Suzuki Alto (2009 – 2015) Review
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Suzuki Alto (2009 – 2015) At A Glance
Cute little small hatch clone offering low emissions, low tax, good fuel economy and a proper 4-speed automatic option. Decent to drive.
Thrummy 3-cylinder engine. Not as sophisticated as a Hyundai i10.
Visiting the Paris Motor Show in October 2008, I was surprised to see what looked like a facelifted Citroen C1 on the Nissan stand. Time for some re-education.
It turned out that what I was looking at was the Nissan Pixo version of the new Suzuki Alto, a car I was first alerted to by the boss of Hyundai as a serious competitor to his excellent i10. So I went to have a look at the new Alto on the Suzuki stand.
Compared to the Nissan Pixo it's definitely the better looking of these almost identical twins. And it differs from the C1, 107 and Aygo by having a two-piece hatchback instead of one made entirely of glass. However it does share weight and cost-saving features of the Citroen C1 clones, like pop-open rather than wind-down rear door windows, rear seats that fold back onto the squabs instead of folding flat, no a/c in the SZ2 base model and only two rear seatbelts, making the air-conditioned, 5 year warranted, similarly priced Hyundai i10 1.2 Classic seem luxurious in comparison.
At least, emitting just 103g/km, your company can buy you a manual Alto and offset 100% against a single year's tax. And when cars under 110g/km finally come down to £20pa VED, private drivers will make a useful saving there.
The Suzuki Alto SZ2 and SZ3 are also Group 1 insurance, like the Citroen C1 clones, and that can mean quite a big reduction on insurance for your drivers.
Reviews for Suzuki Alto (2009 – 2015)'s top 3 rivals
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Suzuki Alto (2009 – 2015) handling and engines
- Engines range from 1.0 to 1.0 Automatic
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 38–65 mpg
As is usual on launches there was no chance of trying a base model. And, on this occasion, we could have any colour we wanted as long as it was Nail Polish Pink. Not only that, the car was brand new with only 600 kilometres on the clock, so was tight as a new pair of shoes. The new 996cc 3 cylinder 12 valve engine is supposed to develop 68 horsepower and I have no doubt our car's would once it was run in, but the stable door hadn't opened yet.
Yet the new Suzuki Alto acquitted itself surprisingly well on the autostrada, cruising at 120kmh at around 3,500rpm without any fuss and surprisingly low wind and road noise.
When we got to some twisty bits between Arrica and Neri the Alto became more fun, revving to 6,000 rather raucously, as 3 cylinder engines do, but game for a laugh and handling as well as could be expected on its tiddly 155/65 R15 tyres. It didn't seem to develop the sort of low-down torque that a Hyundai i10 1.2 does, and that could affect its real world economy. Though head to head against a Citroen C1, Peugeot 107 or Toyota Aygo it's as near as dammit identical.
Because I'm bound to be asked, I also drove the new Suzuki Alto 4-speed torque converter automatic. This is, of course, a lot slower, but it's adequate for anyone who needs a proper small automatic. Usefully, it can be held in 3rd for overtaking if necessary, or 2nd or even 1st for tricky ascents and descents. And at £8,560 it's only £600 more than the manual for a proper automatic rather than an automated clutch manual.
The near future will bring a Suzuki Alto with Stop-Start, that pulls the manual down to 95g/km CO2, making it even more economical and UK VED exempt. Stop-Start should also bring the automatic down to around 114g/km and firmly into Band B, which, unless things change again in the March 2009 Budget, should mean £20 VED for 2010/11.
