Maruti’s new Alto K10 is a big step up over its predecessor. Essentially, the cabin doesn’t have much of the earlier car’s ‘budget car’ vibe and the engine has been tweaked for better fuel economy too. Apart from this, the new Alto K10 is the first (and only) car in its class to offer an optional automatic (automated manual transmission) gearbox. So, the new K10 is definitely more desirable than before but is it better than its rivals? Here is a quick low down on how it compares to the stylish Hyundai Eon 1.0 and the bigger Datsun Go on paper.
The mechanicals
The Maruti Alto K10 is powered by a 998cc, three-cylinder petrol engine (there’s a CNG option as well) and that is mated to a five-speed manual or an optional five-speed automatic (available only on the VXi trim). The motor makes 67bhp at 6200rpm and 9.18kgm of torque.
Similarly, the Eon is powered by a 998cc, three-cylinder petrol motor but with 68bhp of power and 9.6kgm of torque, it has a slight advantage over the Alto K10. Here, the motor is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. There’s a smaller 800cc engine as well but for this comparison, we are considering this 1.0-litre variant as its power output closely matches its rivals here.
With a 1198cc engine, the Datsun Go gets the biggest motor here. And while the 67bhp of power may be a bit shy of the Eon’s figure, remember that the Datsun makes its peak power at a much lower 5000rpm (compared to the 6200rpm on the other two) which means you don’t have to spin the engine very fast to tap into the power. The larger engine helps the Go make the most torque here at 10.61kgm. The Datsun Go too gets a five-speed manual gearbox.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
