The Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 has established itself as a trusted and popular choice in India’s compact car segment for many years. It is widely appreciated for its affordability, fuel efficiency, and ease of driving in congested urban areas. With evolving consumer preferences and rising expectations in design, technology, and safety, Maruti Suzuki has launched a refreshed version of the Alto 800.
This new model brings in a modernized design, upgraded features, and improved performance, while continuing to prioritize economy and practicality. This article provides a detailed overview of the design improvements, feature updates, pricing structure, and mileage performance of the latest Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, helping potential buyers make a well-informed decision.
Design: Contemporary and Practical
The new Alto 800 builds on its legacy with a design that balances a compact, functional build with modern styling cues. It rides on Maruti Suzuki’s HEARTECT platform, known for its lightweight structure and enhanced safety features.
Exterior
The refreshed exterior gives the Alto 800 a sharper and more dynamic presence. It features a wider front grille and redesigned headlamps that add a confident look to the front fascia. The body lines are crisp and more defined, providing a youthful appeal. Despite the modern updates, the car retains its small footprint, making it highly manoeuvrable and ideal for city driving. The rear design includes updated tail lamps that complement the overall styling while remaining practical.
Interior
Inside, the Alto 800 offers an optimized cabin space designed for comfort and usability. The interior layout is simple yet contemporary, with a new semi-digital instrument cluster enhancing driver information clarity. Seating has been designed to maximize space for occupants, offering good legroom for a car of its segment. The materials used in the cabin emphasize durability and ease of maintenance, which is important for everyday use.
Updated Features: Enhanced Comfort and Safety
The updated Alto 800 incorporates several new features that raise its comfort, convenience, and safety standards.
- Infotainment: A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility ensures seamless connectivity for smartphones, enabling navigation, music streaming, and hands-free communication.
- Safety: Standard safety includes dual front airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and rear parking sensors, making it a secure choice for city and highway driving.
- Convenience: Features such as keyless entry, power windows, remote central locking, and a semi-digital instrument cluster add to the vehicle’s ease of use and modern appeal.
- Comfort: Improvements like better seat ventilation, refined steering wheel design, and enhanced cabin insulation contribute to a quieter, more comfortable driving environment.
Performance and Mileage: Efficient Urban Driving
The heart of the Alto 800 remains its efficient 0.8-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine, delivering a good balance of power and fuel economy.
- Engine Specs: The engine produces about 47 horsepower and 69 Nm of torque, offering sufficient performance for daily city commutes and light highway travel.
- Transmission: The car comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox, known for smooth gear shifts and fuel-efficient driving. Automatic transmission options may be available in select variants for enhanced convenience.
- Fuel Efficiency: The petrol variant delivers an impressive mileage of approximately 22 km per litre under standard testing conditions. Additionally, the factory-fitted CNG version offers a superior mileage of around 31 km per kg, making it highly economical for those with access to CNG fuel.
Price Range: Affordable Options for Every Buyer
Maruti Suzuki continues to position the Alto 800 as one of the most affordable entry-level hatchbacks in India, catering to a broad spectrum of buyers with varying needs.
- Base Variant: The entry-level model starts at a very competitive price point, making it accessible for first-time buyers and budget-conscious customers. This variant includes all essential safety and convenience features.
- Mid-Range Variants: These trims add modern features such as the touchscreen infotainment system, enhanced upholstery, and additional convenience options, with a modest price increase.
- Top-End Variants: The higher variants offer the complete package with all updated features, including the touchscreen system, safety enhancements, and possibly the CNG powertrain option, priced reasonably given the value added.
- Estimated Price Range: The new Alto 800 is expected to be priced between approximately ₹3.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh (ex-showroom), depending on the variant and city. The CNG variant will be slightly higher due to the alternative fuel system, but it offers cost savings in the long term through superior fuel efficiency.