What to expect from 2016 Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 facelift

As India’s largest selling car, the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is clearly the most preferred among first-time buyers. For years this mighty small car has managed to bring in record sales numbers for Maruti, however, things aren’t quite the same as they were some time ago.

The competition (Read: Renault Kwid) has caught on and is seriously denting Maruti prospects as far as sales are concerned. Not wanting to let its top-selling old-timer get affected by the newfound competition, Maruti Suzuki has prepared a mild upgrade in the form of the 2016 Alto 800 facelift. Here are some of the new and refreshed bits that you can expect to see on the car.

Revised fascia

It’s been over four years since the Alto 800 was introduced as a successor to the iconic 800. Since then, the model has pressed on unchanged although it’s about time Maruti addressed a few bits here and there.

Given that it’s a mild upgrade, there aren’t many changes to the exterior design. Most of the revisions are to be found on the front-end wherein you will find a different grille, modified headlamps and the inclusion of fog lamps in the top-spec ZXi variant.

Alto K10-sourced dash expected

Besides nicer looking seat fabrics, the dashboard design and layout could be sourced from the bigger Alto K10 for a new look. Also expect an updated feature list as a part of the makeover. That said, do not expect a fancy touchscreen display that Renault offers in the top-spec Kwid.

Engine and gearbox same as the outgoing model

The Alto 800 is powered by a 796cc petrol engine that develops 46bhp of power and 69Nm of torque. By the looks of things, the 2016 Alto 800 facelift will get the same engine as well as the current 5-speed manual box.  

The 2016 Alto 800 facelift is expected to be priced between Rs 2.80 lakh – Rs 4.20 lakh, ex-showroom. When launched within the next couple of months, it will take on similarly sized cars like the Renault Kwid and the Hyundai Eon. Additionally, it will also compete with the highly awaited Datsun redi-GO which is due for launch soon.

Image source: Gaadiwaadi