Suzuki Alto 2023

The Suzuki Alto, like any Kei vehicle made at the time, has a small, boxy chassis and tiny wheels that bring back memories of Japan in the 1980s and 1990s. The Suzuki Alto is one of the finest Kei cars, particularly if you get a Works version or any model with a turbocharged engine, like the Juna and the Chinese Chang’an. Kei vehicles don’t get much recognition in the JDM car market.

The Suzuki Alto is the ideal daily driver if you want a car that is enjoyable to drive, affordable, and dependable, even though it doesn’t have a powerful engine or one that can be tuned and modified to produce high horsepower figures. Its rivals, including the Mazda Autozam AZ-1 and Honda Beat, are more expensive than it, and it’s one of the few Kei vehicles with AWD. For anyone with limited resources who desires a taste of the JDM car culture, it also makes the perfect first JDM vehicle.

The Suzuki Alto went into production in 1979 as a result of the Kei vehicles’ original design, which sought to make urban transit in Japan’s congested cities simpler and more affordable. Early model years were made during the 540cc engine period, so Suzuki gave them 540cc engines. engine size was gradually raised as Kei vehicle rules altered over time.

Given that not much is known about the Suzuki Alto, this book discusses its advantages and disadvantages as well as potential technical problems as well as other important information.

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Cheap

In contrast to the majority of supercharged Kei vehicles in its class, like the Suzuki Cappuccino and Honda Beat, the Suzuki Alto’s starting price is under $5,000 and it rarely exceeds $10,000. Honda Beat costs, in contrast, typically cost around $11,000. Although some people might argue that the movable roof explains the price difference, the Suzuki Alto is a superior choice in terms of speed, usability, and performance.

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Turbocharged engines and manual transmissions are the two features that most JDM vehicle purchasers are most interested in. However, based on the model year, costs for a base model Suzuki Alto start at around $1,000 and go up to slightly more than $6,000.

2. Quick and Fun To Drive

Despite the Suzuki Alto’s tiny engine, its manual gearbox and turbocharged motor ensure pedal enjoyment. Due to its lightweight chassis and high-revving engine that can rev up to 8500 RPM, the throttle reaction is remarkable!

According to Japanese Kei car rules, engines cannot generate more than 64 horsepower. Although Suzuki complied with rules, user sites indicate that the engine could benefit from having larger exhaust valves and intake ports. A bigger aftermarket turbo might also help boost the output, but if money is tight, rebuilding the original turbo might also be an option.

Since the majority of Suzuki Altos come with rear drum brakes, handling isn’t that great, but it can be improved by lowering or improving the chassis and brakes, particularly on the back wheels. The front rotors and pistons could be upgraded, but that won’t keep them from overheating quickly. The pace of a small car on a straight is unmatched, and driving a 660cc Kei car might make some sports car drivers uncomfortable.

3. Economical To Run and Maintain

Never before have maintenance expenses been as cheap as they are in Kei cars. The Suzuki Alto’s 9-gallon (35-litre) gasoline capacity may be too small for some. Even so, the typical gasoline consumption is expected to range from 45 to 70 mpg based on the model year, which is more than enough to cool the engine for track weekends. Turbocharged Suzuki Altos use more gasoline than non-turbo motors, but they still use less than a Mazda Miata.

The only significant upkeep concerns you should be concerned with when having a Suzuki Alto are brakes and coolant. Oil replacements should be almost completely free. Since it is presumably less expensive than a Mazda Miata, whose owners typically spend around $1,300 annually, insurance should also be inexpensive.

4. Easy To Work On

The Suzuki Alto is the ideal vehicle to launch your pastime if you enjoy working on cars or if you’ve always wanted to work on cars. It isn’t overly mechanically or physically complex, and even raising it doesn’t call for special tools because it isn’t much heavier than a few sacks of cement.

It’s enjoyable to be able to perform oil and coolant adjustments in your parking lot and avoid having to contact the mechanic when something goes wrong. Obviously, you’ll need some technical know-how, but Kei vehicles, such as the Suzuki Alto, are simple enough that you can learn by working on them or by using online instructions.

Cons

1. Poor Ride Comfort

When it comes to comfort while travelling, tiny vehicles aren’t the best. Due to the robust suspension, which doesn’t absorb even the smallest of bumps, driving a Suzuki Alto means avoiding roadways with loose chippings and driving exceedingly slowly over speed bumps.

As with any other Kei vehicle, you’ll have to get used to body parts rattling and squeaking because most of them were constructed cheaply to reduce production costs. As a result, the build quality isn’t that outstanding altogether. In addition, the Suzuki Alto’s small wheels make body roll and lack of traction unavoidable, particularly when cornering. The Suzuki Alto’s unpleasant journey can only be adapted by getting used to it, like learning to drive a go-kart for the first time.

2. Impractical

Any Micro vehicle, including the Suzuki Alto, has an issue with impracticality. Tall drivers will experience discomfort because of the short head and leg space, and even the front seat passenger won’t have enough room in the footwell. With the back seat up, two-door models hardly have enough trunk room, and putting anything larger than a big school bag inside the trunk is impossible.

3. Early Models Are Risky To Drive

Early model years lack safety features like airbags and ABS, among others, so if safety is a worry when purchasing a vehicle, a newer model year or another JDM car is a better choice. This is due to the fact that makers didn’t create Kei cars to be driven quickly or to adhere to safety standards like modern vehicles do. There were no chassis or other structural supports because they also needed to maintain cheap production costs.

Common Issues

1. Rust

Rust is among the things you should watch out for when purchasing any JDM vehicle, primarily due to the lack of salts on Japanese roadways and the lack of thick paint coats used by the majority of JDM vehicle makers, which negates the need for a coating of paint to prevent corrosion.

Reducing the quantity of paint used on the vehicle is one of the methods manufacturers use to reduce manufacturing costs when making Kei cars. The Suzuki Alto frequently develops rust in the engine compartment, the floor plates, and underneath the vehicle. This exposes some car components to elements that can cause rust.

2. Automatic Transmission Failure

Suzuki Altos with automatic transmissions frequently experience gear slipping, particularly in supercharged models. The first remedy involves replacing the clutch and changing the gearbox oil. As some of the most driven automobiles in Japan, kei cars are always in motion, and their owners rarely perform scheduled maintenance on them. Slippage, however, might continue even after the gearbox oil has been changed.

In this situation, you ought to start searching for an alternative or rebuilding the gearbox using new internals. It is feasible to switch to a manual gearbox, which will last longer than an automatic one. Fortunately, the Suzuki Cappuccino, which has sufficient aftermarket assistance in the United States, shares parts with the Suzuki Alto. You can also use components from Kei vehicles like the Mazda Autozam AZ-1 and Honda Beat.

3. Overheating Engine

The Suzuki Alto isn’t the kind of vehicle you decide to go on lengthy road journeys with when you wake up on the weekend. primarily because of engine overheating brought on by the engine’s tiny condenser and underpowered engine, which has a 150-mile maximum range before stalling. A larger condenser might be able to solve the problem, but the Suzuki Alto’s engine compartment is too small to accommodate one.

4. Average Prices

Prices for the Suzuki Alto range from $2,000 to $10,000 based on the motor choice and model year. Even one for less than $1,500 is available. RS Works and other turbocharged variations command higher prices, whereas normally aspirated variations are some of the least expensive JDM automobiles.

Suzuki Alto 2023 Price in Pakistan

Suzuki Alto 2023 costs between PKR 2,144,000 for the entry-level VX version and PKR 2,795,000 for the top-of-the-line VXL AGS model in Pakistan. These Suzuki Alto prices in Pakistan are manufacturer values.