Review of the new Suzuki Alto - Long Term Test

Small cars are getting a lot more attention than they once did. Downsizing is being seen as the antidote to the dual problems of our ever more congested streets and our ever more slushy ice caps. Vehicles like the Suzuki Alto can't eradicate traffic jams and global warming at a stroke but they can help. The question is whether enough of us will want to drive them. We've taken an Alto on a long term test to decide whether citycar motoring is the future or an inconvenience too far.

As much as we'd like friends and acquaintances to think that our choice of car was based solely on concern over the future of the planet and a desire to free-up vital road space in the town where we live, to the majority of citycar buyers, such factors are mere sideshows. The main reason to choose a small car is because it's cheaper than a bigger one. The Suzuki Alto is certainly that. In entry-level guise, it barely tiptoes over the £7,500 barrier and even the plusher SZ4 model we've been getting to grips with is less than nine grand. That's pleasantly affordable for a new car and the cost benefits don't end there.

This little Suzuki has an official combined cycle economy figure of over 64mpg. We've been doing most of our driving around town so this was never going to be attainable on our test but we have averaged around 50mpg which is a strong showing. Burning less fuel per mile is cheaper and helpful for the planet, plus the 103g/km CO2 emissions figure for our car places it alongside the cleanest cars on the road.

It gets better too. Insurance for the basic Alto is group 1 which is as low as it goes. Our SZ4 model creeps into group 2 but that's still no real hardship. What's clear is that the Alto is a very cheap car to buy and run. If Suzuki's reputation for reliability can be relied upon over the long term, it would doubtless prove to be one of the most affordable cars to own on the market.

"Insurance for the basic Alto is group 1 which is as low as it goes"

That makes the case for the Alto from a cost point of view and it's a strong one. What you're probably expecting now is a series of drawbacks relating to the small size, small engine and small development budget that made the small costs possible. Well don't be too hasty - you might be surprised.

The Alto's 1.0-litre petrol engine looks ideal for a compact urban vehicle. The 3-cylinder unit musters 67bhp and 90Nm maximum torque at 4,800rpm. That doesn't sound thrilling but in a car that tips the scales at 855kg, it's enough to cover the 0-60mph sprint in 14 seconds. Stick at it and a top speed of 96mph is also attainable. The Alto's gearing is quite long to help it achieve the best fuel economy but it means that you have to work the engine hard if you want to make quick progress, especially with passengers on board. Do this and there's quite a bit of accompanying noise but the off-beat 3-cylinder thrum isn't unpleasant.

The Alto is 3500mm long with a 2,360mm wheelbase and that helps it achieve a super-tight turning radius of 4.5m. It's ideal for manoeuvring into tight parking spaces or executing the odd cheeky U-turn. The gearbox can be reluctant to slot into reverse which is annoying when manoeuvring the car but otherwise, the Alto copes well with the tribulations of urban motoring.

It's no longer enough for city cars to be space-efficient wheeled boxes. Customers have come to expect a certain cheeky style and the likes of the Fiat 500, smart fortwo and Toyota iQ have delivered it. The Alto isn't in this league in terms of its cute factor or its price but it's a far from unappealing proposition with its big teardrop headlights and rising side window line. The C-pillars are rather large and this doesn't help rear visibility but the five-door body style offers decent practicality. With a couple of six-footers in the front, there's adequate space for a couple more to squeeze into the back seats. Headroom is good and there's a boot behind of a reasonable but not spectacular 129-litres that can increase to 367-litres with the seats folded down.

The interior design of the Alto is rather less successful than the exterior. The grey plastics that used to be the staple of budget small cars a few years back no longer quite cut it and some of the Alto's aren't of the best quality. The controls are chunky and simple to operate in the best Suzuki traditions and the stereo is well designed with nicer finishes than you'll encounter elsewhere. A wide, deep pocket on the passenger side takes the place of a glovebox providing useful storage and there's a neat illuminated shelf in the centre console where you can stick your mobile phone or wallet in the spotlight. The wafer thin door pockets will be of little use except for paperwork or items that you've recently run over.

Our time with the Alto has given a real insight into the benefits of smaller vehicles when driving in urban areas. In many ways, it's a more relaxing process at the wheel of a small car: parking spaces are that bit easier to find and gaps are that bit easier to squeeze through. The cost advantages are also a significant boon with the Alto's pricing, fuel economy, emissions and insurance all combining to leave more money in your pocket.

The problems centre around the limited space inside, particularly in the boot area, and the lack of performance should you venture onto the open road. The cabin quality isn't brilliant either but if you can make sacrifices in these areas, the little Suzuki has a lot going for it.

TOP 3 ALTO DEALS

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