Maruti Alto

The Maruti Alto is among the most affordable cars on sale in India right now. The Alto has been on sale for more than 20 years since its launch in the year 2000. The Maruti Alto is available with the petrol and CNG versions, but there is no automatic gearbox option. With its low cost running, it attracts many budget-oriented buyers. Let’s take do a thorough analysis and find out what’s there in the Alto.

Pros – Easy To Drive In City, Low Running Costs, Affordable Pricing

Cons – Average Ride Quality, Feels Basic, No Automatic Transmission

Maruti Alto Exteriors

Upfront, the Alto gets a split blacked-out grille design with no chrome inserts. The lower part of the grille gets a honeycomb-like design. The headlights get a halogen bulb setup. There are provisions for the fog-lamps, but those can be added as a part of the paid accessories. The side-profile of the Alto looks clean and it gets 12-inch steel wheels with wheel caps.

Maruti Alto Interiors

On the inside, the Alto gets a dual-tone black-beige dashboard. The door-pads and the seats get cream and black fabric which looks nice and gives airy feeling inside the car. There is also use of brushed silver around the AC vents and the centre console. The Alto comes equipped with Maruti’s SmartPlay Studio infotainment system paired with 2 speakers. It supports Bluetooth, Radio, USB & AUX connectivities.

Maruti Alto Space

The front seats in the Alto are comfortable and well-cushioned. Rear seat lacks in under-thigh support. Legroom and headroom are sufficient for a car of this size. However, taller passengers might have to struggle for space at the rear.

Maruti Alto Engine Performance

The Maruti Alto comes with a 0.8-litre, 3-cylinder, F8D petrol engine. The engine produces a power output of 48 HP @ 6000 RPM and torque output of 69 Nm @ 3500 RPM. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. You don’t get an option of an automatic transmission on the Alto. The engine offers adequate performance for commuting in the city. The gearbox is slick-shifting and easy to use. The clutch has some springy feel to it, but on the other side, it feels light.

You also get an option of CNG with the petrol engine. The engine produces a power output of 41 HP @ 6000 RPM and torque output of 60 Nm @ 3500 RPM in CNG mode. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Maruti Alto Mileage

The BS6 Maruti Alto with a petrol engine has an ARAI fuel efficiency of 22.05 km/l for manual transmission. In real-world conditions, it will return around 16-17 km/l in city traffic conditions and 17-21 km/l out on the highways. However, fuel efficiency also depends upon the style of driving and traffic conditions.

The BS6 Maruti Alto with CNG + petrol engine has an ARAI fuel efficiency of 31.59 km/kg (CNG Mode) for the manual transmission.

Maruti Alto Handling

With its light steering, the Alto is easy to drive in the city. However, due to its light weight and thin tyres, it might not feel very stable on the highways at high speeds.

Maruti Alto Comfort

The ride quality of the Alto is quite impressive at low speeds. The suspension absorbs all the potholes and bumps easily. There is some amount of firmness present which is more pronounced at high speeds. At high speeds, there is some amount of movement felt.

Maruti Alto Safety

In terms of the safety equipment, the Alto is equipped with a driver airbag, ABS with EBD, seat belt reminder, high-speed alert, reverse parking sensors, and immobilizer as standard in all the trims. You can opt for the passenger-side airbag in the lower trims as part of an optional package. In the higher trims, you also get the passenger-side airbag as part of the standard package. The Maruti Alto scored zero stars in the Global NCAP crash tests.

Maruti Alto Service

It is a known fact that Maruti has an excellent sales and service network over the entire country. You can find a Maruti service station in any city, town or village. Maruti cars generally offer a very hassle-free experience.

