UPDATE: 2019 Maruti Suzuki Alto review, test drive

With a slew of safety regulations to kick in by the year-end, 2019 will mark the end of road for a number of iconic cars in India. But Maruti Suzuki has ensured that its bestselling offering, the Alto 800, isn’t one of them by giving it a thorough update. The facelift sees the addition of not only more safety kit, but also refreshed exterior styling and interior design, along with a new powerplant under the hood. Let’s take a closer look at what the new Alto 800 has to offer.

Starting with the standard equipment, the Alto now gets a driver's side airbag, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, a seatbelt reminder and a speed alert system as standard. What’s more, the car’s structure has also been upgraded to help comply with the upcoming crash and pedestrian safety regulations. The 48hp, 796cc, three-cylinder petrol engine has also been upgraded to make it BS-VI-emission norms compliant, making it the most affordable car on sale in India to comply with the new norms. As before, the engine is allied to a 5-speed manual transmission. However, the CNG option is no longer part of the package.

Priced at Rs 2.94 lakh, the Std variant is the entry point into the budget hatchback's range. This means that it is decidedly down on features and only gets the likes of dual-tone interiors, vinyl seat upholstery, a driver's sun visor and front and rear console bottle holders. 

The mid-spec LXi trim costs roughly Rs 56,000 more. What you get for the additional outlay is a greater set of creature comforts including part-fabric seat upholstery, integrated rear seat headrests, a co-driver sun visor, air conditioning, power steering, front power windows and rear door child locks. This trim can also be identified by its body coloured bumpers and door handles and full wheel covers for the 12-inch steel rims.

VXi is the range-topping version and has been priced at Rs 3.72 lakh. Over the LXi, it additionally gets remote locking, internally adjustable outside rear view mirrors and Maruti’s all-new SmartPlay Dock infotainment system with radio, USB, aux and Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming and hands-free telephony. Commendably, it also comes equipped with a passenger side airbag, which is a paid option on the lower Std and LXi variants.

With this facelift, it is clear that the Indian carmaker has breathed new life into the Alto, which will now not only survive the upcoming safety and emissions norms, but should also remain one of the bestselling cars our market. 

(All prices, ex-showroom, Delhi)