Maruti Suzuki launched the all-new Alto K10, a budget-friendly urban vehicle for the Indian market. The Alto K10 slots above the slightly smaller Alto 800, and below the Wagon R, Celerio, Ignis, Swift, and Baleno in that particular order. We should also note it is a different model from the Japanese-spec Alto, despite sharing the same name. The third generation of the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 measures 3,530 mm long, 1,490 mm wide, and 1,520 mm tall, with a 2,380 mm wheelbase. This makes it 85 mm longer than the Alto 800, and 165 mm shorter than the Celerio.
The new model adopts a more
modern appearance, with softer lines and more curves than its predecessor. The
front end is characterized by a large honeycomb grille and cute halogen
headlights looking similar but less aggressive to the Hyundai i10. The profile
has cleaner lines than before but doesn’t look as nice as the Celerio, while
the tiny 13-inch wheels don’t help with proportions. At the back, Suzuki
designer played safe with boxy taillights and a sculpted rear bumper mirroring
the front end. The model is offered in six colors, with two optional accessory
packages – the Impacto featuring colorful touches and the Glinto coming with
chrome accents.
The interior is modernized although the
budget-friendly nature is still evident from the hard plastics. The 7-inch
infotainment touchscreen is a nice upgrade with navigation and plenty of
connectivity features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The steering
wheel is sourced from the Celerio, the instrument panel has a digital
speedometer, and the audio system has four speakers. The cabin looks roomy for
the vehicle’s footprint, with five seatbelts although the limited width makes
it more fitting for up to four adults. The safety kit on the other hand is
quite basic, with dual airbags, ABS, EBD, reverse parking sensors, and auto
door lock.
The Alto K10 has now
moved into the Heartect architecture which underpins most Suzuki models, making
it safer and more technologically advanced than its predecessor. Under the
bonnet lies the latest version of the 1.0-liter K-Series petrol engine that
produces 66 hp and 89 Nm of torque, just like in the
Celerio. Power is transmitted to the front axle through either a five-speed
manual or an AGS automatic gearbox.
The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 is already
available to order in India. Pricing starts from as low as 399,000 Indian Rupee
(US$ 5,000) for the base-spec manual, and can reach up to 584,000 Indian Rupee
(US$ 7,319) for the full-spec auto.