The Maruti Suzuki Alto had been the best-selling hatchback in the entire India for the past 13 years. The ultra-popular model only yielded its pedestal last year to the Dzire, a compact sedan/saloon from the same manufacturer. However, Alto may yet reclaim its position at the top with a facelift that the company revealed today.
Several important new environment preservation laws and motorized vehicle safety regulations enter in effect in India starting this year. Moving with the times, Maruti Suzuki fitted its restyled hatchback with a back-up parking sensor, safety belt warning, ABS, and a driver’s airbag. It has also reinforced its frame for better collision resistance.
All of the above comes bundled with the car regardless of your chosen configuration. An airbag for the front passenger is separately available.
The mini vehicle still comes powered by the old 48-horsepower / 36-kilowatt engine linked to a five-speed manual transmission. However, the drivetrain is now compliant with the BS-VI environmental standard (mostly similar with the Euro6).
As far as the appearance is concerned, the facelifted Maruti Suzuki Alto sports a new front bumper with a black molding between the headlights. Inside, the fascia has been slightly revamped, but the rest stays more or less the same. The base trim version still ships without a full-fledged audio system, instead packing a phone docking station and a radio.
The standard trim now costs the equivalent of U.S. $4,200, which represents a $500 increase from before.
Photos: autocarindia.com