New tyres boost Suzuki Alto economy

SUZUKI’S bargain-basement Alto mini car just got even more frugal, with the help of low-rolling-resistance tyres that snip fuel consumption from 4.8 litres per 100km to 4.7/100km.

Claimed to be Australia’s least expensive new car to own, the Indian-made five-door Alto’s new, harder tyres are also said to cut CO2 emissions by almost three per cent, to 110 grams per kilometre.

The auto version makes up even more ground with gains of almost four per cent, to 5.3L/100km and 126g/km.

While the Alto’s fuel economy and C02 ratings are not the best in the country – Ford’s diesel Fiesta Econetic light car claims 3.7L/100km and Toyota’s Prius hybrid emits just 89g/km – it leads conventional petrol engine rivals at the bottom end of the price chain.

For example, Hyundai’s new i20 light car – also made in India – consumes 6.0L/100km and emits 142g/km in its base, 1.4-litre manual guise.



The Alto’s new boots were announced by Suzuki on Tuesday, as Hyundai was lifting the lid on the i20 at a national media event.

Suzuki Australia general manager Tony Devers said the latest economy upgrade for Alto was added proof that it was one of the best value car choices on the market.

“It ranks amongst the greenest vehicles on the planet, and has a starting price almost three times less than that of any hybrid vehicle,” he said.

“It is the practical, quality, low-running cost vehicle that also offers great performance, high levels of safety and now even better fuel economy.”The Suzuki Alto GL is priced from $12,490 drive away and the GLX model from $12,990 drive away.

By comparison, the next cheapest car, Proton’s three-door Satria Neo hatch starts at $13,990 driveaway, while Hyundai’s Getz is $13,990 plus on-road costs.

Australia’s motoring organisations recently nominated the Alto as the cheapest car to run, on an estimated $88.82 a week, ahead of the Hyundai Getz on $97.50.

Meanwhile, healthier supplies of the one-litre Alto from the Indian Maruti Suzuki factory have helped Suzuki Australia to lift sales recently.

Running at about 200 units a month since launch last year, the smallest Suzuki bounced to 326 sales in June. For the first six months of the 2010, the Alto is now averaging about 280 vehicles a month.

That still puts it well behind is light-car rivals such as the Getz and Toyota Yaris, which sells about nine times as many.

In the Suzuki range, the Alto also trails the bigger Swift small car, which clocks up about 1100 sales a month to account for more than half of all Suzuki Australia sales, and the Grand Vitara compact SUV (about 330 sales a month).

Suzuki Alto pricing (drive away)
Model	Price
GL	$12,490
GLX	$12,990