(This is my first review and I am a non-technical guy so go easy on the brickbats please!)
I own a Maruti Alto Lxi(2007) pearl silver. I am going to spare the technical talk(rpm, bhp and stuff) here, because if you are a serious buyer and have navigated your way through the wwweb to mouthshut to read a review on Alto, then you would probably already know that stuff.
I am not going to be organized here, just a list of things I liked and did not.
Looks - I love the looks! Line up an Alto against any car and you will see that this baby stands out in her own way.
Mileage - A good 15 in city and 18 on highways. I like it.
In my opinion, what this car delivers in mileage lacks in pickup. Hey, I can’t expect much with an 800cc engine can I?
The AC - I have used the AC only eight times!(Yes, I was diligent enough to keep count) since I bought this last year. Why? Switch on the AC and watch the pickup drop like crazy and if you are having two or three passengers with you while switching on the AC, you will see the world go past you(literally). AC in this car is to be used only on a "need-to-use" basis.
Space - It’s perfect for singles. Good for couples. Manageable for a small family of 3 or 4(provided they all are of "medium" size). It will be a tight squeeze for anything more than this.
The driving experience - Good if you are NOT tall. I am not going to put it into words, if you are 5.10(my height) or more, sit in the driver’s seat and you will know what I am talking about!. You have to literally pull your seat back completely to manage the controls comfortably, please be bear in mind that by doing so you are cutting out the leg room for the person sitting behind you(not a good thing to do if you are dropping your friends’ home).
The seats are OK. Could have been better, not good for long drives, I once embarked on a long drive to Chennai and still have nightmares about how my thighs ached that day.
The steering wheel is OK too. Could have been better, I feel it’s very skeletal.
The gear change. The first gear change is a bit glutted but it’s smooth from there. Maybe it’s just my car.
Why go for Alto:
You are single with a girlfriend or two and just an occasional drive with your parents and siblings. It’s fine for couples too.
A car with low cost of ownership. This baby is virtually maintenance free. With an average down payment(80, 000) your EMI will be well below 6000(you do the math).
Want a car with good mileage.
Want a good looking car for less money.