Insurance Group: 4
MPG: 55.4
CO2: 118
0-62 Mph: 17.0 secs
BHP: 67 BHP
Range: 427 miles
PROS: Loaded with equipment like stability control, height adjustable driver’s seat, curtain airbags and split/folding rear seats, the 1.0-litre engine is competent and gives good average fuel economy.
CONS: The gearbox has to work hard on open roads, cheap looking interior, the SZ4 is not as cheap to insure as the other Alto options.
Inside the Alto’s cabin the dash is a simple design with rotary dials for the heater, chunky buttons for the stereo and it’s all very user friendly and well laid out. There’s enough adjustment on the driver’s seat to enable you to find a good driving position although the steering wheel lacks any adjustment for reach. All round visibility is good from the driver’s seat.
The Alto comes with a 3-cylinder 12-valve 1.0-litre petrol engine – there is no other engine choice. It serves up a reasonably potent 69bhp and 66lb-ft of torque which makes it nippy around town and able to hold its own on open roads and motorway. Capable of a top speed of 93mph and with an average fuel economy of 54.3mpg, it’s pretty flexible, but acceleration is not its strong point. This model fitted with the optional 4-speed automatic gearbox has to work hard on open roads, but when it’s up and running it’s decent enough.
Driving in town is simple, thanks to its compact size and small turning circle, which helps make manoeuvring easy; but when parking, the steering can feel a little bit heavier than you’d like it to be. The Alto’s handling is generally competent, although there’s some body-roll when cornering.
Within the city limits the Alto is comfortably quiet, with barely any noise from the suspension or the engine. However, when you hit faster roads, you’ll have to rev the engine more and that’s when you’ll notice the engine noise becoming intrusive along with the wind and road noise.
It has a certain charm from the outside – classic lines and modern styling without being too dramatic. Unfortunately, inside, it’s a different story - the cheap looking interior trim doesn’t please much and.
The SZ4, which is the range-topping model of the Alto, comes with good equipment as standard: power steering, central locking, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric front windows, immobiliser and a CD player. Metallic paint is available as an option.
The Alto will accommodate four adults fine as long as they aren’t too tall. The boot is quite small, offering only 129-litres of space with the rear seats in position, although this can be extended to 367-litres with them folded down out of the way.
In terms of safety, the Alto SZ4 has dual-front, side and curtain airbags, ISOfix child-seat anchor points , ABS and EBD (electronic brake-force distribution) as well as a stability control system.
EuroNCAP awarded the Alto an overall rating of three-stars in their crash-tests.
Anti-theft measures include and alarm, immobiliser and visible VIN markings to help deter thieves.
The cabin and interior feel quite solid, but the finish appears cheap thanks to the hard shiny plastics and screw heads that are visible – evidence of having been built to a strict budget.
Suzuki has an excellent reputation for reliability and the Alto is covered by a three-year-60,000 mile warranty, with regular service intervals of 9,000 miles
At £9,995 the Alto SZ4 is a bit pricey compared to some competitors, but running costs are among the lowest. With good fuel economy of 54.3mpg on average, CO2 emissions of 122g/km (Road Tax band D) and group 4 insurance, it’s a good budget motoring option.
The SZ4 is well equipped, but for the same money you could also consider the Fiat 500 which is better in some areas and a bit more stylish too.
If you can live without air-conditioning then the entry-level SZ2 may be your best bet – and cheaper too.
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You might want to read reviews for other City Cars that you can then compare to the Suzuki Alto. Here are some popular Suzuki Alto alternatives:
