Suzuki Alto Test Drive

[niky]

Suzuki Alto Test Drive



With only two hundred units scheduled for the first batch of Altos, and fewer still scheduled for test drive duty, it wasn’t strange that my tester already had 2000 kilometers on the odometer. I was damn lucky to visit my local dealer when the test unit rotated to them, so I decided to make the best of the opportunity.

The Alto’s clean looks are unobjectionable, but seem five years out of date compared to the ultra-modern Chevrolet Spark or Kia Picanto. Not so strange, considering it’s a licensed Indian copy of the Japanese Suzuki Alto, re-badged as a Suzuki for local sale. Uhh… yeah. At least Indian labor makes it cheap.

From the moment you get inside, you're reminded that it's cheap. Plastic, plastic everywhere. Thankfully, there's no tacky vinyl. Space is good front or back, but not both at once. Worse, if the driver's 5'10" or taller, the Alto goes from four-seater to three-seater.



Despite adequate headroom, the low ceiling is decidedly old-school. To compensate, the seats are quite low. Bad for the knees, but at least they’re softer and shapelier than the Spark’s flat, hard perches. All four passengers get adjustable headrests and three point seatbelts. The trunk, though narrow, is deeper than the Picanto’s and much bigger than the Spark’s.

Though the small windshield merits just one double-nozzle sprayer, you get a rear windscreen wiper as standard. Neat! The instrument cluster and controls are familiar economy fare, minus tachometer. Windows and locks are manual, but the Deluxe edition has power front windows. Side mirrors are also manual, but the cabin’s so narrow you don’t even have to unbuckle to reach the right-side mirror lever.

Like most three cylinders, the engine idles like it’s on the edge of choking. It didn’t stall all afternoon, so I guess it’s okay. Even without tint, the AC cools down the cabin quite quickly, despite the ungodly summer heat. The standard CD-Stereo? With just two dash-mounted speakers, I hardly noticed it was on.

Driving ergonomics aren’t particularly good. The 5-speed shifter is quite rubbery, and hits your thigh in first gear. The clutch is stiff and a tad too long. Combined with a short first gear and grabby brakes, it makes parking-lot maneuvers a herky-jerky affair. At least it’s not prone to stalls. The manual steering is pretty heavy, but lightens up once on the move.

Once in traffic, the short gearing actually makes the Alto feel quite lively. Thanks to the miniscule curb weight (750 kgs!), the 47 horses in this sewing machine feel more like 60. Even with two extra passengers, overtaking is easy. Simply slot it into a lower gear and put your foot down. The fuel-injected, multi-valve 800cc 3-pot revs cleanly, with no flat-spots or hesitation. It hauls forward, growling like a rabid dog, pulling you around that sputtering truck in front of you. Once back in lane, the engine settles to a muted hum, the Alto finding its natural pace at around 50-60 km/h. No, it’s not mind-numbingly quick, but it’s not AUV-sluggish.

The lack of power might be more telling at 80-100 km/h, but I never found out, as road conditions didn’t allow it, and the Suzuki people didn’t let me get on the Expressway.



After a few more kilometers, I didn’t really want to. The thin tires (145/70-13) and stiff suspension make the Alto feel darty over ridges and bumps. The slow, vague steering isn’t responsive enough to build confidence at higher speeds, either. Hopefully, the electric steering on the Deluxe is more direct.

Despite these complaints, the Alto rides reasonably well, with no crashing or rattling, even on rough roads. Even at a roaring full throttle, engine noise isn’t intrusive. It’s great for such a cheap car… guess Indian labor isn’t that bad, after all.

For urban use, the Alto does the duty. A cheeky little engine, decent space (for four office-girls, overweight auto-testers need not apply), decent insulation and air-conditioning and great fuel economy make it a decent buy. From initial reports, the Alto can get 15-18 km/l in city use and over 20 on the highway. Not bad for a four-seater. And the three year, 100,000 kilometer warranty matches industry standards.



In some ways, the Alto betters the Chevrolet Spark, despite its crudeness. It makes the 100,000 peso price difference seem rather ludicrous. But it’s still no match for the Kia Picanto, whose superior space, refinement and power make it more than worth the extra money. But if you can’t afford it, the Alto is worth a look.

[carlocaraddict]

Maruti Alto!!! the picanto looks better than the Alto but of course, the Alto looks prettier than the Spark (aka Chery QQ) hahahahahaha. The rear reminds me of the Gen1 Zafira.

[orly_andico]

Someone should import the "real" Chery QQ. I saw a ton of them in China but didn't have a chance (?) to ride in one. The thing costs 192,000 pesos retail over there! even factoring in duties and shipping, it should still undercut the Alto by quite a bit.

[eggman]

Yan yung early testdrive unit ng Suzuki Phils ha..Anyway ok naman yung Alto Deluxe...

By the way ok ang review mo!!