It would be less than honest to claim the new Suzuki Alto (and its Nissan Pixo counterpart) are anything less than extremely direct competitors to the Citroen C1 triplets. But that's no bad thing. This is now the hottest sector of the UK car market. Lowest tax. Highest mpg. And lowest depreciation in terms of £££s. Suzuki won't have any trouble selling all 7,000 Altos it aims to import over the rest of 2009.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 64–66 mpg | 11.9–13.5 s | 99–103 g/km |
| 1.0 Automatic | 54–55 mpg | 11.9–17.0 s | 118–122 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Suzuki Alto (2009 – 2015)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
81%
Real MPG
38–65 mpg
MPGs submitted
145
Suzuki Alto (2009 – 2015) interior
- Boot space is 129–367 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of three stars
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3500 mm |
| Width | 1600 mm |
| Height | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2360 mm |
There seems to be considerably more luggage space in the back of the Suzuki Alto than in a Citroen C1, and, though the seats only fold on top of themselves, they leave a flatter load deck. There's adequate legroom in the back and enough headroom for me to wear my hat without squashing it on the ceiling. And, after our three-hour test drive in the area around Rome, neither of us suffered any aches or pains from the seats.
Suzuki Alto (2009 – 2015) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3500 mm |
| Width | 1600 mm |
| Height | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2360 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 885–910 kg |
| Boot Space | 129–367 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 9000 miles |
| Spare Wheel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Space-saving spare wheel | ||
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £7,193–£10,349 |
| Insurance Groups | 4 |
| Road Tax Bands | A–D |
| Official MPG | 54.3–65.7 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | 3 |
On sale until May 2017
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.0 SZ 5dr | £7,193 | 65.7 mpg | 13.5 s |
| 1.0 SZ3 5dr | £8,393 | 65.7 mpg | 13.5 s |
| 1.0 SZ4 5dr | £9,593 | 64.2 mpg | 11.9 s |
| 1.0 SZ4 Auto 5dr | £10,343 | 54.3 mpg | 11.9 s |
On sale until October 2015
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.0 SZ 68 5dr | £7,199 | 65.7 mpg | 13.5 s |
On sale until January 2015
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.0 SZ3 68 5dr | £8,399 | 65.7 mpg | 13.5 s |
| 1.0 SZ4 68 5dr | £9,599 | 65.7 mpg | 13.5 s |
| 1.0 SZ4 68 Auto 5dr | £10,349 | 55.4 mpg | 17.0 s |
On sale until March 2012
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.0 SZ2 5dr | £7,995 | 65.7 mpg | - |
Model History
- September 2008: New Suzuki Alto launched
- July 2010
- September 2010
- October 2010
- June 2011: Suzuki announced the introduction of the special edition Alto Play model
- April 2012: Alto facelifted
September 2008
New Suzuki Alto launched
Light, small five-door, four-seater 3,565 mm long, 1,600 mm wide and 1,470 mm high along the lines of a Citroen C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo. It has a wheelbase of 2,360 mm with a roomy interior and generous luggage space.
Euro 5 compliant 1.0-litre petrol engine. Combined fuel consumption: 62.7mpg (4.5l/100km). CO2 emissions: 103g/km. Front MacPherson strut suspension with high rigidity. Rear suspension in Suzuki's proprietary 3-link rigid axle design. Minimum turning radius of 4.5m
The new Alto is powered by a three cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine successfully launched as an engine of the Splash. This unit is light and compact with low friction characteristics. Maximum power output is 68PS (50kW) with maximum torque of 90Nm. Fuel consumption is low at 64.2 mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions are just 103g/km. Standard transmission is a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic transmission (uncommon among one-litre cars) with gate-type shifter is available as an option.
5-speed manual 64.2mpg, 103gh/km CO2, 96mph, 0-60 13.5, Insurance Groups 1E.
4-speed auto 54.3mpg, 122g/km VCO2, 93mph 0-60 17 seconds.
The front suspension is MacPherson strut and the large, high-rigidity suspension frame is complemented by further strengthening in the strut mounting areas for superior handling. The rear suspension has Suzuki's proprietary 3-link rigid axle design, and incorporates numerous refinements for the new car. The coil springs and dampers were tuned for optimum handling stability through extensive testing on roads in Europe. The new Alto has a minimum turning radius of just 4.5m making it easy to manoeuvre and park in tight spaces.
