Alto

UNTIL Suzuki’s affordable sub-light Alto hatchback went on sale in Australia in August 2009, the only micro-car available here was the Smart ForTwo.

Priced well beneath Suzuki’s own light-sized Swift hatch and – in terms of manufacturer’s list prices – the cheapest new cars previously available in Australia (Hyundai’s Getz and the Proton Savvy), the Alto is a four-seat city car that measures just 3.5 metres long.

Powered by a 50kW/90Nm 1.0-litre triple-cylinder engine that returns hybrid-like fuel economy of 4.8L/100km in manual guise (5.5L/100km as an auto), the Alto hails from India and could be the first in a flood of new runabouts from both that nation, as well as China and Korea.

Two specification levels are available for the 880kg Alto, all examples of which come standard with ABS brakes and six airbags. The ‘premium’ GLX version adds electronic stability control, alloy wheels foglights, remote central locking, front power windows, driver’s seat height adjustment and a tacho.