Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 a pretty important car as it successfully carries ahead the legacy of the two most important cars that have been the bread and butter of Maruti for the last three decades - Maruti 800 and Alto. While Maruti 800 was launched 26 years ago, Alto entered the Indian market 9 years back. Both the cars were received with great enthusiasm and proved to be a synonym of a famous phrase “India on wheels.” Maruti Alto 800 is a step-ahead from these two cars. A futuristic design, lighter weight, and latest comfort and safety features are the aspects that define this new mass-market car from Maruti Suzuki.

At present, Maruti Alto 800 is among the best-selling cars in India as it meets all the basic expectations of the consumer group it targets. Although the car carries a better design and style as compared to its predecessors, it seems a few steps back as compared to its closest competitors, such as Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Santro, and Hyundai Eon. Dimensionally, it is longer than Chevrolet Spark but shorter than Hyundai Eon. On the inside front, Maruti Suzuki has bestowed the car with improved interiors and comfort features. Breaking the monotony of the previous single tone offerings, Maruti is offering Alto 800 in two different colors on the internal front. The top-end model of this hatchback offers some of the latest features, like power windows, internally adjustable rear view mirror, airbag for the driver, power steering, an efficient air conditioner, body-toned bumpers, remote boot opener and a reasonably-priced CNG kit. Maruti Suzuki is offering Alto800 in four versions: Base, VX, LX, and LXi. The ex-showroom price in New Delhi ranges between Rs.2.49 lakhs and Rs.3.65 lakhs. The on-road price of the car though ranges from state to state depending on each state’s tax regime. Within this price range you can avail Alto800 in two fuel options: petrol and CNG. The petrol version of the car is powered by a 3-cylinder 0.8-litre F8D power mill that churns power worth 48PS against a peak torque of 69Nm. The engine mates with an improved 5-speed transmission gearbox. With this power train, Alto800 proves to be your best friend in traffic stricken, over-crowded urban areas provided you keep your speed mark in mid-range. The low insulation of cabin is realized when car crosses 100kmph speed mark on highways. The ARAI rated Alto800 with a figure of 22.74kmpl which makes it stand above all its contemporaries in small car section.

Maruti has bestowed Alto 800 with a new futuristic design, which no doubt proves it to be one step ahead from its previous version. The car has been designed on the very same platform as its previous version, but the monocoque’s quality has been improved, which proves this car to be a strong and agile version as compared to Alto.

The looks and style of the car are contemporary but still look a bit outdated if parked next to Hyundai Eon, Hyundai Santro and Chevrolet Spark. The front fascia of the car is marked by a twin grille and a pair of bulging headlights that smartly carry the turn indicators within them. The fog lights remain out of scene and clearly seem a loophole in the cost-cutting strategy of Maruti Suzuki. The box-shaped front part closely reminds you of Ford Figo. The side profile of the car is marked by an elegant shoulder-crease line that runs from the front end to the rear end and a pair of 12-inch well-sculpted twin rims that house 145/80 R12 tyres. The rear section of the car looks updated with a large windscreen underlined by a slightly bulging centre hump that carries a Suzuki logo and keyhole.

Maruti Suzuki has done a good job with respect to Alto 800. The newer version seems a completely advanced form of the original Alto. The increased dimensions allow more space and comfort, and make the car look more spacious and airy as compared to its predecessor. To make the offer better, Maruti offers Alto 800 in two tones: grey and brown. The quality of plastics used for dashboard and doors is average, and well explains the cost-saving strategy of the domestic maker. The dashboard of the car looks contemporary with a little more touch of chrome and new instrument panels. The steering wheel and gear shift look better while the accelerator pedal, armrests and door pockets look cheap and below standard. The AC seems borrowed from the old Alto. The power switches and plastic inserts in pillars give a standard look to the cabin, and provide sufficient lateral and rear view.

The seats are good and comfortable, and offer better headroom than the original Alto. The car carries an extended capacity to accommodate five adults in one go. The upholstery looks acceptable as per the car’s price. The front seats are adjustable and can be shifted back in case the back seat is vacant.
The three-spoke steering bears a stretched horn pad but lacks tilt adjustability and mounted audio controls that are in vogue these days. The internally-adjustable ORVM is available at the driver’s seat but offered as an option on the passenger’s side in the LXi variant. Maruti also offers a cigarette lighter and a 12V power socket below the steering as a part of the accessories package. Other comfort add-ons include an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Conditioning) unit; single DIN music system; option to install speakers; storage spaces like bottle holder on the front, map pockets, and a deep and wide glove box; a foldable rear seat; and a boot space of 177-litres, which is sufficient to store your luggage for short journeys.

