I have owned an Alto for a year now. It is my first car. I was not accustomed to much driving(the only other cars I had driven before were Zen and Cielo) and was looking for an easy to handle, fuel efficient transport.
I am a little more than 6 ft tall and many well wishers recommended the Wagon R or the Santro. I however chose the Alto on an impulse. I did not like the boxy looks of the Wagon R or Santro. I also travel to the hills a lot and was impressed by the easy manouverability and ability to park in tight spots that makes Alto such a common sights there. Since I planned to drive Solo, I was not very particular about back seat space(which I admit is somewhat compromised).
I took just one test drive to ensure that my knees did not bump into all the levers as they do in the old zen. The driving space with the seat extended all the way back seemed quite acceptable.
Having bought the car, I have done about 12, 500 km in a year with quite a few longish runs between Delhi and Mussorie, Shimla, Ludhiana etc. I was quite thrilled with the peppy drive and power in the car(for a new driver, it seemed quite adequate). I could outmanouver and get past most of the bigger cars on highway(though on long vacant stretches, a Scorpio or Honda can leave you biting dust.) On most long drives I have got a mileage between 18 and 19(with the A/C funtioning - accurately measured using the full tank method from the same pump). In city conditions, I think it gives me around 14-15.
Compared to driving a cielo in a city, it is perceptibly much more easy to drive. I definitely have to stress my mind less with crowded traffic conditions and parking.
The service is extremely responsive and this makes me want to consider a Maruti for my second car. However, some niggling persistant irritants like door trim vibration etc seem to fox even their best technicians. My car suffered some dents while driving around the city and I got them ironed out or parts replaced for a song thanks to Maruti’s no hassle insurance policy. This really makes it a no headache car.
You can park this car almost anywhere. It carries a lot of luggage with the rear seat down. The A C is quite effective and takes a few seconds to counter the daunting delhi summer.
Lately however, I am beginning to feel that driving space is a little compromised. Long periods behind the wheel leave me with an aching lower back which I attribute to the somewhat cramped sitting posture. Using a thickish cushion below helps a bit as the legs are less bent and the road visibility is improved. However, given the length of my legs, I find that even a larger car like the SX4(which I test drove) do not let me stretch my legs as comfortably as I might want.
Overall a great car - a wonderful first car and a necessary second car given modern driving conditions in cities.