Suzuki Alto Review

 Suzuki has been building cars in India for decades, so the Alto is not some quick-turnaround attempt to cash in on the growing Indian middle-class.

Which is another way of saying that, despite its tiny dimensions and oddball three-cylinder engine, the Alto is a lot more than many would imagine.

But it is, predictably, a bit of a mixed bag purely because the Alto is tiny at just 3.5 metres long.

That means there’s simply no way it could ever be called roomy inside.

Legally, the car is a four-seater and a fifth passenger physically wouldn’t fit anyway.

Of course, those diminutive dimensions allow the car to be built to a lower cost and achieve potentially remarkable fuel economy, but it’s the former ambition that grates most.

Cost-cutting also reared its ugly head in the first batch of base-model (GL) Altos sold which missed out on stability-control.

The 2010 model fixed that, but it’s worth remembering when shopping.

Stability control was standard on the GLX from day one, and all variants also got anti-lock brakes and traction-control.

Another great way to reduce production costs is to use less engine.

So, instead of a 1.2 or 1.3-litre engine, the Alto got a 0.65litre unit.

And rather than the industry-standard four-cylinder engine, the Alto scored a three-cylinder layout.

While that sounds odd, it’s actually a nice piece of engineering and as well as compact dimensions, the three-cylinder offers good primary balance and a distinctive exhaust note.

In the Alto’s case, however, the engine was adequate rather than entertaining and `adequate’ only really applied when the car was lightly laden.

Fill up all the seats and the small luggage compartment and the Alto struggled.

The engine’s 50kW and 90Nm of torque were the reason, of course, but even that would have been okay if the Alto’s triple-cylinder engine had been keen to rev and a bit more tuneful.

Unfortunately it was not, and revving it hard produces plenty of vibration and a flat, raspy noise.

The flip-side was that the Alto could produce wonderful fuel economy numbers, but it’s worth noting that it required premium unleaded to do so.

The five-speed manual gearbox is the one you should consider but, being lazy drivers, many Kenyan buyers opt for the four-speed automatic which blunts performance even further.

Find a manual, would be advisable.

Handling is okay but doesn’t encourage you, while the steering is actually much better than that and provides good feel and feedback to let you know where the wheels are pointing.

Suzukis have traditionally been pretty reliable things and the Alto belies its purchase price in this department by seeming to be of stern stuff.

But there are a couple of potential problem areas to check out when shopping.

During the test drive, listen for a rattle or squeak coming from the front end of the car.

You’re most likely to hear it when encountering a mid-corner bump.

If you can hear it, there’s a chance the cause is a dud engine mount.

Suzuki actually developed a replacement engine mount that fixed this problem, but it’s an important check and, unfortunately, the engine has to be removed to make the switch.

A rumbling or groaning noise from the rear of an Alto suggests worn wheel bearings.

Replacement is the fix and it’s not a huge job.

A car that lacks power, doesn’t idle properly or misfires is possibly suffering from a clogged up throttle body.

These units can be cleaned out and that should fix the problem.

The Alto’s cut-price status is most noticeable in the plasticky interior and its various fittings.

The carpet is notoriously cheap and nasty and wears quickly, so a car with a tatty floor will need its carpet replaced.

Don’t forget to check for other cracked and broken plastic pieces, too, and make sure all the switchgear works as it should.

The Alto was recalled a few times, first for a potential brake light fault that could see the lights not work at all.

Further recalls concerned the potential for a fuel leak if the tank was brimmed and a possible short-circuit in the heater blower-motor which could have led to jammed motor and a blown fuse.

Finally, don’t forget that budget cars tend to attract frugal owners and that means not all Altos were serviced by the book.

So make sure the one you’re looking at has been maintained correctly as the hard-working little engine will not tolerate missed oil changes for long.

NUTS AND BOLTS

Engine: 0.65-litre three-cylinder petrol

Transmissions: 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual

Fuel economy: 4.7L/100km (manual)/5.3 litres (auto)

Safety rating: 4 stars

Likes:

• Excellent fuel economy.

• Small package makes city parking easy.

• Cheap to buy then and now.

• Good reputation.

Dislikes:

• Lacks punch from tiny engine.

• Automatic version really lacks performance.

• Struggles with a full load.

• Engine not as tuneful as some triples.

Read original article on Drive AU