The Alto has joined the list of Maruti cars bringing safety features as add-ons, with the Indian manufacturer offering driver airbag as an option across all variants of the Alto K10 and Alto 800. Models such as the WagonR, WagonR Stingray, Swift, Dzire and Celerio are offered with the option pack which includes dual airbags and ABS as add-ons.
The Alto will be the only model in the segment to offer the option of a driver airbag across all variants, as competitors like the Renault Kwid and the 800cc Hyundai Eon only offer this feature on the top variant. Earlier, only the top VXi (O) trim of the Alto K10 came fitted with a driver airbag, while the top VXi trim of the Alto 800 offered the same as an add-on option. Other features remain unchanged.
The Alto 800 is powered by a 796cc three-cylinder engine that develops 47.3bhp and comes with the factory-fitted option of a CNG kit. The larger Alto K10 uses the 998cc K10 engine – also used in the WagonR and Celerio – and gets the factory-fitted CNG option. The engine is capable of developing 67.1bhp and 58.2bhp in the petrol and CNG guise respectively. Both cars use a five-speed manual gearbox with the Alto K10 additionally getting the option of an AMT gearbox.
Prices of the airbag-equipped variants of the Alto are as follows:
Maruti Alto 800 STD(O): Rs 2.62 lakh
Maruti Alto 800 LX(O): Rs 2.99 lakh
Maruti Alto 800 LXi(O): Rs 3.21 lakh
Maruti Alto 800 LXi CNG(O): Rs 3.78 lakh
Maruti Alto K10 LXi(O): Rs 3.46 lakh
Maruti Alto K10 VXi AGS(O): Rs 4.11 lakh
Maruti Alto K10 LXi CNG(O): Rs 4.08 lakh
(All prices ex-showroom, Delhi)
At Rs 2.62 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Alto becomes the cheapest car to get the driver airbag feature in India.