BIG Little Hatch is Back

The big little hatch is back again. The new Alto K10 from Maruti Suzuki India aims to recapture both hearts and market share with a new design and a set of transmission options

- Jim Gorde

THE COMPACT HATCHBACK MARKET IS NO longer what it used to be. Several hatchbacks have been axed over the past few years, some due to norms, some due to evolution, and some others, sadly, owing to unfortunate circumstances. The Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia, FIAT Punto, Ford Figo, Honda Brio, Chevrolet Beat, Hyundai Eon and Santro, Nissan Micra, Renault Pulse, and Datsun redi-GO are just some of the names in a long list of casualties from increasing compact SUV sales. Even the sedan market has been victim to those, by the way. Nevertheless, the long-time segment leader in compact cars, Maruti Suzuki, have kept their game strong with everything from the Alto 800 and new Alto Kio to the Swift and Baleno. We were in Kochi to drive the new car and bring you this report.

The Alto Kro is a bigger-hearted version of the popular bestselling hatchback from Maruti Suzuki, the Alto, the standard model of which gets a 48-hp 800-cc engine. The new Alto Kio packs a more powerful "Kio" series namesake engine which makes 67 hp and 89 Nm from its 998-cc displacement. Both manual and automated transmissions are on offer.

The design has been heavily refreshed with a new 3D-design honeycomb grille boldly finished in black, with a set of sweeping headlamps complementing it on either side. A set of 13-inch wheels with 145/80 rubber with full wheel-caps fill up the arches and the brakes are discs at the front with a set of drums at the rear. ABS is standard, as are dual front airbags and reverse parking sensors. There are accessory packs available that add styling elements such as alloy wheels, chrome garnish, and even puddle lamps.