2010 Suzuki Alto reviews

Suzuki Alto SZ4 2010

Suzuki’s Alto is rationalism made metal. Stylish, compact, functional, modern and thoroughly alluring, it is fastidiously sculpted. This small car is cheap, fun, practical and safe and will allow you more driving satisfaction than many more expensive city cars - and it will pass the scrutiny of your insurers with barely a twitch of an eyebrow. Suzuki certainly know superminis, making the Alto a car in which you can tackle serious journeys, enjoy on roads which duck and dive - yet it’s equally amenable to city work. It’s just 3.5 metres long and is one of the smallest cars on the road yet it’s a five-door hatch: which adds to the convenience greatly. Inside there’s room for four adults in reasonable comfort - but you can’t have everything. Boot space is small as you would expect; but this doesn’t matter if there’s only two of you because the rear seats fold flat. The interior is simple, tasteful and well executed with seats that are comfortable and supportive and with trim that is easy on the eye. The Alto is good for short hop and long haul alike. Prices start at £8,345 and rise to £9,130 for the SZ4 tested, which has as standard, alloy wheels, curtain airbags, power windows, a decent sound system, air conditioning and ESP traction control - a feature that proved invaluable during the snowy test conditions. The little lightweight (885kgs) Suzuki simply ’flew’ up hills that had macho ’off roaders’ struggling! It most definitely was confidence inspiring, nimbly nipping around the uncontrollable masses of heavyweight metal sliding into each other. Powered by a fully proven 67bhp 996cc three-cylinder engine, which allows a top speed of 96mph, the Alto is no rocket ship - reaching cruising speed in time for tea. But don’t let that put you off. It’s an eager engine that seems to be sadomasochistic, begging to be thrashed hard. Being a very light car means that if you use the five speed gearbox properly, you can make rapid progress: and you still get nearly 65mpg overall. Once up to motorway speeds you can ’back off’’ to just a whiff of throttle and 70/80mph is fairly quiet and relaxed if the car is just ’one-up’. Fill it full of three tubby passengers and it is harder work. ’I’ve heard it all before’ I hear you say. ’Little engines only last five minutes before they expire.’ Well I’m pleased to tell you that if they are anything to do with Suzuki they don’t. Witness the legendary 1200cc engine from the Suzuki Bandit. (Motorcycle). Even when fuelled by nitro glycerine and an atom bomb - and then criminally abused, this motor has surely set a standard for all Suzuki engineering - so I feel confident that Alto mechanicals will stand the tests of time: unlike some other small cars which have fallen apart because you once used full throttle for a hundred yards. Unlike some small cars, you don’t bounce along in an Alto. The ride is fairly composed and secure and if you do wish to drive like Dr.Deranged you won’t end up in a pickle or a ditch because the Alto is not just a shopping trolley for blue-rinse matrons: it’s actually fun to drive exuberantly. The Alto seems to have a charm all of its own. Whilst successfully meeting the requirements of trusty Trevor and Theresa who need a ’champion little motor’ and will never exceed the speed limit, the Alto has hidden depths - being capable of so much more.