[niky]

The QQ would be an intriguing buy... it would be nice if the government lowered taxes on Kei cars here, to make pricing better.

Hey, anyone have a Norkis Micra I can test?

[manager]

nice review niky!

when you testing the new crv?

[the josh]

Nice review! Hope you can review the Outlander as well

[Syuryuken]

The QQ would be an intriguing buy... it would be nice if the government lowered taxes on Kei cars here, to make pricing better.

Hey, anyone have a Norkis Micra I can test?

Mira o yung legacy?

[gearspeed]

Maruti Alto!!! the picanto looks better than the Alto but of course, the Alto looks prettier than the Spark (aka Chery QQ) hahahahahaha. The rear reminds me of the Gen1 Zafira.

I agree.Yehey makikita ko na din yan sa MIA.May blind spot ba?

[gearspeed]

Maruti Alto!!! the picanto looks better than the Alto but of course, the Alto looks prettier than the Spark (aka Chery QQ) hahahahahaha. The rear reminds me of the Gen1 Zafira.

Opps double post.Sorry.

[Rav_5]

Gus2 ko rin ma Test Drive itong Alto na ito. Parang Gus2 ko rin bumili nung Deluxe tapos gawing 2 seater na lng and gawing pader yung likod for 2 Subs. Astig yun!

[niky]

RE: Micra. Norkis is now selling rebadged Nissan Micras, Legacy style... rebuilt. It's bigger than the Alto, but the warranty is pathetic.

RE: Blind spots. old school talaga ang Alto, slim pillars. The thin pillars mean the view is good, except where obscured by the big heads of your passengers...

RE: Subs. patay tayo diyan. Parang hina ang alternator ng Alto... engine swap pa yun!

[niky]

RE: Micra. Norkis is now selling rebadged Nissan Micras, Legacy style... rebuilt. It's bigger than the Alto, but the warranty is pathetic.

RE: Blind spots. old school talaga ang Alto, slim pillars. The thin pillars mean the view is good, except where obscured by the big heads of your passengers...

RE: Subs. patay tayo diyan. Parang hina ang alternator ng Alto... engine swap pa yun!

[Nautica]

Dito sa China, "QQ" ang mostly gamit ng mga private Taxi sa mga suburb area, like here in Shanghai. Kapag pinayagan ng gov't na dalhin dito ang "QQ" and below 200K, siguradong marami ang kukuha.

[latd610]

Most of my officemates here in Bangalore drive an Alto. You're correct niky, leg rooms are a nightmare! I don't want so sit beside the driver coz my leg gets bumped on 1st or 2nd gear. Neither do I want to sit at the back, coz I have to spread my legs wide open to be comfy (I'm only 5'8"). There was one time that my foot got stuck when I stepped out from the back seat. Hell, it took me about a minute or two to slide it out. It was so embarassing! Sabi ko pa sa sarili ko, "buti na lang wlang ganitong kotse sa pinas...." Mali pala ako......

[mbt]

the alto's gearshift lever is one of the crappiest-feeling I have ever laid my hand on.

Alto's cheap, yes, but it would have already looked dated in 1995, and the picanto is an infinitely better car worth saving up for (and with financing schemes, the cost difference will be spread out to dozens of months)

[orly_andico]

never thought i'd see a statement like "... saving up for a picanto"

what are the relative SRP's of these boxes anyway? i was under the impression that the 1.1L Getz is quite close in price to the picanto. wouldn't that be more save-worthy?

[truknayr23]

Help me please

i am hoping somebody would give me a bit of an enlightenment here... my wife and i are planning of getting an Alto... and we have given it a better consideration despite of friends and relatives giving it negative feedbacks...but the review Sir Niky has made gave us a better view of what to expect from it... but this paragraph is a bit of a confusion for me... i got it from Sir nikys' review...

......"Not so strange, considering it’s a licensed Indian copy of the Japanese Suzuki Alto, re-badged as a Suzuki for local sale. Uhh… yeah. At least Indian labor makes it cheap."

so the new alto is indian made... and they got a licence from Suzuki japan to copy the alto... so that means the company that made the new suzuki alto is no longer suzuki... am i right?? if so, is the "new' suzuki alto as dependable as the first Suzuki alto made by the Japs...??? please... anybody... help us out... maraming salamat...

[tidus1203]

Yes the Alto is in theory an Indian car. Its a Mauruti. Re-badged into a Suzuki since they have a partnership. Kinda like how the Spark, Optra, Aveo are rebadged into CHevrolet but they are really Daewoo but since GM bought out Daewoo then they just rebadged it here cause Daewoo has a bad name. But you shouldn't worry about it, if the Mauruti can handle Indian roads more so our roads...

[niky]

The big question there is where they source their parts (i.e.: engine internals, electricals, etcetera)... if the suppliers for the mechanicals are good, then there should be nothing wrong with them. The suppliers for the interior panels and rubber, though, are obviously Indian, given the so-so quality of some of the plastics.