Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

Maruti Alto ReviewMaruti Suzuki Alto 800 Review – The Alto is a small car designed by Maruti Suzuki. The Maruti Alto was first launched in the Indian market on 27th September, 2000. Over the years, Maruti Suzuki has updated the Alto, with the latest update being in the form of the Alto 800. The Maruti Alto has topped the sales chart in India time and again, selling more than 20,000 units on a consistent basis. The vehicle’s selling points are low price and good fuel economy, which is critical for first time car buyers, who are looking for a hassle free vehicle.

The Indian Alto is not the same as the global Alto and Maruti Suzuki is selling us the previous generation model, as it helps them to price the Alto very aggressively. The Maruti Alto 800 is entirely made by Maruti Suzuki in India, including design, development and manufacturing. The vehicle does end up looking quite confused as the styling is not universally acceptable since the front and rear don’t really gel well. Maruti Suzuki has tried to take styling cues from the global Alto, which hasn’t really rubbed well on the Alto 800 in India.

Read The Maruti Alto 800 Test Drive Review

All models of the Maruti Alto 800 have a 5-speed manual transmission. The available models are Alto standard, Alto LX and Alto LXi (in both petrol and CNG versions). The Alto 800 (LX and LXi) feature a power steering and power assisted braking. The Alto contained all the plus points that the Maruti 800 offered Indian car buyers, in addition to features such as power steering, power assisted braking and a fifth gear that the Maruti 800 did not normally have. The popularity of the Alto has steadily increased over the past few years, mainly due to its aggressive pricing and class leading fuel economy.

Maruti Alto FeaturesMaruti Suzuki has vastly improved the interiors of the Alto in the Alto 800 version. The interiors are no longer cheap and plastic quality is good, even at this price. The front seats of the Maruti Alto have integrated headrests and offer decent support too. It is the rear seat, which although better than before, still lacks legroom. The boot of the Alto is adequate for small bags but the CNG model has almost no space in the boot. Maruti Suzuki has lifted certain parts from bigger cars like the steering wheel and instrument cluster. Disappointingly the left side outside rear view mirror is still not part of standard equipment.

Powering the Maruti Alto 800 is a .8-litres, triple-cylinder engine which generates 48 BHP of power and 69 Nm of torque. Several changes in the engine has yielded the increase in power. The engine is termed F8D and offers good performance in the city, where the Alto 800 seldom feels underpowered. It’s only when you want to do triple digit speeds do you realize the Maruti Alto lacks the grunt to cruise comfortably. However for most owners, the Alto has sufficient power, as it is also one of the most efficient petrol cars in India.

The Maruti Alto boasts of very basic underpinnings but the ride quality is surprisingly good, although bad roads really unsettle the car. The steering has very little feedback and handling is relatively nimble and predictable. The only fly in the ointment are the tyres, which are quite puny and offer little grip when you need some stickiness from them. Braking performance is decent, there is no ABS on offer, although airbag is offered as an option.

Basically the Maruti Alto is a value for money car, it is an upgraded version of the Maruti 800 with minor upgrades such as the body shape, headlight design, upgraded engine and better interiors. Some of the notable features in the Maruti Alto are Booster assisted brakes for shorter braking distance, collapsible steering column for avoiding injury to driver, low turning radius for effortless turning and parking, which makes the Alto an easy car to drive in congested city conditions. The not so nice things about the Maruti Alto are the design, low power for highway driving and lack of rear seat space. The Maruti Alto has only one direct rival, the Hyundai Eon.

Maruti Alto 800 Mileage – Maruti Suzuki has improved the fuel efficiency of the Alto by 15 percent, resulting in the Alto 800 delivering 22.74 km/l mileage as per ARAI. The CNG powered Alto 800 is even cheaper to run and offers a mileage of 30.46 km/kg. The good mileage is the crucial factor for many to choose the Alto 800 as their first car.

Maruti Alto PriceMaruti Alto SpecificationsMaruti Alto Pictures

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 Price

Alto 800 STD – Rs. 2.46 lakhs
Alto 800 LX – Rs. 2.81 lakhs
Alto 800 LXi – Rs. 3.03 lakhs
Alto 800 LXi (Airbag) – Rs. 3.19 lakhs
Alto 800 CNG STD – Rs. 3.21 lakhs
Alto 800 CNG LX – Rs. 3.41 lakhs
Alto 800 CNG LXi – Rs. 3.60 lakhs

(ex-showroom, New Delhi. Prices subject to change)

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 Specifications

Alto 800Alto 800 CNG
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Fuel TypePetrolPetrol-CNG
Cubic Capacity (cc)796
No of Cylinder3
Power (BHP)48 @ 6000
Torque (N.m)69 @ 3500
TechnologyMPFI, F8D
Transmission5+1
Specification of Gear BoxSynchromesh
AT/MTMT
Drive (Front/Rear/All)Front
DIMENSIONS
Length (mm)3395
Width (mm)1490
Height (mm)1475
Wheelbase (mm)2360
Ground Clearance (mm)160
Turning Radius (m)4.6
CHASIS & SUSPENSION
Body StyleHatchback
Weight (kg)695-725
Front SuspensionGas Filled McPherson Strut with Torsion Roll Control Device
Rear SuspensionGas Filled Shock Absorber with 3 link Rigid Axle and Isolated Trailing Arm with Coil Springs
SPACE
Boot Space (Normal/Seats Folded)
No. of Passengers5
Fuel Tank Capacity (ltr)35
Leg Room (mm)
Head Room
BRAKES
Front  (Dia/Type)Solid Disc
Rear (Dia/Type)Drum
SPEED & ACCELERATION
Top Speed
0-100 kmph

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 Features

Alto 800 / Alto 800 CNG
StdLXLxiLxi Airbag
INTERIORS
Music PlayerNNNN
No of SpeakersNNNN
USB/AUX/SD/ALLNNNN
Blue-tooth ConnectivityNNNN
Power Window (Front/All)NNFrontFront
TachometerNNNN
TripMeterYYYY
Folding SeatsNNNN
EXTERIORS
Bumpers ColourBlackBlackBody ColoredBody Colored
Door HandlesBlackBlackBody ColoredBody Colored
ORVM (Only Driver/Both Side)Only Driver SideOnly Driver SideOnly Driver SideOnly Driver Side
OVRM  ColourBlackBlackBlackBlack
OVRM AdjustmentManualManualMechanicalMechanical
Fog Lamps (F/R/All)NNNN
TyresTubeless RadialTubeless RadialTubeless RadialTubeless Radial
Tyre Size145/80 R 12145/80 R 12145/80 R 12145/80 R 12
Wheel Type (Alloy/Steel)SteelSteelSteelSteel
Wheel CoversCenter CapCenter CapFullFull
Clear lens Headlamp & Tail lampYYYY
Front Wiper & WasherYYYY
Rear WiperNNNN
SpoilerNNNN
COMFORT & CONVENIENCE
ACNYYY
Climate ControlNNNN
Remote Boot-lid OpenerNNYY
Remote Fuel Cap OpenerNYYY
Central LockingNNNN
Height Adjustable Driver SeatsNNNN
Tilt SteeringNNNN
Power SteeringNNYY
SAFETY & SECURITY
ABSNNNN
EBDNNNN
Air Bags (Only Driver/Both)NNNDriver
ImmobilizerYYYY
Traction Control / Cruise ControlNNNN