Maruti Alto 800 review, test drive

Maruti has done a commendable job with the new Alto 800’s styling. While every single body panel is new, the car is instantly recognisable as an Alto. The slim grille looks quite sporty, while the large air intake in the bumper along with the high-mounted, petal-shaped headlights look modern – quite similar to the Ford Figo’s.

The prominent crease that runs along the flanks and rises towards the rear adds to the sporty feel, giving the car a tipped-forward stance. But this stylistic element has eaten into the rear glass area, which might make rear seat passengers feel claustrophobic. At the rear, fresh new details like the large multi-element tail-lights and sharply sculpted bumper add some much needed spice. What makes the car look a bit awkward, however, is the massive ground clearance; it just doesn’t sit well with the car’s compact dimensions.

Maruti has deliberately styled the Alto 800 on the conservative side after market feedback suggested that the extrovert styling of the Hyundai Eon was not to the taste of the traditional budget-car buyer. Maruti has clearly played it safe as far as design goes in order to appeal to a wider audience.

While the Alto 800 may be completely new on the outside, under the skin, there are plenty of bits carried over from the outgoing car. The floorpan is similar, the wheelbase is the same and the suspension and brakes are near identical. Also similar are the load points on the chassis and the ‘H’ points (hip points) of the seats. The engine bay is now more compact, and the firewall and dash have been ‘optimised’ to make the cabin more space efficient. The roof is now 15 percent higher for improved headroom. The body structure has been modified to make it stiffer, both in the interest of improved ride and handling, and to qualify it for impending crash test norms. But this hasn’t added too much to the weight. The roof, for example, is made of thinner steel and has corrugations for added rigidity, and the Alto 800 still remains a flyweight. Even the top-end airbag-equipped version tips the scales at just 725kg.