Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), the country's favourite passenger car maker, launched the most awaited car of the year, the Alto 800 entry-level small car in the domestic market on October 16, 2012. Pegged as the next Maruti 800 by the top industry experts, the freshly launched Alto 800 modifies all the conceptions people had with the Maruti Suzuki vehicles.
The 2012 Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is set to begin nightmares for the other entry-level car operators like Tata Motors, Chevrolet India and Hyundai Motor India Limited. MSIL has pitched its fresh new Alto 800 directly against the likes of Hyundai Eon, Chevrolet Spark and top most model of the Tata Nano.
The facelifted Alto model comes trimmed with a 0.8 litre, 796 cc, 3 cylinder petrol power-mill, which churns out a peak power of 47 bhp and a decent torque of 69 Nm. MSIL is believed to have tweaked the 796 cc F8D engine that now delivers an incredible mileage of over 22 km per litre. Further, the availability of the factory fitted CNG kits in the Green Alto 800 variants is an added boost in its favour and the car looks certain towards becoming the next mass puller for the country's favourite passenger car maker.
Hyundai Eon currently registers the maximum number of sales in the Indian entry-level car segment and has been pronounced a value-for-money vehicle by top industry boffins, a title that has been closely associated with Maruti Suzuki products. Coming to the engine specifications, the Hyundai Eon comes with a 814 cc, 3 cylinder, petrol SOHC 9 Valve power-mill, that delivers a peak power and torque equation of 56 bhp and 76 Nm, respectively. Evidently, the Eon beats easily the Alto 800 in terms of power and performance, but the differential may not deter most Indian buyers from considering the Alto 800 as a genuine entry-level option. However, the Hyundai Eon couldn't compete against Alto 800's brilliant lineage of having being a Maruti Suzuki product. If we compare the availability and pricing of parts, components along with the maintenance requirements, the new Alto 800 definitely has a jump over Hyundai Eon.
Chevrolet Spark is another entry-level car in the competition of Hyundai Eon and Maruti Suzuki Alto 800. The Spark hatch comes with a 995 cc petrol motor that rolls out a maximum power-torque output of 62 bhp and 90 Nm, respectively. Evidently, the Chevy out performs the likes of Eon and Alto 800 due to its bigger engine. However, the car failed to inspire Indians due to the lack of service centres of Chevrolet and General Motors in the small towns and cities of the country.
The competition in the entry-level car segment has been intensified with the arrival of Alto 800 and it is going to be interesting to note whether the Indian audience goes towards the reliability of Maruti Suzuki or the futuristic looks of the Hyundai Eon.
