Suzuki Alto review (2009-2014)
If you’re fed up with cycling in the rain or don’t want to take the bus anymore, Suzuki’s extremely affordable Alto might just be the car to come to your rescue. This small five-door hatchback is perfect for those taking their first step on their motoring journey and people on a tight budget. Read our full Suzuki Alto review below.
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Pros
- Budget-friendly option
- Cheap to run
- Drives well around town
Cons
- Pretty small inside
- Not so composed on the motorway
Interior
Our rating: 5/10
Yes, the Alto may look like an itty-bitty city car from the outside – yet you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the amount of space in the front.
Driving position
There’s nothing too shabby or ‘budget’ about the front seats, which will give you plenty of comfort and support and a good range of driving positions, although height adjustment is only available on top trim levels.
It’s less good news in the back, where space is quite tight and not really suitable for adults or tall teenagers on long journeys – younger kids should be fine though.
Tech and features
Suzuki stopped selling the Alto in the UK in 2014, so it’s beginning to show its age a little inside.
Everything feels solidly screwed together and constructed – there’s just no nice soft-touch plastics to be found.
There’s nothing too flashy about the Alto’s dashboard. The controls are nice and easy to use, thanks to big chunky buttons and switches.
The entry-level SZ2 model is equipped with features such as remote central locking, electric front windows and a CD player, while the SZ3 adds air-conditioning.
Upgrading to the SZ4 brings stylish alloy wheels.
Performance
Our rating: 6/10
Engines and power
Suzuki offers the Alto with a single engine choice - a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit.
If you’ve not tried an engine of this size before, we’re sure you’ll like the distinct sound it makes and the additional character it brings to the car.
The engine has enough performance to pull the Alto up steep hills, and the only thing you do need to decide upon is whether you go for an automatic or manual gearbox.
Having the automatic takes care of all the gear changes for you and makes town driving a little easier, but you should find the manual gearbox a doddle to use too.
Handling and ride comfort
The Alto is at its best around town, where its good visibility, tight turning circle, a comfortable ride and light steering make it super-easy to manoeuvre.
It’ll cope with country roads and motorways too of course, but it never feels quite as polished there as it does in the city.
Practicality
Our rating: 6/10
Storage solutions
The door bins are very narrow and general stowage is not that great throughout the cabin, with no glovebox fitted.
Boot space
Unfortunately, things don’t get much better when you move around to the boot.
It’s big enough to hold a couple of soft sports bags or a medium amount of shopping, and not much more.
There’s also quite a high load lip to lift items over.
Remember, the Alto is not meant to be a family car and if you’re living the student life, or just nipping about town picking up a few bits and pieces, it should be absolutely fine.
If you do need to fit bigger items in, you can easily fold the back seats down.
Running costs
Our rating: 8/10
This is where the Alto scores big. As it’s aged, it hasn’t held on to its value as well as some of its posher rivals, and that means you’ll find it much more affordable to buy now.
Insurance groups
You should also find it very cheap to run. Insurance costs are just about as low as they can get, and servicing costs should be minimal, too.
Fuel economy
You won’t have to stop for fuel too often either as the engine should return high-50s mpg with the manual gearbox, a little bit less with the automatic transmission.
Reliability
The Alto enjoys a good reputation for reliability, so should provide you with relatively trouble-free driving.
The verdict
Interior
5/10
Performance
6/10
Practicality
6/10
Running costs
8/10
We’re big fans of the Suzuki Alto’s cute styling.
With that smiling front face, there really is a lot of character with this car.
The Alto is also easy to live with, especially in the city, and it won’t break the bank to either purchase or run.
However, compared with other more rounded compact hatchbacks, it can certainly feel more budget-friendly and lacks some of the refinement of more upmarket options.
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