Suzuki Alto 1.0 SZ2 5dr Car Review - February 2012

Driving around town in the Alto is quite a nice experience, as the tight turning circle and light steering is very easy, but it does become a little weighty when it comes to parking the car. However, when it comes to hitting the open roads the Alto is a little bit more unwieldy, with the steering not quite so effective, and an awful lot of body lean in the corners. The driving position isn't too bad, but the lack of steering wheel reach adjustment may affect some drivers. Visibility in all directions is also a plus point.

The engine performance is one of the issues that many drivers will find difficult to ignore, with the acceleration from 0-62mph taking 13.5 seconds. The top speed of 96mph is more than enough for the needs of most city drivers, but the gearing does mean the engine may have to work hard to get there.

The Alto is a fairly tidy looking supermini, with the bubbly headlights and the large grille and air intake combination making for an attractive front end. The lines of the car are quite nice, but the small rear windows may not be to everyone's taste. Once you get inside the Alto things do start to look a little basic, with lots of grey plastic and chunky dials. The dashboard is also straightforward, with the speedometer being the large and only dial.

One thing that may disappoint people who are looking for a little style to go with the car is that there aren't any alloy wheels available, and the CD Stereo is also fairly basic. No air conditioning means that driving in the summer on a hot day could lead to the cabin getting a little uncomfortable.

There is no doubt that this small city car is very good at doing what it is designed for, and commuting in and out of town will also be good enough for most people. However, space is not plentiful in the car, and the boot space doesn't allow much space for a lot of luggage either. Suzuki do have a good reliability record, with the car supported by a good warranty.

One very disappointing thing about the Suzuki Alto is that it was only awarded three stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests, which is a very low score for a modern car. Driver and passenger airbags and side airbags are present, but there is no curtain airbag to protect passengers in the rear of the car. The omission of traction control and ESP is another area in which could explain why the Alto received the score it did.

The Suzuki Alto is primarily a car that is designed for town and city dwellers on a tight budget, and the list price of £7,820 is not a lot of money to pay for a new car. There are some similarly priced options available, but there are very fewer cars available for less without looking into the second hand market.

The fuel efficiency of the 1.0 litre engine is very good, delivering an average 64.2mpg. The rock bottom insurance group means that premiums should be reasonable, even for younger drivers, and taxing the car is also inexpensive. Resale values are quite good, although there isn't much space to drop from the actual purchase price. The Alto is supplied with a three year warranty and also has a one year roadside breakdown policy provided by the AA, which is quite typical for cars in this class.