Maruti Alto - is the perfect entry level car for any one. Be a individual or even a 4 member family, it serves it’s best.The reason I bought this car is- I wanted an upgrade from the M800 I used.- Good fuel efficiency- Good City commuting- Occasional long drivesEngine & Fuel EfficiencyAlto is powered by a tuned-up M800 engine which pumps out 47PS. Not healthy, but enough to cruise the city and yields decent Mileage inside the city. Inside city, it gives 12-15 KMPL with AC on.
On the highway, it gives upto 19 KMPL with AC on.Engine PerformanceInside the city, Alto suffers to a great extent with the load from AC. Nearly 30% of the power is drawn by the AC and the engine clatters at 2nd gear. You need to play with gear shifts when moving through traffic jams. But, on the highway. the 47PS engine outperforms its own class. It gives an awesome performance touching 130 kmph max.BrakingThe front disc-brakes and rear drum brakes are adequate for city driving.
On the highway, they create fear when you go beyond 100kmph. But they are good. No ABS. so expect some tire smoke or wheel locks during sudden-braking.Comfort & InteriorsThe front seats are adequate for average height and weight. People who are more than 6 feet may find very difficult to get in and out. The seats are just okay and your back will ache on long drives. The rear seats are cramped and does not offer good leg room. The dashboard is fully plastic and the instrumentation offers a Speedo, Fuel and Temperature meter. Standard status lamps like Fuel Check, High beam are present. The surprising thing for such a small car is - Air Con. The Air Con is best in the class and beats the heat during the month of super-hot May! Something I love most .SafetyAh come on. What kind of safety features can we expect froma basic car? Just some few basic safety measures. Seat belts and Crash bars inside the doors.
MaintenanceSame as M800. Negligible. Cheap spare parts and good service network. Cheap to maintain.Conclusion:This is a perfect car for two to cruise inside the city. Regular maintenance will help to keep the car top-notch. Fits good for occasional long drives, but it often ends up in back-ache. Performs like charm without AC and competes with Accents and scorpios on highways.Pros:Fuel Economy, Cheap to run, Powerful AC, Maintenance less, Decent engine