Maruti Suzuki India launched its best selling hatchback in the A segment precisely 11 years and 9 months ago, Maruti Alto was being considered a new age small car that gave a tough competition to its old sibling, Maruti 800. It is indeed a proud moment for Maruti Suzuki India as the company’s small hatchback, Alto has touched the 2 million units sales mark in a span of almost 12 years. Maruti rolled out Alto hatchback in two trims in the beginning with the three cylinder 796cc F8D petrol powertrain which attracted most of the consumers, the other model was a 1.1 litre four cylinder petrol motor variant which was the premium and more sturdy trim among the two. Due to the huge popularity and preference for the F8D model the company is still offering this engine option in Alto, however, the 1.1 litre premium engine has been discontinued owing to its low preference.
Maruti Alto hatchback is fuel efficient, the engine comes with a supreme quality, spare parts too do not cost much and Maruti Alto Price has been tagged competitively which lures the customers. Despite these traits it took Alto some time to out number Maruti’s then bestselling hatchback in the A segment, Maruti 800. Believe it or not but in order to push Maruti Alto sales in India, the company had to slowly discontinue the M800 model by proffering it with a less sturdy engine and a four speed gearbox. Maruti 800 literally ruled the Indian roads, it came equipped with the same 45 Bhp engine synchronized to a five speed gearbox that did duty in Maruti Alto hatch.
Maruti Alto is also available in the CNG variant other than the petrol trim, however launch of LPG version is on the cards. Maruti soe time back also intromitted the 1litre, three cylinder K-Series petrol powerplant. This engine option is offered on the reworked version of Maruti Alto that dons better interiors and redesigned exteriors. Maruti Alto sporting the K Series engine is christened Maruti Alto K10. Maruti Alto K10 pips out a maximum power of 67 Bhp and a peak torque of 90 Nm, the engine is definitely frugal. Also the light weight of the body of the car adds on to the fuel economy of the hatchback.
As far as the Maruti Alto sales in India are concerned the hatchback was titled the bestselling car from the Maurti Suzuki India’s portfolio, also along with this Alto was also titled the largest selling hatchback in India with monthly sales of 20,000 units which sometimes even surpassed this number and took a leap at 30,000 units. However back in 2009 when Tata Motors launched the wonder car or then known as ‘lakhtakia car’ did gave a tough competition to Maruti Alto hatchback which thankfully was short lived. Things did not happen the way Tata Motors had envisaged and hence Alto’s sales remained intact. However due to sky rocketing prices of petrol, maruti Alto sales have started reducing, since the car is npt present in diesel version, though the petrol version is also extremely fuel economic, but then petrol costs are rising every now and then. Maruti Suzuki India might have planned something to lift up Alto’s falling sales, as of now the company is rejoicing Alto’s immense success in Indian car market.
Read the useful Maruti Alto User Reviews on carkhabri.cm, also go through Maruti Alto Photos gallery on Carkhabri.com.
