I bought this car in November 2014, and overall I am happy with it.
At the time of my purchase, I was very new to driving. Hence I knew that the car will be handled roughly and so, the requirement was to purchase a car which would take the beatings and still would not hurt my pocket. Apart from that, the car should also be easy to maintain. So, my default choice was to buy an Alto 800 - Lxi.
Our color choice was Granite Grey. Within 3 days of booking I took the delivery of car. The price was Rs.3, 50, 000/- including accessories such as Remote Central Locking, Head Unit, 2 speakers, Antenna, Full Mat, Rear spoiler, Decal Stickers, UV protection and Seat Covers.
Within a month of taking delivery, I learnt Car Driving very well using my car.
Few observations about the car:
Exteriors are looking nice. However, with a slightest touch of objects, there is a possibility of dents and scratches on the body. The build quality is very flimsy.
Brightness of headlights is not at all sufficient for highway runs.
The car can seat four adults of medium height(about 5’6") comfortably. Taking a fifth person along would be uncomfortable. Interiors have basic quality plastics, and minimal space to keep items such as water bottles, keys, coins etc. Boot space is also very less, so going to airport to pick up somebody in this car is not a very good idea.
With Alto, it is easier to accept the fact that we are running on one of the smallest engines in the world, and drive slowly. Acceleration is not at all quick and hence it is dangerous to try to overtake a speeding vehicle, especially on a highway. The lack of power is evident on highways and hence driving at less than 80kmph is wise.
However on cities, it is a breeze to drive in narrow roads. The narrow streets, where a Swift or i20 cannot enter, an Alto can enter. This makes city driving easier.
A/C cooling is very good. Even in hot sun, the whole cabin is cool within 10 minutes of switching on the Ac. However, when we switch on the ac, the power reduces so much so that it feels as if someone tows the car in opposite direction!
The mileage part: I drive with ac on most of the time, and my driving is a mix of city and highway. I get the mileage of around 14-15 kmpl.
Hope this review helps you in deciding!