2010 Suzuki Alto more frugal thanks to low-rolling resistance tyres

By Tim Beissmann | July 13th, 2010

Suzuki Australia’s most fuel efficient and lowest emissions model, the 2010 Suzuki Alto, is now slightly more environmentally friendly thanks to the addition of new low-rolling resistance tyres.

The manual Alto now returns combined cycle fuel consumption of 4.7 litres/100km (down from 4.8 litres/100km), while CO2 emissions have fallen by three percent to 110g/km.

The automatic Alto’s combined cycle fuel consumption is now 5.3 litres/100km (down from 5.5 litres/100km) and CO2 is also down to 126g/km.

Suzuki Australia general manager, Tony Devers, said the economy gains furthered enhanced the Alto’s position as one of the best value new cars on the market.

“It ranks amongst the greenest vehicles on the planet and has a starting price almost three times less than that of any hybrid vehicle,” Mr Devers said.

The Federal Government’s Green Vehicle Guide ranks the Suzuki Alto GL manual third on its list of top performers behind the Toyota Prius and the smart fortwo mhd cabrio.

The Alto GL manual was also named the least expensive car to run by the NRMA for 2009/2010 with average fuel costs of $21.14 per week and a “whole of life” cost of $88.82 per week.

The upgraded Suzuki Alto GL costs $12,490 drive away and the GLX costs $12,990 drive away.

pg

i think that $21 per week is quite impressive, but i’d like to know what sort of distance thats referring to
because our 1999 lpg commodore goes 2 weeks on a tank of lpg, which at sydney prices of 56c/L costs us about $20 a week as well, plus with the added benifit of a bigger car… although i do have to say that after 160000km, the car is showing a lot of wear

AltoFan

I can get 600kms out of 35 litres of fuel not driving like a granpa.
My car has abs and 6 airbags and I regularly take my family of four on drives of 250kms plus with no issues (daughters are in their late teens.
This car in real terms costs me in expenses (fuel,rego,insurance) the same as the fuel bill(only) in my comodore 1 tonne ute doing the same miles.
I cannot even cover the diferences this car will make to your weekly budget,Let alone the saftey and reliability of a new modern car.

pg

also just went on a 1100km journey to the snow on the weekend on $70 of fuel with 3 ppl and luggage on board, was quite impressed
Alexander-@live.com.aiu

from what i’ve heard the Alto is very inefficient in the real world, returning much higher figures than claimed..
Sexythang

was driving behind one of these the other day. its not called low-rolling resistance tyres….but rather less rubber. any thinner in width and you could fit those tyres on a bike.

Matthew

I believe they were taken off a wheel barrow.

Toxic_Horse

Pizza cutters
Bezza

Peugeot 308 1.6HDi (diesel) with EGC (drive as auto or manual) achieves 4.7l/100km (4.5 on latest stickers) and that is a bigger car. Sure it costs a fair bit more than an Alto but it does raise the question over how good that Alto fuel economy really is.

Maybe there is simply a case of diminishing returns once cars get smaller and probably more importantly cheaper.

pg

i think its got to with torque, diesels have more, so they dont need to work as hard to get to normal speeds
where as these small petrols do
depends how you use the car i guess
but as a lead-footed driver like myself, more torquier diesels will always deliver better real-world economy

Dave

Alexander-@live.com.aiu your exactly right. Did Suzuki mention it takes 17.8 seconds from 0-100km, this means that it will be flat to the floor everywhere and god help you if you have to take passengers. Ive heard as much as 10 lites per hundred km in these cars. These gutless so called fuel efficient cars can sometimes use more fuel than big v6′s. For example: We have a new toyota camry, claimed to be 8.8litres per hundred km, were getting 14litres per hundred km and 16.5 litres per hunbdred kms on a mountain drive just because it needs to be driven hard to achieve real performance.

G

You have a Camry, so what are you doing reading a car website????

kane kaskonas

we have one. i admit i do “floor” it taking off as it does need it. fuel eccon about 7-8ish not bad for been a p plater and city driving. sooo much better on freeway though but car starts shaking once hits 110
NITTI

AND THE MAKE/BRAND OF THE TYRES FITTED ARE??

WHAT A USELESS POST!

CLICK!

REALIST

What do you expect, only morons posting here. They don,t even understand that cost per week includes rego, insurance, servicing and wear/tear. When you factor those costs into Commodore or heaven forbid a Peugeot you push past $40(age of Pug acts as a multiplier- dream to drive, nightmare to own). I’m not singing praises of Alto, never driven one, but you got to understand who these cars are made for, where they live and what they’ll use it for. They’re CITY ONLY cars, anyone who thinks otherwise would probably buy a Hybrid and wonder why they chew though fuel on the freeway, or why their Turbo Diesel drinks when pushed past 2000rpm- thats right pg, TD’s as inefficient as Petrol when pushed hard, I know, I have 2.

Makes

Hello, I have owned an Alto GLX for about 12months now and have been very happy with it. The fuel economy is amazing, i am getting around 600km from 28 Litres each week which is pretty much spot on the manufacturers average claim. That’s just driving normally (not especially slow) mostly along the highway at 100-110km/hr. It’s definately no sports car but i have found performance, brakes and handling are fine and it keeps up with other traffic no problems but you do have to change gears a fair bit in town. Cruises along highway at 110 or even a bit more comfortably without fuss. It’s always been reliable and had zero problems with it so far. Some not so good things about it; tiny boot, no external handle on rear hatch, no dipper on mirror, irritating rear luggage cover/shelf thing (i have removed it). All in all i have been very happy with it and would definately buy one again.