Any Indian from the pre-liberalisation era can boldly say that the word car then meant Maruti 800. Maruti Suzuki started off an automobile revolution through this people’s car which was one of the highest selling cars for more than a decade after its launch. The Alto and Alto K10 followed this iconic hatchback to become best-sellers. But with time, auto giants like Tata and Hyundai came out with competition. The Eon – a wonderfully designed small car from Hyundai and Nano – the world’s cheapest car made it to market. Staying idle was something out of the books for India’s largest car maker when these new cars threatened to take away a part of the company’s market share. The Alto 800 stepped into the shoes of low priced Maruti car in 2012. The amount that was spent on developing this product from scratch was Rs. 470 crore. A team of 200 engineers worked on this project and the car was completely developed in India. Maruti Alto 800 is the answer from the country’s largest car maker to the needs of basic Indian consumer. The car is strongly positioned against Eon and Nano where it looks promising to increase the market share of Maruti Suzuki in hatchback segment. Alto 800 is bigger and more efficient compared to the outgoing model and is packed with features to thrill modern day consumers.
Competing against modern cars the Alto 800 now had to be more efficient, stylish and spacious compared to its elder siblings. The company has been successful in tuning the 796 cc engine to give 15 percent higher mileage than the elder sibling. Taking design attributes from Alto K10, the hatchback is modeled to look very contemporary with petal shape headlamps rounded corners, distinctive tail lamps and unique U shaped tail gate. The sloping roof-line, character lines and aerodynamic body shape gives a sporty edge to the Alto 800. Although the car is not as lengthy as the Alto K10, it is designed to have a long wheelbase. The cabin is more spacious because of thin seats which are designed to give optimum comfort. The car can seat four people in the nest of comfort while driving them around smoothly with low NVH levels. This has given great Maruti Alto 800 review from consumers ever since its launch.
Amidst some wonderful products in the automobile segment consumers are becoming more and more conscious about features and equipment of their buy. AC and power windows have almost become mandatory in cars. Including these features Alto 800 also comes packed with remote fuel lid opener and safety gadgets like engine immobiliser and airbags. This overall package makes the hatchback more valuable and competent in the market. The CNG engine variant is also in the options list of the car which has a mileage of 30.4 km/kg. With the features and equipment Maruti Alto 800 price varies from Rs. 2.42 lakh to Rs. 3.6 lakh which positions it in the slot of completion with its arch rival Hyundai’s hatchback Eon.
In the years to come the Maruti Alto 800 may not create the impact created by 800 or Alto but that is too much to expect from an entry-level hatchback in the present day economic scenario. Mini cars have become doorways for first time car owners to enter into the world of automobiles. With bigger dreams and ambitions consumers do not stop at one car and would want to buy many more during their lives. Maruti Suzuki has certainly moulded a dream car in Alto 800 for consumers who wish to shift from two-wheelers to four-wheelers.
Natasha John 