On sale in the UK from 1 March 2009. Prices from £6,795 to £7,995. All have an MP3/ WMA stereo, remote c/l, electric front windows and an intermittent rear wash wipe. The SZ3 gets air con. The range-topping SZ4 adds a rev counter (in a dash-top pod), ESP, curtain bags, alloys, front fogs, 4 more speakers and more colour coding. Built by Suzuki Motor Corporation, at the Maruti plant, Delhi, India.
July 2010
New SZ-L model based on the SZ3 mid grade model with air conditioning; pollen filter and side airbags as standard equipment but offers added customer value with a higher specification including front fog lamps and various exterior and interior upgrades; all for £8,170.
SZ-L gets stylish new design wheel caps, black fog lamp surrounds and black ‘B’ pillar trims as well as SZ-L embossed tailgate trim and black side mouldings for extra protection when parked. SZ-L is available in either Superior White or Bright Red non metallic colours.
Interior upgrades include SZ-L carpet mats; silver coloured trim for gearshift knob, side ventilation louvres and door openers. The SZ-L individual theme is continued for the heater control, gear lever and door handle surrounds which are coordinated in body colour. Cost of ownership is also very low with an annual VED charge of £20 and insurance group 1E classification.
September 2010
Alto SZ4 model with equivalent of no VAT to pay until the end of September 2010 and represents a customer saving of £1,332 on the SZ4 model, reducing the purchase price to £7,608.
Under a separate campaign, Alto SZ2 is available for just £6,495, saving £1,160 on the list price. The Special Edition SZ-L is equipped as standard with front fog lamps, air conditioning and various exterior and interior trim upgrades and is available for £6,995, a saving of £1,175.
October 2010
Suzuki Alto Cruz announced, based on SZ3 mid grade model with air conditioning and pollen filter as standard plus higher spec with various exterior trim upgrades all for £6,953 under Suzuki’s extended ‘VAT Free’ offer.
June 2011
Suzuki announced the introduction of the special edition Alto Play model
Alto Play is based on the popular SZ3 mid grade model with air conditioning, pollen filter and side airbags as standard equipment but offers added customer value with a higher specification including front fog lamps and various exterior and interior upgrades. Alto Play is recognised by its stylish Oyster Blue metallic paint finish; unique blue seat fabric, silver accent on the front bumper and body coloured door handles and mirrors.
April 2012
Alto facelifted
Suzuki’s smallest model, the Alto, has been refreshed for 2012, with new colours and lower emissions. The cleanest manual model now emits 99g/km of CO2, making it congestion charge exempt and allowing it to qualify for the free annual VED. Prices start at £6995.
The improved emissions bring the benefit of reduced fuel consumption, which is 65.7mpg with the manual gearbox. The improved fuel economy and lower emissions are owed to a new Dual VVT system, which also improves throttle response of the 68bhp three-cylinder petrol engine.
Other changes to the Alto range include a new exterior colour called Glistening Grey metallic, a refreshed interior design with new fabric trim, new wheel trims for models with steel wheels and a dipping rear view mirror.
The optional automatic transmission is cleaner and more efficient than it was previously, too, with emissions down to 118g/km from 122g/km, which equates to £65 reduction in annual VED bills after the first year, which is free. It’s a true four-speed automatic, rather than an automated manual.
What to watch out for
Emerging problem areas include recurring wiper/washer problems. They keep breaking and water leaks onto drivers foot. Rattles from engine finally identified as engine mounts which also seem to fail regularly. One October 2009 car already on its third replacement mounts at just 7,500 miles.
03-12-2012:Reports of engine/transmission mounting failures.
16-09-2016:Complaint of exhaust resonance on three different Suzuki Altos corresponding with a lack of power in wet weather. May have something to do with the failing engine/transmission mountings.
