Change of guard

It is India's largest selling car and clearly the most preferred among first time car buyers. For good reason too - The Alto is cheap to buy, is fuel efficient and comes with the peace of mind of Maruti's huge service network. It hasn't been losing steam either managing 20,000 units and thereabouts for months on end. And after the introduction of the K10, it gave entry-level car buyers and Maruti loyalists some variety as well.

But, the Alto is seriously old now not having received a significant update in ages. And Maruti has finally realised that. Say hello then to the Alto 800. It is still based on the same platform as the older Alto so the wheelbase, the front and rear track lengths and the suspension mounting hard points remain the same. The body panels though are completely new. And though we don't rate the styling of the new car very highly, it does look refreshing compared to the older car.

Inside though, Maruti has done a good job. Not only do the plastics feel richer than before, the fit and finish has improved too. In fact, the overall feel of the insides is better than the more expensive Alto K10 too. As far as the design of the insides go including the layout and execution of the dashboard, the interior door panels as well as the storage between the front seats, it is better than before but is still no match for the Eon. The space inside has improved, nonetheless. Thanks to a taller roof and thinner plastic panels for the doors on the inside, there’s more head and shoulder room, respectively.

Under the hood of the Alto 800 is the same 796cc, three cylinder engine as before. But, in order to meet emissions significant changes have been made which has made the engine lighter and more efficient. It uses a new plastic intake, new pistons, a lighter crankshaft and the compression ratio too has been bumped up. It makes more power and torque compared to the older Alto as well. But, the inherent drawback of a three cylinder layout is still obvious the moment the engine begins idling thanks to the vibrations one can feel through the floor. It's nowhere as bad as on the Eon, though. In fact, the Maruti engine is also quieter and more refined. It's only when you give it the stick, revving it to the high reaches of the rev band, does the engine sound and feel coarse.

Given 48bhp of max power and 69Nm of peak torque, the Alto 800 was never going to feel fast. And it isn't. So to really get moving and to stay ahead of the traffic one does need to work the engine hard. On the highway, this can be tedious and its limited top end can get bothersome as well. The best way to get around it then is to settle for 90kmph or thereabouts in top gear instead of trying to cross the three digit mark and trying to keep the Alto there. But, on a twisty section, the Alto is quite a joy. The thin 12in tyres have limited grip, but the car as a whole feels nimble and willing to be thrown in into bends. There's body roll, yes, but the car feels a lot more confident, chuckable and planted than any other car at this price point.

It’s also great for city use. Puttering around at speeds of 40-50kmph comes easy and all it requires is a bit of shuffling between 3rd and 4th gear. The gear shift quality has also improved. It takes a little effort to move the gear stick, but the stick does slot in nicely and the throws are short too. Alto’s clutch pedal is light to operate and with fantastic visibility and a short turning radius, driving around the city doesn't feel so much as a chore in the Alto.

Given that every panel on the car is new, Maruti could have done a more visually appealing and bold looking car. But, it chose to be conservative, possibly looking at Eon’s fortunes in our market. The Alto 800 overall though is great news for entry-level car buyers. It doesn’t redefine the rules for the segment, even in terms of equipment or pampering its occupants. But as a city car that's easy to drive, efficient and reasonably well put together, it does a great job. It's also good fun to drive, by the way.