Maruti Alto

The Alto 800 is a very easy vehicle to drive thanks to its modest size and great visibility. The Alto 800's size makes it easy to manoeuvre through small spaces and for city driving. The Suzuki insignia is now centrally located in a sleeker grille at the front of the Alto. The redesigned bumper design has sharper creases that give it a slightly sportier appearance. Both the headlight design and the blacked-out mesh pattern have nice aesthetics. Although there are facilities for them, fog lights are not a standard fitment. When viewed from the side, the 12-inch steel wheels with 145/80 R12 profile tyres look good with the hatchback.

Maruti Alto is available in six colour options - Silky Silver, Mojito Green, Uptown Red, Pearl White, Cerulean Blue and Granite Grey. Maruti Alto has a length of 3445 mm, a width of 1515 mm and a height of 1475 mm. It has a wheelbase of 2360 mm that is good for a car of this size and carries a ground clearance of 160 mm. It should be noted that the length of the Alto has been increased by 50 mm from the older model. This additional length is because of the new bumper design that helps the Alto comply with the new pedestrian norms. The hatchback has a fuel tank capacity of 35 litres and has a sufficient luggage carrying capacity of 177 litres.

Source: Maruti Alto 800

Like the exterior, the cabin of the Alto is well laid out. The Alto 800 is not very big in terms of dimensions, which results in a bit cramped interior. Although the front seat capacity is adequate, the back seat space is still subpar. In terms of interior design, it looks modern with the dual-tone black and beige colour scheme and is sufficiently airy. Silver accents can be found on the steering wheel, AC vents, door handles and around the infotainment system. Features-wise, the Maruti Alto comes equipped with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that hosts modern connectivity features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get Bluetooth and Aux-in compatibility.

Maruti Alto gets manual HVAC function, 12V pocket socket, full folding rear seats, cup holders at front and rear, front power windows, internally adjustable outside rear view mirrors, front door pockets, roof-mounted antenna, headlight leveller, two speakers, central locking and 4-way manually adjustable drivers and front passenger seat. According to us, it is the LXI(O) variant that is the most value-for-money option for someone who is on a strict budget. 

The seats of the Maruti Alto are decent, given the price of this hatchback. On longer journeys, one might want extra bolstering for better support. It also misses out on the height adjustment feature for the driver. Overall, it is a strict 4-seater hatchback with little room for a middle passenger at rear.

When it comes to long-term dependability, the Maruti Alto 800 is among the finest vehicles in its class. This car will undoubtedly be a terrific partner for long-term use because all of the mechanical components and the powertrain have a solid track record. Maruti Alto is powered by a 0.8-litre BS6 compliant, three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine. This petrol motor churns out 47 bhp of maximum power at 6000 RPM and a peak torque of 69 Nm at 3500 RPM. Maruti Alto also gets a bi-fuel option. This option is factory-fitted with a CNG kit and Maruti has named it ‘S-CNG’. This fuel option is available only with LXI and LXI(O) variants. Maruti Alto CNG churns out 40.3 bhp of maximum power at 6000 RPM and a peak torque of 60 Nm. A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard on both the variants.

The petrol engine of the Alto may not have impressive figures on the paper but you should not forget the low weight of the hatchback. It is because of its lightweight structure that Alto does not feel underpowered at all. The car feels great to drive in the city and quick overtaking is quite easy. Even driving the hatchback in bumper to bumper traffic is pretty easy as one doesn’t require to frequently shift gears. However, it won’t perform as well when fully loaded. The ARAI certified mileage of the Maruti Alto is rated at 22.05 kmpl. 

The power figures are even lower for the CNG variant and this is something that you’d feel as soon as you get behind the wheel. The car struggles on flyovers with the AC being kept ON and does not perform well when it is fully loaded. However, this is a car that is meant for driving in the city or for very rare highway usage. The ARAI certified fuel efficiency is rated at 31.59 km/kg, which makes the car quite economical. One drawback of the CNG Alto is the lack of boot space. One does not even get the rear parcel tray to hide the cylinder. 

In urban conditions, one won’t have any complaints with the ride quality offered by the Maruti Suzuki Alto. Moreover, there’s too much road and tyre noise at over 80 kmph. At the corners, the Alto does have a minimal amount of body roll and the steering, while being devoid of weight, is pretty direct. The car's suspension arrangement has been modified to be on the softer side, giving it a manageable ride over the bumps and rough areas.

Maruti Alto gets power steering from the LXI variant onwards and its light nature helps one easily manoeuvre through congested streets. The three-point turns are managed easily, thanks to the low turning radius of 4.6 metres. At sharp turns, the steering wheel is quick to respond, but at highway speeds, it requires a little input to keep the vehicle in a straight line. Maruti Alto is offered with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The performance of the brakes of this hatchback is satisfactory. 

Maruti Alto is equipped with a decent amount of safety features according to its price. It boasts twin airbags, rear parking sensors, and ABS with EBD as standard equipment. a high-speed alert system. It also gets front seat belt warning, brake assist, engine immobilizer, central locking, rear child lock and smart reverse parking sensors. The VXI and the VXI+ variants of the Maruti Alto get dual front airbags as standard. 

Maruti Alto gets a collapsible steering column. Also known as the energy absorbing column, it ensures a reduction in the risk of injuries caused to the driver in case of a frontal crash. This new model of Alto is not yet tested by the Global NCAP. The previous model that came without airbags scored a zero-star rating in the Global NCAP test. For adult occupant protection, it scored zero points out of 17 while it bagged 18.21 points out of 49 in child occupant protection. The body shell of the car was rated unstable.