Maruti Alto K10: Pooring Performance in a Small Hatch? When you hear affordable cars with the promise of reliability and practicality in India, not many names would pop up before Maruti Alto.
The Alto K10, with its fun to drive power and contemporary features, now carries this legacy forward with first time car buyers, young couples and individuals with a modern,
busy lifestyle looking for a hassle free drive. But, like any car, it has its pros and cons.
Design: Small but Modern
The new generation of the Alto K10 is a little fresher and much more contemporary looking than the out going version.
At the front, the broad grille and swept-back headlamps give it a more friendly face.
The silhouette is still streamlined with very few wrinkles or creases.
Towards the back, its no-nonsense charm is retained by compact tail lamps and clean lines.
At less than 3.6 metres in length, the Alto K10 is one of the shortest cars on the road in India — an that is a huge boon when trying to squeeze into small parking spaces, or when there’s a lot of traffic on the road.
Between its wheels, however, Maruti has provided respectable cabin space for city runs, despite its petite dimensions.
Engine and Performance
At the heart of the Alto K10 is a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine which develops around 67 bhp and 89 Nm of torque.
This engine is tuned for city driving and comes paired to a 5-speed manual or 5-speed AMT (Automated Manual Transmission).
The area in which the Alto K10 excels is weight, this guy feels surprisingly zippy.
In on-street riding the K10 darts between the cars and tugs eagerly at the throttle. The AMT variant offers practicality, especially if you encounter stop-go traffic.
Slightly jerky though it may be, it gets the job done for those in search of a cost-effective automatic.
One key selling point is fuel efficiency.
The petrol manual version returns a maximum mileage of 24.39 km/l, and the AMT is not much lower.
There’s even a CNG variant that’s designed for customers looking for even less expensive to operate.
Interiors and Features
Get in, and you have a usable cabin as well inside the Alto K10.
The dashboard layout is neat, with a clearly visible instrument cluster and a 7-inch Smart Play infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple Car Play support.
It’s basic plastic quality, but everything feels solid.
There’s comfortable seating for four adults for a short trip.
Rear legroom is tight, as it should be in a car this size. Meanwhile, the 214-litre boot is fine for bags of liquids, shopping and the like, but a bit of a squeeze for bigger luggage.
Pros
Good fuel efficiency: Be it petrol or CNG, the K10 offers splendid mileage, thus reducing overall cost of ownership.
Easy to drive in town: With light steering, compact design and good visibility, it is perfectly suited for city driving.
Value for money buy and maintain: Thanks to Maruti’s wide spread service network and cost effective spares, lends a great peace of mind.
Peppy low-speed performance: The K10 is easy to drive around town because of its lightweight.
AMT option at a value: Automatic convenience without the high price.
Cons
Base interior quality: The cabin materials have a workmanlike feel; there isn’t a lot of premium touches here.
Cramped quarters for rear passengers: Those of taller frame may feel snug in the back seat.
Very noisy at high speeds: The engine roars and the cabin is not well-insulated at highway speeds.
Boot space is limited: You’ll need to pack carefully when going on a family vacation.
Base models get paltry safety kit: Dual airbags and ABS are provided, but advanced kit is lacking.
Maruti Alto K10: Final Word
This is what the Maruti Alto K10 has been and continues to be — simple, affordable, dependable transport for the masses.
It’s small, it’s economical and it’s easy to use, making it a top choice for urban dwellers and first-timers alike.
Yes, it’s not plushy, the area there is confined, but for the money it’s mighty hard to beat in a tight time in Uptown.
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