Maruti Alto 800

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The latest contender for the title of the 'People's Car' of India, the all new 2012 Maruti Alto 800 has finally hit the Indian markets. Barely a week out of its factory, and this small car has broken all the sales records. Within the very first week after its launch the latest hatchback from the stables of Maruti Suzuki India has registered a record-breaking bookings figure of over 21,000, not to mention that the bookings curve had crossed the mark of 6,500 units days before the car had even stepped into the showrooms for sale. These booming statistics are indicators of the kind of trust that this Indo-Japanese car-marque has gained with the Indian masses over its long journey since its inception. Established in the year 1981, Maruti Suzuki India came into being when the Japanese auto-giant, Suzuki Motor Corporation, entered into a joint venture with the Indian company, called Maruti Udyog Limited. And once the legendary Maruti 800 landed in the market, there was no looking back for this famous JV. After ruling the Indian households for almost 3 decades, this flagship car has now gone into retirement, and given way to the spanking-new model of Alto 800 to take over. And Alto seems to possess every trait that will help it in earning the position that was once enjoyed by the beloved hatch of India, Maruti 800.

Launched in a fleet of 7 variants, the 2012 Maruti Alto 800 comes in 4 petrol and 3 CNG powered models , which not only adds an element of versatility but also provides a cost-effective and environment-friendly fuel option for the buyers. While the petrol-consuming group of Alto 800 includes Base, LX, LXI and LXI with driver airbag models, the CNG version comes in Base, LX and LXI models. Although the CNG line-up has been devoid of the airbag feature, but the features that the high-end CNG models do have are very impressive. Starting with the exteriors, the latest revamp of Maruti Alto has received some serious modifications in its outfit, which looks smarter and sportier than ever before. The front fascia, in particular, gets a complete overhaul, and now flaunts a newly restyled, two-part radiator front grille. The upper and sleeker part of this grille carries the MSI badge right in the middle and is lined with a strip of chrome running across it, while the lower and larger portion has been carved in a hexagonal shape and given a sporty all-black finish – an alluring blend of classy chrome with aggressive black. The body-coloured bumper on which this split-grille is mounted, flows towards the sides to meet the slim yet prominent fenders that efficiently complement the lean frame of the new Alto 800. Other striking details about the side profile of this hatchback are its body-coloured door-handles, its sturdy-looking wheels and the pair of smooth deep lines spanning across the surface of the car. As for the rear end, a large wind screen covers a major part there, with the body-toned bumper and the smartly-designed taillamp cluster adding a stylish touch to the view. To add a spark to the smart exteriors of the new Alto 800, the designers of MSI have chosen a wonderful 6-colour paint palette that comprises of three metallic shades of Frost Blue, Torque Blue and Silky Silver, along with the non-metallic colours of Blazing Red, Granite Grey and Superior White.

Keeping the chassis and the overall dimensions same as before, the makers of the 2012 Alto 800 have miraculously managed to boost the space and comfort levels in the seating chamber of the car. Capacious enough to comfortably seat a group of five people, the insides of this latest entrant house slim yet cosy seats which provide enhanced leg-room for the occupants in addition to ample comfort. On the convenience front, the new Alto 800 comes integrated with a number of features that work together to make the ride more fun and pleasant for the passengers. Particularly in the cockpit area, the first thing that is going to grab attention is the newly-designed modernistic dashboard with a stylish V-shaped panel mounted in the centre. This panel holds large AC vents and also provides the frame for installing a music system as per the buyer's choice. Other features that stand-out more than the rest in the driver's zone are the highly responsive power steering, the front power windows with switches placed near the central console, the driver side storage space and the digital clock. Apart from these, the car also houses a very efficient air-conditioning unit that comes paired with dial-type climate control system, along with a number of storage areas like a large glove box and bottle holders which come in very handy during long journeys. To boost the look and feel of the interiors, Maruti Cars have improved upon the plastic quality and employed a new colour theme which spans over the whole furnishing and even reaches out to the door pads, imparting a fresh feel to the ride.

