2009 SUZUKI Alto 1.0L 4AT (68 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Suzuki introduced the seventh generation of the Alto at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, and it was the smallest member of the family but big enough to carry four adults inside.

With so many small vehicles on the market, Suzuki might look like it will kill its own products. Apart from the Alto, the Japanese carmaker also offered the Swift and the Celerio, which were just slightly bigger than the 2009 Alto.

The carmaker tried to make the car looks friendly with those two headlights that sported swept-back extensions. Its grille took most of the bumper, interrupted only by the horizontal bar needed for the license plate. A pair of small fog lights were fitted as an option. On its sides, the Alto showed an ascending line with a kick in over the rear doors to the C-pillars, while the back featured an almost vertical drop for the tailgate.

Inside, Suzuki installed a rather complicated dashboard, with a design that included a deep pocket on the passenger side and an oversized center stack that enclosed the audio and ventilation controls, plus a pair of vents on top of them. For the driver’s area, Suzuki placed a small instrument cluster that showed only the speedometer and an LCD at the bottom, displaying the fuel level and the trip-computer. An additional tachometer was available as an option. Thanks to its tall seats and vertical side panels, the Alto offered room for up to five medium-sized adults despite the small size. In the back, a 50/50 split-folding backseat could expand the trunk area.

Suzuki installed a 1.0-liter engine under the hood, paired with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. For specific markets, the carmaker offered the Alto with an all-wheel-drive system.