suzuki Cultus grade list: July 1989 to November 2001 | language = ja | work = Goo-net | publisher = Proto Corporation | access-date = 11 January 2011}} although the wagon remained until August 2002.{{cite web | url = http://www.goo-net.com/catalog/SUZUKI/CULTUS_WAGON/index.html | script-title = ja:スズキ カルタスワゴン 1998年5月(平成10年5月)〜2002年8月(平成14年8月)　グレード一覧 |trans-title=Suzuki Cultus Wagon grade list: May 1998 to August 2002 | language = ja | work = Goo-net | publisher = Proto Corporation | access-date = 11 January 2011}} The entire range was pulled from the market in Europe and North America in 2002, after one year of overlapping with the Aerio/Liana. The car remained available in many developing countries, including India and Southeast Asia, where it was sold until 2007, when production stopped at the Maruti factory, with the assembly line giving way to the SX4 sedan.

A yellow Suzuki Esteem (with one red door) is used as Jimmy McGill's car in the AMC TV show Better Call Saul for most of the show.{{cite web | url = http://jalopnik.com/why-better-call-sauls-crappy-suzuki-esteem-is-such-an-i-1684976867 | title = Better Call Saul's Crappy Suzuki Esteem Is An Inspired Choice | work = Jalopnik | last = George | first = Patrick | date = 2015-10-02 | publisher = Gizmodo }}{{cite web | url = https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/better-call-saul-cars| title = The cars in Better Call Saul are perfect casting | work =GQ | last = Henderson| first = Paul| date = 2020-04-13 }}

Suzuki Baleno regularly finished in the top five spots of A6 class, mostly in Rally New Zealand from 1997 to 2001.{{cite web|url=http://tech-racingcars.wikidot.com/suzuki-baleno-g31s|title=Suzuki Baleno G31S group A (1996)|access-date=21 May 2021|website=tech-racingcars.wikidot.com}}{{cite web|url=http://tech-racingcars.wikidot.com/suzuki-baleno-gc41w-wagon-kit-car|title=Suzuki Baleno GC41W Wagon Kit Car (1997)|access-date=21 May 2021|website=tech-racingcars.wikidot.com}} The Baleno also received a cult following in India among rally enthusiasts.{{cite web|url=https://www.india.com/car-and-bike/car-articles/car-features/the-great-indian-rally-cars-3311754/|title=The great Indian rally cars|date=11 October 2011|access-date=21 May 2021|website=www.india.com}}

In 2000, Suzuki entered a heavy modified Suzuki Cultus sedan for competing in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. It featured two turbocharged J20A inline-four engines, with a combined power output of {{convert|800|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} with {{convert|90|kg.m|N.m lb.ft|0|abbr=on}} of torque.{{cite web|url=https://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/motor/00/pikes/index.htm|title=SUZUKI SPORT TWIN-ENGINE CULTUS SPECIFICATIONS|language=Japanese|access-date=21 May 2021|website=www.suzuki.co.jp}} Driven by the last year's runner up, Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima, it failed to finish the race due an accident that wrecked the car.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewcPsjFSykA&list=RDCMUCCWPy8e7TkqGZH4zt4TiTNw&index=1|title=800Hp Suzuki Esteem Twin-Engine // Tajima's Rare Pikes Peak Monster|website=YouTube |access-date=21 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}

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Cultus Crescent

Category:Cars introduced in 1995

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