In terms of safety, the new Maruti Alto 800 has been packed with a number of modern-day mechanisms that ensure that the passengers travel in completely safe and sound conditions with minimum risk of harm even in case of an accident. For that, fitments like driver airbag in the high-end version, radial tubeless tyres, collapsible steering column, engine immobilizer, high-mounted stop lamp, headlight levelling system and a set of front and rear intermittent wipers with washing function have been added to this new Maruti hatch. Moving on to the mechanical part now. MSI engineers have employed a peppy F8D, 3-cylinder, 12-valve, 796cc engine, which comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox . This competent power-mill is paired up with a 32-bit microprocessor and returns a power and torque output that is perfectly tuned according the driving conditions on the Indian roads. Where mileage is concerned, the 2012 Alto 800 scores higher than pretty much the entire segment. According to Rule 115 of CMVR (Central Motor Vehicle Rules), the petrol engine of Alto delivers a fabulous fuel-economy of 22.74kmpl , while its CNG counterpart works with a remarkable fuel-efficiency of 30.46kmpl. As skilled as is the engine of this Maruti hatchback, so is its braking and suspension system. Powerful Disc brakes work for the front wheels of the car, while the rear wheels are fitted with equally skilled Drum brakes, thereby enforcing a stronger and more stable braking. The suspension, meanwhile, is handled by gas-filled shock absorbers that excel at diminishing the jerks produced by even the worst kind of roads.

In summary, Maruti Suzuki India have given the Indian buyers an excellent replacement for the time-honoured Maruti 800 that, besides possessing a smart and elegant attire, performs extremely well on the grounds of mileage, power and safety as well. Plus, the competitive price tag that this comes with makes it an even more profitable and practical deal for the Indian common man, and brings it face-to-face with the likes of Hyundai Eon and Chevrolet Beat.

Editor's take : Engineers at Maruti Suzuki have worked to improve the performance and fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

An excellent mileage is one of the most sought-after qualities in a vehicle that claims to be the People's Car of India and the new Maruti Alto 800 delivers exactly that. Powered by a highly skilled 3-cylinder 796cc mill, that comes mated with a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox, the new Maruti hatchback returns a fabulous fuel economy of 22.74kmpl for the petrol variants, which happens to be the best that the segment offers. As for the CNG models, fuel consumption stands at a mark of 30.46km/kg . Amazing mileage, environment-friendly fuel options, and an engine that not only keeps up respectable power levels, but also maintains a good torque output throughout the rev-range, together make the latest Alto a wise and practical choice for the Indian buyers.

Editor's take : The power produced by the Alto 800 is decent, but it is the power delivery that has been improved.

The latest revamp of Maruti Alto comes carrying a similar 0.8-litre petrol mill that drove its predecessor models, but only after working some smart twists and tweaks over it. A 796cc, 3-cylinder, petrol mill in nature , the powerhouse of the new Alto 800 churns out a maximum of 47.5bhp at 6000rpm for a peak 69Nm of torque produced at 3500rpm . What makes it different and more efficient than its ancestral versions is its compliance to Bharat Stage IV emission norms, which makes the hatchback behave in a more friendly way towards nature. Besides emissions, the NVH levels have also been worked upon quite well by MSI engineers, bringing them down considerably. Further, the pairing of the mill with an efficient 5-speed manual transmission system ensures that the driver gets smoother gear-shifts, thereby improving the overall driving experience manifold.

These colors are available with all variants of Maruti Alto 800

Editor's take : The acceleration of the Alto 800 is at par with other A/A+ hatchbacks.

Being the small hatchback car that Maruti Alto 800 is, the acceleration and pick-up that it offers is quite good. Housing an improved version of the tried and tested 0.8-litre petrol mill of the older versions of Alto, this fresh facelift can go from a 0 to a 100kmph mark on the speedometer within a time duration of 15 to 16 seconds, while the top speed that marks the end of the speed dial is around 140kmph to 145kmph . The CNG models, meanwhile, take about 17 to 18 seconds to go from a complete standstill to a 100kmph speeding position , with their top speed marked at a similar level as their petrol counterparts. This significant improvement in the on-road performance of the new hatch is proof enough to show that the modifications made in the mechanicals of Alto have clearly paid off well.

