MELBOURNE 2009: Suzuki Alto Creates Supermini Class in Australia
Yes, on the surface of things, it is just a crummy little Suzuki. I say "crummy", but you know I only mean boring. It's probably a fine car, but most people won't care. A bit like a So You Think You Can Dance winner - they're very good at what they do, but you don't really care. What actually gives the launch of the Suzuki Alto relevance here in Australia, is that when it arrives here soon, it will have no direct competitor.
We no longer have Daihatsu, the Daewoo Matiz no longer exists, and in fact, the only car I can think of that is remotely like the Alto is the Proton Savvy - which is about as savvy as buying a Toyota LandCruiser for inner-city driving (there's no direct correlation there, by the way). The reason why the Alto has no direct competitor is its size, mainly - at 3.5 metres, it is 40 centimetres smaller than an average size "small car" - as we know them at the moment, anyway. At this length, the Alto is even tinier than a Mini Cooper, but will be nowhere near as expensive. Expect a price at about $13,000 - which is crazy these days, and reminds me of when Hyundai Excels were that price way back in the 90's. The million dollar question is: will the Suzuki Alto be good enough, in terms of quality for as start, to catch on in Australia? For more info, read the factoids below.
FACTOIDS
- Drive system: Front Wheel Drive
- Transmission: 5 Speed Manual/4 Speed Automatic
- Number of doors: 5
- DIMENSIONS
- Overall length: 3,500 mm
- Overall width: 1,600 mm
- Overall height: 1,470 mm
- Wheelbase: 2,360 mm
- Tread
- Front: 1,405 mm
- Rear: 1,400 mm
- CAPACITIES
- Seating capacity: 4
- Luggage capacity
- Max. Volume: 774 L
- Rear seatback folded (VDA method): 367 L
- Rear seatback raised (VDA method): 129 L
- Max. Volume: 774 L
- Fuel tank capacity: 35 L
- ENGINE
- Number of cylinders: 3
- Number of valves: 12
- Piston displacement: 996 cm3 (1.0 Litres)
- Maximum output: 50kW @ 6,000 rpm
- Maximum torque: 90 Nm @ 4,800 rpm
- Fuel distribution: Multipoint injection
- PERFORMANCE
- Maximum speed: 155 km/h
- 0-100 km/h: 14 s
- Fuel consumption (Average): 4,5 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions (Average): 103 g/km
March 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Why would anybody want to drive such a small car in the City in the first place? Everybody has SUV's. It'll be like a bicycle versus a tank.
March 9, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Easily answered Thai - for mine, Style, price and reduced carbon emissions. With economy appearing to be in the league of Prius, without the associated battery costs or disposal concerns, this looks a winner - particularly in these times.
As fas as the question of will it be good enough to catch on in Australia - look at the Swift. Any idea on release date ?
March 9, 2009 at 8:07 PM
Hi Steve, welcome to the website.
Information on release dates is tentative at the moment, due to the economic climate, and rise/fall of the Australian dollar. I would expect it between August and November.
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