Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 Vxi-Met (Ex-showroom price starting from Rs 3,75,046)  (Book for Rs 10,000)

The Alto K10 has always been a fun to drive little hatchback. The car comes with a 1.0 litre K-series petrol powertrain. The sprightly motor coupled to a lightweight chassis makes driving experience on the Alto K10 involving. Whether it’s daily city commutes or enthusiastic driving around the hills, the Alto K10 is never short on fun factor. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, the gearshifts are short and crisp; delivering positive shifts every time you slot the lever in to the gear speed of your choice. Maruti is also offering an AMT gearbox on the Alto K10. This unit is similar to that featured in the Celerio. The Alto K10 AMT, or AGS as Maruti is calling it in the K10, is the most affordable automatic car in the country. The Alto K10 AMT is aimed at making urban commute an easy affair with its ease of use operation. The AMT gearbox performs well for our road-conditions and until the time one tries to drive it in a spirited manner, the shifts are jerk-free and positive. Maruti has also managed to eek out an identical mileage figure from the AMT equipped version as compared to the conventional 5-speed manual transmission. The top-end model also gets a driver side airbag. While safety equipment like ABS or EBD have been given a miss even on the new model, the new Alto K10 now comes equipped with ventilated disc brakes on front wheels for improved braking and better heat dissipation characteristics in event of an emergency or under hard braking. The Alto K10 still remains a very likeable car for everything it offers to its consumers. It’s fuel efficient, fun and easy to drive, and most importantly has Maruti’s dealer and customer support as its backbone. The interiors, which were a major disappointment on the previous model, have now been thoroughly revised with a new design and theme, and they now look and feel more upmarket than before. The space at the back still remains tight with limited headroom and knee room, as a result of which, passengers may feel cramped at the rear bench over long drives. Nevertheless, the Alto K10 is still going to be a preferred choice among bachelors and young professionals who mostly drive solo and seek fun and economy in a reliable and cost-effective package.