View Maruti Alto 800 Exterior Pictures

The outfit of Maruti Alto 800 may not exactly bowl you over but neither will it fail to keep your eyes busy for a while. Much more accomplished on the grounds of style and classiness, the looks of this new facelift, particularly the side and rear profiles, carry a stark resemblance with Maruti A-Star. And not just A-Star, clear glimpses of Ford Figo can also be easily caught in the curves and fitments of the revamped Maruti hatch. Especially in the front fascia, there is no chance that you would miss the features adopted from the newest facelift of Figo. Sporting a split front grille, the lower part of which is an all-black trapezoid and the upper is a slim cut lined with chrome, the front façade of Alto 800 also adopts the same pair of smart and large leaf-like headlamps complete with turn indicators, that adorn the face of Figo. What it does not take from the Ford hatch is the pair of fog lamps which have been completely dropped from this car, and any provision for installing them has also been eliminated, in a move to cut down the overall cost. In place of the fog lamps, the new entrant gets a body-toned bumper, while its large windscreen made of toughened glass gets a couple of intermittent wipers. 

Moving from the front to the sides, the most striking detail that one notices is the boldness of the curves and cuts that span the body of Alto 800. Flaring wheel arches, sharp yet smoothly-blending contours and an elegant sloping silhouette, together give a very fresh and sober appearance to this small car, keeping it away from too much flash and gaudiness. As far as utility is concerned, rear view mirror is present only on the driver's end and the door-handles have been designed in pull style, coated in the same shade as the car-body. To add a dash of style to the otherwise simple design, the company has selected a set of trendy and sturdy 12 inch steel wheels designed in 6 bi-spoke pattern to fill in the wide arches . Lining these wheels are radial tubeless tyres which not only keep flat tyre situations at a minimum, but also provide superior road grip for better braking, thereby heightening the levels of on-road safety. Coming to the rear end, a neat and uncomplicated design meets the eye. An elegantly-shaped, large and laminated windscreen covers one half of the rear end, while the other half is spanned by a nice and smooth boot lid. To complete this curvy look, the makers of Alto 800 have involved a classy taillamp-indicator cluster, based on a bright and radiant jewel finish combination.

The overall dimensions of this newfangled Maruti hatchback are pretty good. Its taller stance facilitates a roomier seating area for the occupants, while the increased width further accentuates the spaciousness. Measuring 3395mm in length, 1490mm in width (including the single driver-side ORVM) and 1475mm in height, the 2012 Alto 800 supplies a considerably large wheelbase of 2360mm along with a ground clearance of 160mm. The fuel tank, too, is quite capacious and can hold approximately 35 litres of fuel . For a car of this size, Alto 800 weighs about 720 kgs.

View Maruti Alto 800 Interior Pictures

Editor's take : The interiors of the new Alto800 are leaps and bounds ahead of the previous Alto, and have more space also. However, it is still basic when compared to competition and even the space isn’t sufficient.

The interiors of the 2012 Maruti Alto 800, just like all other features, come as a package of goods and bads. While the increase in dimensions brings a welcome enhancement in the knee-room for the second row occupants, leg-room for the front row occupants and the head-room for the occupants of both rows, the thigh support for the second-row still needs upgrades. Still, five regularly-sized passengers can easily accommodate in the car with no shortage of shoulder room. As for the boot area, the space is sufficient, but the access, again, needs to be made more convenient. The cockpit area, meanwhile, gets a fresh 3-spoke steering wheel with a sporty metallic touch, a new instrument panel stroked with silver, a smartly restyled dashboard in grey and headrests for the front row seats, making it more comfortable and well-equipped than before. The newly designed dash gets fitted with nicely shaped air-conditioner blowers, a large glove box , and a central console that carries controls for the AC unit and sockets for installing a music system.  

