The Alto K10 brand name made a comeback earlier this month. With prices starting from Rs 3.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) this new entry level hatchback has garnered a lot of interest from prospective buyers. We drove the car recently in Kerala (read review) and did come back impressed. If you are in the market for a small hatchback, do read the article till the end to know pros and cons of this new product from Maruti Arena
Maruti Alto K10 Pros
Performance
The new Alto K10 comes with the same updated motor that powers the 2022 S-Presso as well. While the power and torque figures are respectable for the segment, what sets the Alto K10 apart is the peppy performance on offer. The car does very well in both city traffic and open roads. Infact, getting to 100 km/h is an easy affair and likewise, overtaking slower moving cars is easy. There is also ample torque available at lower engine revs which means downshifting isn't always required. Icing on the cake is the availability of an optional AGS semi-automatic gearbox.
Mileage
The updated dual-jet engine scores high marks when it comes to fuel economy. The 2022 Maruti Alto K10 comes with a certified economy of upto 24.9 kmpl (depending on the variant you pick) and this will go down well with buyers. On our 250km mileage run that included a mix of city roads, open highway and hilly terrain, the car returned over 21 kmpl with the air-con running. Do have a look at that video below
Spacious cabin
This is an all-new product and does not share anything with the earlier Alto K10. Maruti has worked hard to get more space on the inside and this was evident during our drive. Infact, two 6 feet tall people can sit one behind the other in the car. There is ample head room too. That said, the rear bench is best for 2 adults and one kid. The boot of the Alto k10 has also grown in size - from 117 litres on the previous generation model to 214 on this one.
Easy to drive
The 2022 Alto K10 remains an easy to drive city car. This will go down well with first time car users. Good visibility, light controls, a tight turning radius and a responsive engine are the elements that make this a very good car for congested roads. Likewise, the optional AGS also adds to the convenient factor.
Maruti Alto K10 Cons
Lack of features
The top end 2022 Alto K10 carries a sticker price of Rs 5.84 lakh (ex-showroom). At this cost point, some users will find a lot of features missing. For instance, there is no manual day/night mirror on the inside. The driver's seat is not adjustable for height and the steering rack is fixed as well. While we don't expect alloy wheels at this cost point, the outside mirrors could have been body coloured.
Design language
While this is a subjective matter, most comments on our social media handles do bring up this point. The 'Alto K10' name has always stood out for performance / sportiness and we expected the design to complement this theme. Instead, the car looks a bit bland and carries a 'cute' appeal in terms of the headlamps and tail lights. The Renault Kwid for instance, does stand out in this regard.
Verdict
Apart from these two little shortcomings, the 2022 Maruti Alto K10 does come across as a great package. It will appeal to a wide set of audience including those living in smaller towns, far flung places and around hilly terrains. Would you pick this? Let us know in our TELEGRAM group.
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