Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

The Alto drives quite reliably on city roads, although you should not expect an ultra-luxurious experience. The car seems to be more refined when idling, without vibrations, even engine noise levels have come down significantly. However, there is still that sluggish pace and feel of the engine, while the throttle responses feel lethargic as well, particularly when the air conditioning unit is turned on. Power delivery feels jerky and choppy at times, with a spring-like clutch with short travel and adequate lightness. However, the five-speed manual transmission unit shifts smoothly, making the Alto a great option for city rides.

The ARAI-figures claim fuel economy of 22.05 kmpl which is lower than 24.7 kmpl earlier. This has resulted from emission-linked changes and the higher weight of the car.

The Alto has several additional safety features currently. Maruti Suzuki has already boosted the front fascia of the car to adhere to the new crash-testing regulations. The Alto is now 50mm longer than its previous version, which stood at 3,395 mm. This length increase has been necessitated by the new design for the bumper, which helps the car adhere to the regulations for pedestrian safety as well. The Alto offers driver’s airbags as standard features for all variants, in tandem with EBD, ABS, rear parking sensors, and front passenger and driver seat-belt reminders. There is also a speed alert system. These are now compulsory safety features in the country. The base and mid-range trims have optional passenger airbags, while the top-end trim (VXi) comes with dual airbags. These added safety features considerably enhance the appeal of the car to buyers at this price point.

The Alto has three variants available for buyers, namely the base model (Std), mid-range variant (LXi) and the top-end trim (VXi). The first two variants are also available with an optional package which integrates the passenger-side airbag in front, for an added cost. The base variant is truly affordable, getting ABS and EBD, reverse parking sensors, a driver’s side airbag, front seatbelt reminder, speed limit warning, and dual-tone interior theme as standard features. However, it does not have air conditioning and power steering. You can add a passenger airbag with the O variant. (optional)

The mid-range LXi trim is costlier and comes with the optional passenger airbag choice as well. This variant comes with power steering, powered windows in front, air conditioning, retractable seatbelts at the rear, silver interior accents, remote boot and fuel lid opener, rear child locks, and body-colored mirrors and handles. The top-end VXi trim is the priciest model in the line-up, although it is not priced a lot higher than the LXi variant. It gets all the features mentioned earlier, along with the factory-audio system with USB, Bluetooth, and other connectivity features. It also gets remote central locking, a rear parcel tray, 12V power socket, and two front speakers, along with internally adjustable mirrors.

If you do not mind paying slightly more for all the features and comforts, then you should go for the VXi variant of the Alto. However, if you are looking for something that saves you money, while being decently equipped, then the LXi variant is also a good option. This comes with all the basic features that you require. You only miss out on the audio system and power socket essentially, along with a few other extras. If you are comfortable skipping the same, then you can choose the LXi variant of the Alto.

The entry-level hatchback segment has been ruled by the Alto 800 for several years now. The revamped 2019 version of the Alto has been competing with the Renault Kwid and Datsun Redi-Go in its segment. All three hatchbacks have compact designs, although the Renault Kwid is still the biggest, by way of its length, wheelbase, and width. The Kwid also has the biggest boot, while the Datsun Redi-Go is the lightest and tallest car in this category. The Alto is the heaviest entry-level hatchback car, while also offering the smallest boot.

The Alto engine makes the same power and torque, while fuel economy has come down slightly. The Renault Kwid and Datsun Redi-Go both promise better fuel efficiency than the Alto, while the Kwid has a more powerful engine. All hatchbacks in the category have standard five-speed manual transmission systems. The top-end variants of all these cars have standard ABS, EBD and driver’s side airbags. The Alto takes it up a notch with its passenger airbag for the top-end trim (standard). The top-end variant of the car also has a 2-DIN audio unit with Bluetooth, while it is the only car with rear parking sensors. The Redi-Go only gets a 1-DIN audio unit, although it has LED DRLs for the top-end trim. The Renault Kwid has the highest number of features, offering a touch screen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with on-board navigation, a digital speedometer, and a reverse parking camera.

Putting these factors into consideration, that the Alto measures up favorably to its rivals, considering overall performance, reliability, and features. However, the Renault Kwid is still more feature-rich and may attract tech-savvy buyers who are looking for more connectivity options and navigation support.