The technical specs of Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 are quite impressive with a 3-cylinder, 0.8-litre F8D power mill, which makes 48 PS against a peak torque of 69 Nm. This engine is a step-up in terms of not only power and torque, but also liveliness. It is easier to manoeuvre Alto 800 on traffic-stricken roads as compared to the previous Alto. It reacts in a much decent manner over low as well as medium speed range and gearshifts seem smoother as compared to its previous version. Unless you are crossing the 90-100 kmph speed mark, the car is a well-disciplined lad. In medium range, however, the engine begins to make some noise, which can be heard and felt easily given the low insulation of the car cabin.

Above 100 kmph, the engine gets really harsh and you wouldn’t hear anything except the harsh whining of engine. Along with this improved engine, Maruti Suzuki also bestows Alto 800 with a new transmission system. The new five-speed manual transmission of the car is much smoother as compared to the last one. In the city traffic, where you need to change gears frequently, it works as your best friend. The gear lever is small and handy, and doesn’t vibrate like the one noticed in Hyundai Eon. Considering the price of the car, Maruti has done a good job with the gearshift of Alto 800.

With the 0.8-litre F8D engine, the ARAI-approved mileage of Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is 22.74 kmpl. The CNG version, on the other hand, delivers a fuel efficiency of 30.46 km/kg. The car’s fuel tank has a capacity of 35 litres, which means that the car can travel 796 kms in a single tank fill. There is no other car in this section that can match Alto 800 in this respect.

Along with the exteriors, interiors and power train, the braking system is another domain where Maruti Suzuki has given in serious efforts to improve the quality of its offerings. Alto 800 has been blessed with disc and drum brakes on the front and rear parts respectively. The set-up works quite efficiently for this small car and strongly supports short distance braking. Although Alto 800 is devoid of advanced features like ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) system, the present braking system works just perfectly with respect to the current urban traffic conditions. The suspension too has received a finishing touch with gas-filled McPherson Strut that pairs with torsion roll control equipment on front wheels.

With the help of all these systems, handling of the car improves to a great extent. On the safety front, the car is fortified with other small add-ons, like a strong metal sheet monocoque structure, an airbag for the driver and an actively-responsive power steering.

One factor where Maruti Suzuki gets full marks is the pickup and acceleration that it has blessed Alto 800 with despite placing it in the small car segment. Powered by the 0.8-litre F8D engine, the car can easily glide from 0 to 100 kmph speed mark in 16 seconds. The maximum speed that this car can achieve ranges from 140-145kmph. The CNG version, on the other hand, takes 17-18 seconds to slide from rest to the 100 kmph speed mark.
A McPherson strut suspension system, accompanied by a disc and drum braking system, provides improved handling to Alto 800. The power and torque output delivered by the petrol as well as CNG versions of the car is equal, while the mileage is very good, which makes it the best option in small car segment.

Maruti Alto 800 is one of the best car options offered to common man in the overcrowded Indian automotive market. No doubt there are a few drawbacks in the design, looks and interior comforts, where Maruti stands behind its competitors; however, the brand trust and the after-sale service that Maruti offers make it one of the most reliable options that are present in the market currently. Apart from these points, a deadly combination of pocket-friendly price and class-leading mileage figure is one point that helps this car win over all the others. An ARAI rating of 22.74 kmpl bestows Alto 800 with an unmatched range of 796 kms, which again makes it one of the best cars available in the ‘A’ car segment. The CNG kit offered with the car blesses it with a class-leading fuel efficiency of 30 kmpl. The inclusion of an airbag is a welcome option in this range, which is available as an optional feature for just Rs.16, 000. Unlike previous models, Maruti Suzuki has also updated the colour profile and is offering the small car in six vibrant colors: blue, grey, frost blue, silver, red and white. Alto 800 is the rightful heir of the two legendary cars that were the brightest gems of Maruti’s crown. Despite being a few steps back from its contemporaries, Alto 800 is a pretty good option that economically serves all the basic purposes of travel and commutation.
Unless you are not taking this car out on highways, it is the best set of four wheels that you would love to stir through all kinds of city roads. The car may disappoint you a bit in terms of space, build quality and specs only if you compare it with Hyundai Eon; Eon gets an edge over it in terms of the exteriors, interiors finesse, accessories, design and boot space. The two offer equally efficient after-sale service; however, the only points where Hyundai gets beaten by Maruti Suzuki is the deep penetration of the latter into all the levels of market and the brand trust that it has developed in past so many years.

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 currently competes against Hyundai Eon, Chevrolet Spark, Tata Nano, and Hyundai Santro for market space. Despite its average looks and design, the car currently leads all Indian cars in terms of sale volume sale, while Hyundai Eon stands down at the 8thposition. Hyundai Santro, on the other hand, comes somewhere between the 15th and 20th positions, while Chevrolet Spark stands nowhere close in respect to sales. With respect to features, design and style, Hyundai Eon and Chevrolet Spark do look a few steps ahead of Alto 800, but again, the after-sale service and brand recognition prove a big back drop for the former two. Tata Nano is a pretty good option, but the car hasn’t been that fortunate in earning consumer’s trust and appreciation lately.