Road Tests
Read the road tests that have appeared in Local Cars magazine
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Suzuki Alto
I’ve not lost my love of performance cars but as the country’s nances are going to hell in a basket and my Mk 2 Jaguar is a large but attractive money pit which swallows everything I can spare and more, it is with regret that to prevent a life of crime I am seriously thinking of changing my beloved Toyota Avensis which though very reliable and economical is a long way behind the new small cars which return over 60mpg and attract low road tax.
I have looked at many small cars but some are so utterly, mind- numbingly dull and boring to the point I felt I wanted to head to an old folks’ home because they had a knack of ageing me with every I mile drove.
However, there are some which though small can still thrill and have a personality such as the Toyota Aygo, which is the same as the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107 because they are built on the same assembly line, but I was rather attracted to the new Suzuki Alto which I had on test from Border Cars of Carlisle.
The Alto has a similar one-litre, three-cylinder, aluminium overhead cam engine whose deep o -beat thrum makes delicious music just like a small Austin Healey 3000 - if any reader remembers those glorious six-cylinder ‘60s sportscars which Timo Makinen and Pat Moss drove so well in international rallies.
However, though I suspect some of the technology may be shared with the Alto it is actually built in India and has a slightly di erent spec at 68bhp/90Nm while the others have 67bhp/93Nm yet the Alto is a second quicker to 62mph which it does in 13.5 seconds as opposed to 14.2 seconds which I reckon is due to the Alto’s slightly lower quality and lighter interior.
Of course to a competitive driver the acceleration is hardly neck snapping but rather like I used to attach some bits of sti card to the forks of my push bike which made it sound like an engine when hit by the revolving spokes, the Alto’s roarty sound when on the limit around 6,500rpm sounds though it is going much, much quicker!
The illusion is helped by a super quick, though long-throw, 5-speed gearbox and roller-skate handling which on A and B roads made it a real thrill to drive which meant after a long trip through the Eden Valley I had a grin like a Cheshire cat as it was responsive and fun.
I was on my own and I am sure that four up will dull the performance a bit because on long inclines it needed much stirring of the Alto ‘box to maintain speed on the motorway but in the cruise it is a quiet and pleasant companion.
That said, as the interior is somewhat bargain basement with a sea of two-tone grey plastic, the tyre rumble was noticeable because it acted like a drum and there was distinct wind noise around the A pillar when at out.
However, the radio/CD player cured that and the seating I found to be very comfortable with good thigh support which is often missing in small cars and the material was tough and durable.
Having lots of interior cubbyholes for stowing stu it is useful because the boot is not exactly huge, though it will swallow a few Tesco shopping bags or soft travel bags but my hound might need to diet!
Only built as a ve door as opposed to the other trio for which extra is paid if you go from three to ve, access to the Alto is good and though hardly limo leg room, four adults could travel comfortably, though a long trans-continental dash would perhaps not be recommended.
The actual spec, apart from the considerable amount of plastic, is good with enough air bags to be able to act as oats should you chose to crash into a river and electric front windows, 2 ISOFX seat anchorages, 14 inch alloy wheels, EPS, ABS and EBD, fog lamps, 50/50 split rear seats, MP3/WMA compatible CD tuner and adjustable steering wheel are among the list means the Alto is virtually fully loaded.
An earth-hugger, the Alto is mean with its emissions at only 103g/km of C02 which means a lowly road tax of £35 and in terms of value on a like for like basis, the Alto SZ4 test car £7,795 OTR is over £700 cheaper than an equivalent Aygo.
Good to look at, enormous fun to drive, frugal and kind to Mother Earth an Alto could well become the next car in the Brunskill garage to join She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed’s Swift and my money-sapping Jag! |
