Suzuki Alto is an affordable car but with better built and ride quality than most of its rivals. But is the Suzuki Alto a good car?
The Suzuki Alto is a good car if you’re looking for a practical, efficient, reliable, and low-maintenance car. On the contrary, it is not an excellent car if you desire a high-performance, faster, luxurious, and advanced city car.
History of the Suzuki Alto
The Suzuki Alto is a subcompact kei car. This car has been in production since 1979 to date. Currently, this model is in its 9th generation. The Alto originated as a commercial vehicle derivative of the Fronte, but after some time, the Alto nameplate gained popularity, and by 1988, it replaced the Fronte name completely.
This city car is also referred to as Suzuki Fronte, Suzuki Cervo Mode, Maruti 800, Suzuki Mehran, and Maruti A-Star. It is also important to note that the first Suzuki Alto was a 3-door cargo version of the Fronte passenger car.
Today, the most recent Suzuki Alto, which is in its 9th generation features a 5-door hatchback and it is based on the HEARTECT Platform.
Features of the Suzuki Alto
Appearance
The Suzuki Alto may be a nice and affordable small city car, but it does not look very appealing. This applies both to the exterior and interior appearance. Nevertheless, it is still useful and cheap to run. The Suzuki Alto comes with a wheelbase of 96.9 inches, a length of 133.7 inches, a width of 58.1 inches, and a height of 58.1 inches.
Performance
Suzuki Alto comes with different engines. Since this car has been in production since 1979, users have a wide variety of engine options to select from. Nonetheless, the most recent model is fitted with a 658 cc R06A I3 engine and a 658 cc R06A I3 turbo engine for the Japanese market. It also has an option for a 5-speed manual transmission and 5-speed automated manual AGS CVT transmission for the Japanese market.
Earlier models were fitted with either a 998 cc K10B I3 engine or a 658 cc K6A I3 engine. In terms of performance, the Suzuki Alto is not very fast as it can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 6.8 seconds. It also has a top speed of about 93.23 mph.
Comfort and cargo space
Even though the Suzuki Alto is a subcompact city car, it still manages to accommodate up to five people. However, it is crucial to select the right trim option as some models carry only four people. On the flip side, the cabin is not so comfortable as it comes with low-quality seats.
In addition to the spacious cabin, this car also comes with ample cargo space, compared to its rivals. It has a total of 130 liters or 4.6 cubic feet of space, which is good enough. However, this can be increased by folding the rear seats.
Safety
Suzuki Alto may not be an advanced car, but it is a safe car. Some of the top safety features that this car comes with are rear parking sensors, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, an anti-lock braking system, child safety locks, a seat belt warning, and a crash sensor. Note that most of these features are standard but the manufacturer also offers some add-ons.
Fuel efficiency
When it comes to efficiency, the Suzuki Alto is one of the most efficient cars in its class. It comes with a fuel economy of 55 to 65 mpg. Note that this is according to the UK ratings. Therefore, the user will end up saving a lot of cash in terms of fuel usage.
Price
The Suzuki Alto is one of the cheapest cars on the market. The price of the Suzuki Alto ranges from $1,400 to $7,000. Besides, the used models are even cheaper. Aside from being affordable, this car is also cheap to maintain as it doesn’t come with many high-end features and parts.
FAQ
Is Suzuki Alto worth buying?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re in the market for an affordable, reliable, low-maintenance, and efficient city car, then the Suzuki Alto is the perfect car for you. But if you desire a high-performance, safe, faster, luxurious, and more advanced car, then you should look away.
What is the high mileage for Suzuki Alto?
The Suzuki Alto is a reliable car. But like every car, it also starts to develop problems as it ages. So, if you’re buying a used Suzuki Alto, it is vital to check how many miles are on the odometer to avoid acquiring a car with lots of issues.
With that said, any Suzuki Alto with more than 120k miles has high mileage.
What are the common problems with Suzuki Alto?
Suzuki Alto may be one of the most popular Suzuki models in the market, but it also comes with a share of its problems. Some of the common Suzuki Alto problems are lack of power, power window failure, rear wheel bearing failure, carpet wear, and rattling sound. It has also been recorded as having wheel vibrations, engine lock-up in the rainy season, and faulty air conditioning.
Is Suzuki Alto a good daily driver?
Yes, Suzuki Alto is a wonderful daily driver. This is because it is small and easy to maneuver in traffic. Additionally, its small size is perfect for parking in public car parks. On top of that, this car is fuel efficient, meaning it won’t cost a lot to keep it on the road daily.
Which cars are like Suzuki Alto?
The Suzuki Alto is a nice subcompact city car with great performance and fuel efficiency. Nonetheless, this car faces stiff competition from the market. Some of its closest rivals are the Maruti Celerio, Hyundai Grand i10, Renault Kwid, Hyundai Santro, and Datsun Redi-Go.
Final thoughts
The Suzuki Alto is a good car as it offers great efficiency, practicality, and good performance. It is also reliable, durable, and cheap to maintain. Nonetheless, like every car, it also comes with common problems that can be avoided with good care and maintenance.
All in all, it is one of the most sought-after subcompact city cars on the market.