Maruti Suzuki Alto

The new Alto looks practically the same as the older version. If any change is visible in its exterior, that would be the trunk door. The design engineer has done an excellent job in bringing a change in the appearance of the car’s rear portion without much of an investment. He has in fact reduced investment by opting for a Maruti Suzuki sticker rather than a chrome plated badge. The new Alto also comes with tubeless tyres, clear lens head lamps and sparkling tail lamps, all of which provide its novel appeal. 

The new Alto’s interiors have had a thorough facelift. For starters, the new Alto’s front seats now come with integrated headrests. So there is no need to bother with adjusting these. The dual tone dashboard is very appealing. A new speedometer with a digital fuel gauge has been incorporated to provide a more accurate indication of the amount of fuel in the vehicle.

Another important feature of the new Alto is that it comes with iCATS (intelligent Computerized Anti Theft System) whereby the car can only be started with its original key. This means that in case the ignition key is lost, it cannot be started with a duplicate key. The solution is to use the original alternative key provided by the company itself or to change the ignition key set entirely.

The new Alto comes with a 796 cc 3 cylinder engine delivering power output of 47bhp and torque of 62 NM. The gearbox is 5-speed synchromesh. Other details include ground clearance of 160mm, turning circle radius of 4.6m, and a tyre size of 145/80 R12. Price ranges from 2.36 to 2.85 lacs (ex-showroom Bangalore) for metallic colour versions. Non-metallic costs lesser by Rs. 4000. 

I took the Alto for a testdrive. The Alto is not only famous for its cute looks, but its small size and ease of driving provided for a simple and easy drive within heavy traffic conditions.

Compared to the old model, the new Alto provides an even more fatigue free experience with its superior cushioning and tubeless tyres. The turning radius of 4.6m is awesome and makes city driving a breeze. The multi-flow cooling AC is very effective in giving additional comfort as well.

Though surely not a high powered car, the low weight provides for zippy driving within the city. Acceleration and braking are fair and it’s an easy car to drive.

When I took it to the highway for a faster drive, we could require a somewhat faster acceleration, but given the engine capacity it’s fair. Moreover, I found the car stability quite good and attractive. 

In its class, the key competition for the Alto is the Spark, and indeed the Maruti Suzuki stable itself. The Alto holds a unique place in the small car segment as its power of 47 bhp is greater than that of a Maruti Suzuki 800 and lesser than that of other cars in the 60 bhp and above bracket. The A-Star, Estilo and new Wagon R also come with 3 cylinder engines but boast higher power output ranging from 66 to 68bhp, and hence at a higher price.

The fact that Maruti Suzuki has decided to retain the same engine and design with only minor modifications indicates the company’s confidence in this Alto model. The car boasts highest sales figures in the country. For those who appreciated its looks, usefulness and reliability but were apprehensive to purchase the car between January and March, fearing it would be discontinued and hence affect its resale value, you need no longer worry.

The only drawback of the new Alto is its price tag which could have been lesser by at least another 25,000. A reduction of this amount would surely invite a tremendous response.