Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 BS VI Launched

Maruti Suzuki has launched the updated Alto 800 which now meets the upcoming April 2020 emissions and safety regulations. Prices range between Rs. Rs. 2.93 lakh to Rs. 3.71 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi.

Maruti Suzuki has pulled off yet another market first by introducing the first BS VI compliant A-segment car on the market with the launch of the BS VI Alto 800. The Alto name plate has been India’s bestselling car for 15 years on the trot now, so a cleaner and safer version of it will surely benefit the exhaustive Alto customer base. Designed to meet the upcoming emissions regulations coming into effect in April 2020, the Alto 800’s 796cc, three cylinder engine is now calibrated to have a 25 per cent drop in NOx emissions. This has been done by reworking the engine’s internals, ECU and the exhaust system of the car. With the reworking on the engine, exhaust system and engine management system the Alto 800’s engine continues to develop identical power and torque figures as earlier with 45bhp being made at 6,000 rpm and 65Nm @ 3,500 rpm. The engine continues to be mated to a five-speed manual transmission but the ARAI rated fuel efficiency figure for the car falls from 24.7 km/l for the BS IV model to 22.05 km/l for the new BS VI model.

Powertrain changes aside, the Alto has also been given a minor face-lift that gives it a new front bumper with a large air dam and a new black front grille. The car does seem to have lost its front fog lamps in the process of the update though. On the inside, Maruti Suzuki has junked the earlier dashboard of the car in favour of a slightly redesigned version of the Alto K10’s dashboard. The new dashboard also brings a new stereo for the car that now features Bluetooth connectivity and what Maruti calls a Smart Dock System.

But one of the biggest benefits that the new model brings is in terms of safety features as the car is now capable of meeting the upcoming crash and pedestrian safety regulations while also featuring dual front airbags along with anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD). Standard safety equipment on the new Alto 800 includes a driver airbag, driver and passenger seatbelt reminders, speed alert system and reverse parking sensors.

The 2019 Alto 800 also meets the government stipulated End of Life Vehicles (ELV) obligations that mandate that the car is over 95% recoverable and 85% recyclable.

Prices for the updated Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 range between Rs. 2.93 lakh to Rs. 3.71 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi.

R S Kalsi, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki, said, “At Maruti Suzuki, we are committed to bring innovations in India’s best-selling car brand Alto, which now has a stylish makeover with additional safety features. With cumulative sales of over 3.7 million since launch in 2000, Alto has been a symbol of pride for Indian car users. Nearly 58% of Alto customers have chosen it as their first car purchase. The New Alto is India’s first BSVI compliant entry segment car with a powerful engine and high fuel efficiency of 22.05 km/l. We are confident that the New Alto will be a car that young Indians will be proud to own.”

Also read - BS-VI compliant Maruti Suzuki Baleno hybrid launched at ₹ 7.25 lakh

Datsun redi-GO vs Renault Kwid vs Maruti Alto 800: Comparison