Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car-maker has been local favorite for over two decades. The cars originating from the car-maker's production line has been known for reliability, performance and economy. The country witnessed the first version of Maruti Suzuki 800 back in early 80's. Back then, bulky looking cars were a common sight on the Indian streets. Revolutionary change came in from Maruti Suzuki with the launch of '800' hatchback which turned out to be an instant hit right from day one. The small car segment has been quite popular among middle class metropolitan commuters. The current generation of hatchbacks from Maruti Suzuki has evolved over time and the top three ruling the Indian streets are..
Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 Vxi is powered by F8D 796 cc engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, it generates a peak power of about 48 Bhp at 6000 rpm and peak torque of about 69 Nm at 3500 rpm. Features such as air conditioning, power steering and power windows come as standard in the Lxi version. Design for the car has undergone a complete overhaul in comparison to previous Alto model. The new Alto 800 is slightly taller and faster than its older counterpart. The car weighs around 715 kgs and with its peppier engine, it is perfect for city rides. The car is also loaded with features such as central locking, left side rear view mirror, rear spoiler, front power windows and body side moldings, driver side airbag, integrated audio system with USB port and full wheel caps.
The current generation Maruti Suzuki Swift carries a 1.2 litre petrol K-series engine. The motor in this car is refined and responds well to feet-tapping on the accelerator pedal. Handling has never been a problem with Swift since its launch in early 2000's. Based on reports, Swift's cabin space has been stated to be noise-free. Interiors of the new Swift feature more-or-less a similar pattern. The interiors are fairly decent with a black theme. The rear-seat legroom has been increased in comparison to the older model. Seats have also undergone changes with a good thigh and back support. A well designed chassis and improved suspension delivers a smoother ride in our unpredictable local road conditions. Moreover, its powerful engine stays upright and is ready for game!
The freshest of the lot from the Maruti Suzuki stable is the Celerio. The hatchback features EZDrive technology which is a comfortable replacement of the manual shift. It has been often considered that an automatic variant is low on efficiency and high on maintenance but the Celerio claims to be highly fuel efficient at 23.1 kmpl and also offer hassle free driving. The Auto Gear Shift system has no manual clutch and thus there are only two pedals. It is based on an electronic control unit which drives the precision hydraulic actuator to control the clutch engagement and the gear shifting. It also ensures that the gear and clutch operations happen at optimal timings. Some of the factors that are responsible for higher efficiency is the optimized compression ratio, reduced frictional losses, low viscosity engine oil, and re-designed valves and springs.
