NO-FRILLS FUN

The new Alto K10 brings fun back to the Maruti stable

- Rivan RS

There's been no dearth of new cars from Maruti Suzuki's stable this year, but the most recent one that has launched at a very attractive 3.99-5.84 lakh, ex-showroom, finally brings back an aspect that, in my opinion, has been lacking. All the recent launches - from the Baleno and XL6 to the Brezza and Ertiga - all have the hallmarks of being sold in great numbers, but none of them are particularly fun to drive. And that's why the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 comes as a breath of fresh air, with a hint of nostalgia.

After all, this isn't a new nameplate - the previous Alto K10 was discontinued a little over two years ago with the advent of BS6 norms. However, other than the name and the size of the engine, there's very little in common between the older model, and this all-new Alto K10. It is underpinned by the Heartect platform, looks like a proper Kei car, and comes with equipment that leaves the older model feeling decided, well, old. Another massive advantage over the older K10 is the space on the inside - my portly five-foot-nine frame and Kaizad's near-six-foot lanky one had nothing to complain about, regardless of whether we were sitting in the front or the rear seats.

Maruti has always done a great job of putting vertical space to great use, and the new Alto K10 is no exception. There's more than ample space for four passengers (including the driver), though fitting in a fifth would see shoulders (and hips) rubbing in a not pleasant way. What's more, rear passengers will have to use the old-school window handle to open or close their windows, and they won't have any cubbies for bottles either, as the space on the door has been taken up by the rear speakers.