Maruti Suzuki 800

The 800 does not score heavily in the looks department. The regular facelifts make it look modest at best, but could we ask for more at that sticker price? The headlamps sport clear lenses. The grille has been given a touch-up too, with the smiling face now being dumped in favour of a fresh and modern trapezoidal unit. The rear narrates the same story. The build quality is also not up to the mark and wide panel gaps point at the age-old dies being used.

The cabin is bare-bones but practical. There are quite a few cubbyholes and the dash sports a pop-top storage box too. The plastic quality is poor and door pockets are good for nothing. The good thing is that the interior has been given a slightly fresh look. New dials, fabric and a better-looking instrument console make for a light and airy experience. The seats are inadequately bolstered and space is lacking by a fair margin.

The 800cc engine features two valves per cylinder and produces 37bhp of power which is alright if you restrict yourself to the city commute. The engine is noisy and takes a long time to reach decent speeds. On the highway, the 800 is useless and there is overtaking grunt only against bullock carts and mopeds! The 5-speed gearbox was rather good in harnessing the power in a linear manner. The shift back to the 4-speed tranny has only brought the things a notch lower. What the engine does brilliantly is drink petrol. Mileage has always been the forte of 800 and even today it does not disappoint. You can expect close to 16kpl in city while on the highway this number can stretch to as high as 22kpl! The best part about the dynamics of the 800 is the steering. It is precise and offers good feel. You do miss the power steering though, especially at low speeds or while parking. Handling is lackluster and ride choppy. Do not even think about going corner-carving with this car.

Immortality has a new name – Maruti Suzuki 800. This car has been around for donkey’s years and is still going strong. A typical city commute is what it does best at and is easy to manage in traffic. The lack of comfort can get irritating but you will dismiss it when you realize that the fuel efficiency is beyond comparison! The 800 is a cheap, reliable and crude car that put the nation on wheels.