Market trends can be cruel. Everyday we hear that the SUVs are taking over, and it seems every other week a manufacturer launches their wacky take on the SUV. That is the way the market is shifting. However, while other cars have peaked and faded into oblivion, the Alto has stood the test of time like almost nothing else. It has once again managed to remain the bestselling four-wheeler in the country; an unbelievable feat that the tiny hatch has managed to achieve for the last 16 years. It’s sibling – the Swift Dzire – had managed to outdo it for a few months and so did the 800, before it was killed.
Yes, the Alto has evolved over the years — adding new features, more equipment and new engines. But the basic formula remains the same — a small, affordable, family car that will keep your pocket smiling for years to come. A little known side to the Alto is its handling. We at evo prioritise smiles to gallon over miles to the gallon and if you ever get to push an Alto, its tiny wheelbase, light footed-ness and direct connection to the tyres will bring you pleasure that not many modern cars can. We’re not saying it’ll push you back in your seat when you floor the throttle, but when you do eventually get to some corners, it is a fun car to chuck about. The small size also means it is easy to go in and out of gaps in the city and park in places you couldn’t dream of with bigger hatchbacks.
Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “Consistently setting new benchmarks in the Indian auto Industry, Alto is the undisputed leader in India for 16 years in a row establishing its dominance in the competitive entry segment. owing to its unparalleled performance, compact design, easy manoeuvrability, high fuel efficiency, affordability and timely convenience and safety related upgrades. Backed by a strong legacy, Alto continues to appeal to customers across the length and breadth of the country, with 76% customers choosing it as their 1st car.”
Prices for the latest iteration of the Alto start at Rs Rs 2.94 lakh, featuring standard safety kit like ABS, EBD, a driver-side airbag and rear parking sensors. Add on top of this a claimed fuel efficiency of 22.05 kmpl for the petrol variant and 31.56 km per kg for the CNG variant and Maruti Suzuki's vast sales and service network , and it is pretty evident why the Alto ends up selling in such huge numbers.