As far as material quality is concerned, the new Alto 800 has gotten much better than its previous versions, although Hyundai Eon still outruns it easily. Coated in a sophisticated theme of dual grey and brown tones or a single shade of grey (as per the buyer's personal choice), the interiors of this Maruti hatch feature a very good quality of upholstery, that runs over the seats and goes up to the door pads as well, giving a feel of uniformity. Storage is no problem at all in the new generation of Alto. Apart from the roomy boot zone, a number of storage bins and fitments can be found sprinkled across the inner chamber for the convenience of the passengers. The dashboard provides some open space in the front  besides the doors that carry holders for small articles, and the bottle holder placed near the gear-knob. Other utility features that Alto 800 offers its occupants include three assist grips for the passengers, a one litre bottle holder, a coin holder, passenger side utility pocket, a can holder , a digital clock in the speedometer display, internally adjustable outside rear view mirror, a cabin light with three adjustable positions for better and brighter illumination and stylish floor mats to boost the visual appeal of the seating area among others.

Editor's take : This is the same three-pot Suzuki engine that is being used for over 25 years and is one of the most tried and tested mills in the country. Improvements are made to it and even the carbon footprint has seen a reduction.

To power the newly overhauled series of the Maruti's famous hatchback, a proficient 796cc engine , adopted from the previous generation of Alto, has been employed by the Indo-Japanese makers that is capable of cranking up to a maximum of 47.5bhp at 6000rpm for a peak 69Nm of torque generated at 3500rpm. Performing way better than both Maruti Alto and Maruti 800, the new Maruti Alto 800 delivers equally good results for both of its petrol and CNG line-ups. The mileage is excellent, and both kinds of fuel-consumers offer exactly the same power and torque outputs.

Outfit of the new version of Maruti Alto 800 marks the area that has received some serious overhauling in the Indo-Japanese factory. And a major alteration that catches the eye of the observer at the very first glance is that of the freshly restyled wheels. Designed in a 6 bi-spoke pattern , the new wheels of Alto 800 come fitted with 145/80R12 tubeless tyres , that add a very stylish touch to the overall appearance of the new car, but do not contribute much in facilitating a jerk-free ride. So, here is an area that can do with a considerable improvement process. The tubeless tyres, however, perform their jobs perfectly and ensure that troubling situations like those of flat tyres do not bother the riders of Alto.

Editor's take : The ride on the Alto800 has been improved over the previous Alto, but the 12 inch tyres do not help much. The handling isn’t something to boast about as the Alto800 is now more of a tall boy design.

Braking and handling have received special focus in the new series of Maruti Alto. Disc brakes for the front wheels and Drum for the rear constitute the braking system for the fresh hatchback. This kind of setup, which has become a common pattern in automobiles, these days, works efficiently for small cars like Alto 800, providing a fairly strong and short-distanced braking. Although, high-tech traits like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) are not to be found in this hatch , but the simple braking system is quite proficient in what it has been designed for. As far as handling is concerned, Alto proves to be no problem at all. The suspension system has been greatly improved to enhance the ride quality and handling. A gas-filled McPherson Strut coupled with a torsion roll control device has been selected to work with the front wheels while the rear wheels get a coil spring mechanism paired with gas-filled shock absorbers with three link rigid axle and isolated trailing arm. With this new system in place, the upgrade in the handling area is quite evident, but so is the large scope of further advancements. 

Editor's take : The Alto 800 offers a single airbag as optional. ABS is there on the higher spec model.

Handling the new Maruti Alto 800 is a much easier affair as compared to either its older models or the (now discontinued) Maruti 800. An efficient suspension system works over the front and rear wheels to bring about a very comfortable and easy ride experience for the driver. To complement this suspension mechanism, a smooth and responsive power steering has been added to the hatchback that completes the handling package. The safety, meanwhile, is effected by means of a strong and sturdy body that absorbs most of the destructive force resulting from a collision, seat belts for all the passengers, and a competent combo of Disc-Drum brakes that ensure a safe and sound braking. The absence of advanced features like ABS and EBD, however, acts as a loophole in the safety arrangements and open up another area for improvement.

Editor's take : The Alto 800 gets power steering, power windows and also aftermarket music system in the top of the line version.

Being an entry-level vehicle, Maruti Alto 800 does not come loaded with accessories, but neither does it come completely devoid of them. The music system is quite good and comes integrated with a CD player and AM/FM radio , making the ride all the more enjoyable for the passengers. Plus, the seat covers can be picked as per the buyer's personal preferences which adds an element of versatility to its features.