Maruti Alto Price

Following are the prices (on-road Mumbai) of the Maruti Alto

  • Maruti Alto STD (MT):- Rs. 3.56 lakhs
  • Maruti Alto STD O (MT):- Rs. 3.62 lakhs
  • Maruti Alto LXi (MT):- Rs. 4.21 lakhs
  • Maruti Alto LXi O (MT):- Rs. 4.26 lakhs
  • Maruti Alto VXi (MT):- Rs. 4.48 lakhs
  • Maruti Alto VXi+ (MT):- Rs. 4.63 lakhs
  • Maruti Alto LXi (MT – CNG):- Rs. 4.95 lakhs
  • Maruti Alto LXi O (MT – CNG):- Rs. 4.99 lakhs

Maruti Alto Resale Value

Maruti cars offer great reliability. The Maruti Alto commands a good resale value in the used car market. The resale value also relies on the condition of the vehicle and the total kilometres driven.

Maruti Alto Colours

The Maruti Alto is offered in the following colours:

  • Uptown Red
  • Cerulean Blue
  • Solid White
  • Mojito Green
  • Granite Grey
  • Silky Silver

Maruti Alto Specs

Following are the specifications of the BS6 Maruti Alto:

  • Engine: – 796cc, 3 Cylinder F8D Petrol | 796cc, 3 Cylinder F8D Petrol With CNG
  • Power: – 48 HP @ 6000 RPM | 41 HP @ 6000 RPM (CNG Mode)
  • Torque: – 69 Nm @ 3500 RPM | 60 Nm @ 3500 RPM (CNG Mode)
  • Transmission: – 5-Speed Manual | 5-Speed Manual
  • Fuel Efficiency (ARAI): – 22.05 km/l (MT) | 31.59 km/kg (MT)
  • Fuel Efficiency (Real World): – Petrol: 16-17 km/l (City Traffic) 17-21 km/l (Highway) (MT)
  • Dimensions (L X W X H): – 3445 mm x 1490 mm x 1475 mm
  • Wheelbase: – 2360 mm
  • Ground Clearance: – 160 mm
  • Kerb Weight: – 730 – 762 kgs | 845 – 850 (CNG)
  • Fuel Tank Capacity: – 35 litres | Petrol- 35 litres CNG-60-litres (Water Equivalent)
  • Boot Capacity: – 177 litres | With CNG – N.A.
  • Turning Radius: – 4.6 metres
  • Tyre Size: – 145/80/12
  • Suspension: – MacPherson Strut (Front), 3-Link Rigid Axle (Rear)
  • Brakes: – Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)

Maruti Alto Variants

The Maruti Alto is offered in the following variants:

  • STD (MT)
  • STD O (MT)
  • LXi (MT)
  • LXi (O) (MT)
  • VXi (MT)
  • VXi+ (MT)
  • LXi (CNG-MT)
  • LXi (O) (CNG-MT)

Maruti Alto Rating

We give the Maruti Alto a rating of 2/5.

Maruti Alto Upcoming Models

The updated model of the Alto might be launched in 2021 by the manufacturer. It will be based on the new Heartect platform. It is likely to get a redesigned dashboard with more space in the cabin.

Maruti Alto vs Renault Kwid

The Renault Kwid is offered with a 0.8-litre petrol engine and a 1.0-litre petrol engine. You do get an option of an automatic transmission with the Renault Kwid. In terms of the power and torque output figures for the 0.8-litre engine, the Kwid gets 6 HP of power and 3 Nm of torque more than the Alto. The Kwid looks more stylish than the Alto. In terms of dimensions, the Kwid is longer by 286 mm, and wider by 89 mm than the Alto. However, both cars are identical in terms of height.

Maruti Alto vs Datsun Redi-GO

Datsun recently launched the facelift of the Redi-GO. The Redi-GO looks more appealing than the Alto because of its large bold grille and sharper headlights. The Datsun Redi-GO is offered with a 0.8-litre petrol engine and a 1.0-litre petrol engine. You do get an option of an automatic transmission with the Datsun Redi-GO. In terms of the power and torque output figures for the 0.8-litre engine, the Redi-GO gets 6 HP of power and 3 Nm of torque more than the Alto. In terms of dimensions, the Alto is longer by 10 mm. On the other side, the Redi-GO is wider by 84 mm and taller by 71 mm than the Alto.