~Best VFM Car under 4Lac~. Review on Maruti Suzuki Alto

After a short break from MS, I have finally decided to pen down a review on our recent purchase. Growing family requirements had ushered us in investing  for a small hatchback car that can perform point to point commute and that can be used for fulfilling our shopping needs. Our requirements were clear:

1. Price Range: Budget as low as possible, best not to exceed 4 Lac threshold.

   
   




2. A petrol engine: With the decreasing margin between diesel and petrol, we decided it was wise not to invest in a diesel. Hence petrol should be a must.

   
   




3. Mileage: The car will mostly be driven in the city. Hence it has to be mileage centric. So out goes the Hyundai and Ford brand from our comparison charts.

   
   




4. Reliable: The car will be chauffeured around for some of the times. Hence did not wish to leave a feature laden car to be abused by the driver. The more simple the better. This calls for reliable brand and ‘reliability’ to the family meant ‘Maruti’.

   
   

The cars that we had considered during our purchase are detailed below.

1. Maruti Alto 800: The third generation Alto really did not appeal to us. The looks were too dated and the space inside was kind of cramped. Although the Alto 800 is a proven car in the Indian roads and the on-road mileage is best of the lot, we decided to look for other options.

   
   




2. Maruti Alto k10: The Alto k10 looked much more matured than its predecessor – the Alto 800. The looks were refined and we could relate its chassis with our old Zen MPFi. What amazed me to the hilt was the 1000CC engine. The low end grunt was better than our Wagon R and the K-Series is easy to pull in point to point city commute. The mileage reported by some of my colleagues who were using the car was fascinating too. Hence short listed the car without much ado!

   
   




3. Hyundai Eon:  Compared to the Alto, the interiors were miles ahead! Although the on-road price of this car was in the tune of Alto k10, I wondered if it was really worth the extra investment for the 800 CC car. Family somehow did not approve of the looks – the tail lights were bigger than the profile of the car was their initial observation. What I found from the test drive was the gear lever vibrating too much during city drives. Mixed opinions from users prompted me to look for other options.

   
   




4. Chevrolet Spark: Packed with the 1000 CC engine, the car felt the most refined of the lot. But I was never a fan of Chevy’s especially when it came to hatches. The car was a breeze to drive in city and the engine felt really good. What deterred us from the purchase of this vehicle was resale price, reportedly low mileage, after sales service and odd looks.

   
   

Therefore we went ahead and booked an Alto k10 Lxi @3.60L(after all discounts). Freebies: Rs.3000 Accessories free, Extended Warranty and Basic Kits.

Initial Impressions: Design and Interiors

I just love the cutelooks of the car. The chrome addition to the front grille was a no-brainer; it adds to the contour of the otherwise monotonous grille. The partially swept back front head light clusters looks bold when seen from a distance. Even after some years, the car design looks fresh and the clean lines add to the streamlined low stance of this hatch. The rear is neatly integrated; however I am not much fond of the tail lamp clusters. A swept back cluster in the likes of Swift would have been more appreciated.

The interior is mostly simple and would remind you of the previous generation Alto 800. Not much to complain though since this is an entry level car but I would have preferred an integrated music system and all four power windows in the Vxi trim of the car. A little addition of beige in the interior of the car would have made wonders. The interiors somewhat reminds us of the common saying – it is built to cost when compared to the Hyundai Eon. The Vxi trim comes with a rear parcel tray but one can fix the rear parcel tray @1200 INR if they are purchasing the Lxi model.

Initial Impressions: Performance and Handling

One of the primary reasons that made us tilt in favor of going for this car was the K-Series 1000 CC engine. The low end torque of this car is simply outstanding and it is very easy to fill the gap in traffic in low gears. A sedate driving would effectively fetch a mileage of 15kmpl in city(with AC). My spirited driving is giving figures around 14kmpl(with AC) which is bound of increase after first service. One of the primary advantages of buying a Maruti was for the mileage and we are satisfied in this aspect.

The second and third gears can effectively pull the car from 20kmph - 60kmph. In case of overtaking downshift to third or fourth and gun down the accelerator. Post 3-3.5K RPM the engine noise becomes audible and filters through the cabin. The AC is plain effective even in scorching Kolkata summers. We generally keep the setting at point 2 most of the time.

Handling is not impressive but then again this car is meant to be driven in city. Maneuvering in tight spots and cramped alleyways is easy, thanks to the superlight steering and good overall visibility. The gear shifts feel rubbery – might improve after the second service. The suspension can easily handle potholes and is made to last. The car is fitted with standard 13 inch MRF ZVTS tires unlike our Wagon R which is fitted with 14 inch Apollo’s. I think it won’t last more than 30K kms. No niggles as such during the first month of purchase.

Dealership Experience:

We bought the car from Premier Carworld - Kolkata. This was our second car from the same dealer. Our Salesperson – Subrata Roy and Debasish Naan need a special mention. They answered to all our queries, provided us with the best quote and arranged for free accessories and goodies. We had a very professional and satisfied buying experience.

Thanks for reading. Do put in your feedback/suggestions/questions.

~Somjeet~