New Suzuki Car Reviews
New Suzuki Alto SZ2 Car Review

VISUAL BASIC

Suzuki’s entry-level Alto SZ2 has a lot riding on it. Steve Walker reports.

A lot of very clever people have thought long and hard about the future of the automotive industry and the consensus seems to be that cars are going to have to get smaller. That must be music to the ears of Suzuki, a company with half a century of experience in producing small cars. With the age of the gas-guzzler apparently all but up, the market should be moving in the Japanese marque’s direction and the Alto city car could be a major beneficiary, particularly in entry-level SZ2 form.

Check out the advertising campaign being run for any new car and the quoted prices should be taken with a pinch of salt. It’s certainly true that you will be able to get the model in question for the measly sum that leaps off the page or out of the TV screen at you but it’ll be the car at it’s most disappointingly Spartan. Equipment levels that would be outshone by a wheelbarrow and the wow factor of a boiled potato will be major turn-offs in the showroom but it matters not because by this stage the entry-level car has done its job. Some customers will buy at this basic point but only a few because, as the sales staff will delight in pointing out, for only a few pounds more, they can get the plusher, higher spec model that looks and feels so much more satisfying. In the Suzuki Alto range, things are a little different, it’s the SZ2 model that acts as entry-level bait but despite the low price, it’s not the empty shell you might imagine.

All Suzuki Altos get the same 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine. It’s a modern unit boasting four valves per cylinder and aluminium construction which helps to keep weight down. It generates 66bhp at 6,000rpm and although it can struggle on inclines or when there’s a heavy load on board forcing you to stay on top of the gears, it’s adequate for travelling one-up around town as most city cars tend to do. The engine noise is quite prevalent but it’s not unpleasant and even sounds mildly sporty at higher revs. When cruising, it settles down well and only the wind noise is really noticeable.

The Alto isn’t a particularly slick operator on the road, the gear box has a nice short throw but there’s a notchy quality to the shifts and it sometimes seems reluctant to slot into reverse. The steering lacks precision when you’re making small adjustments around the straight ahead and, although it’s well weighted to inspire confidence through corners, it can feel heavy during low speed drills. The suspension doesn’t respond well to poor surfaces but is comfortable enough on good roads and the Alto turns neatly without too much body roll. We’ve come to expect quite a lot from our city cars where driving dynamics are concerned and the Alto doesn’t quite match up to the class leaders but customers in a market for a nippy urban runabout shouldn’t be put off.

It’s no longer enough for city cars to be space efficient wheeled boxes. Customers have come to expect a certain cheeky style and the likes of the Fiat 500, smart fortwo and Toyota iQ have delivered it. The Alto isn’t in this league in terms of its cute factor or its price but it’s a far from unappealing proposition with its big teardrop headlights and rising side window line. The C-pillars are rather large and this doesn’t help rear visibility but the five-door body style offers decent practicality. With a couple of six-footers in the front, there’s adequate space for a couple more to squeeze into the back seats. Head room is good and there’s a boot behind of a reasonable but not spectacular 129-litres that can increase to 367-litres with the seats folded flat.

The interior design of the Alto is rather less successful than the exterior. The grey plastics that used to be the staple of budget small cars a few years back no longer quite cut it and some of the Alto’s aren’t of the best quality. The controls are chunky and simple to operate in the best Suzuki traditions and the stereo is well designed with nicer finishes than you’ll encounter elsewhere. A wide, deep pocket on the passenger side takes the place of a glovebox providing useful storage and there’s a neat illuminated shelf in the centre console where you can stick your mobile phone or wallet in the spotlight. The wafer thin door pockets will be of little use except for paperwork or items that you’ve recently run over.

Equipment wise, the Alto turns in a strong performance, even in this entry-level SZ2 form. Power steering, electric front windows, a tilt-adjustable steering column, an MP3 compatible CD stereo, remote central locking and a 50:50 split rear seat are all standard. The £500 it costs to upgrade to the SZ3 model only gets you air-conditioning, so cost-conscious buyers might feel inclined to stay put. The safety equipment includes four airbags and ABS brakes but you’ll need to shell out for the SZ4 model to get ESP stability control.

A split is developing in the city car market between the trendier offerings like the Fiat 500, Ford Ka and Toyota iQ at one end and the more utilitarian and affordable ones at the other. The Suzuki Alto is firmly in the later camp alongside the likes of Citroën’s C1, Hyundai’s i10 and Kia’s Picanto. The standards we’ve come to expect from such models are higher than ever but the Alto is equipped to compete, particularly at the SZ2’s sub £7,000 price point.

The Alto’s lightweight design allows it to get the most of its 1.0-litre engine and in terms of fuel economy, very few petrol powered cars can touch it. The Alto can average 64.2mpg on the combined cycle and 51mpg around town where most owners will use it. Accompanied by emissions of just 103g/km and the lowest possible insurance grouping, it makes the Alto one of the most cost-effective purchases in the sector.

With the Alto Suzuki will be looking for its expertise and perseverance over half a century in the small car market to pay off. It’s never had the sector to itself, though, and as buyers turn to more compact and efficient vehicles in growing numbers, so rival manufacturers will be driven to compete more fiercely for sales. The Alto has the capacity to do well in this market but it will rely on its value proposition, so there’s a lot riding on the SZ2 entry-level models.

The Suzuki’s offering feels off the pace in some respects but it’s a good looking little car that’s well-equipped and attractively priced. Outstanding fuel economy and low emissions also count in its favour, as does a practical five-door bodystyle yielding the genuine ability to carry four adults. City car buyers are faced with an increasing array of options these days but this entry-level Suzuki shouldn’t be overlooked.

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