Buoyed by strong recent sales, Suzuki Australia has broken ranks with other Japanese importers by bringing to Australia a Japanese sub-light or ‘Super Mini’ car to Australia.
Previewed at the Melbourne Motor Show and scheduled for local launch later this year, the Suzuki Alto is one of a breed of cars sold for many years in the Japanese domestic market but – until now – deemed too small for success in Australia.
Times change – cash is now tight and fuel prices are on the rise again - so all of a sudden the Japanese ‘Super-Mini’ cars make perfect sense in Australia. It will be interesting to see if Nissan, Toyota and Mitsubishi have similar plans.
Powered by a three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine, the Alto – already selling in Europe as well as Japan – delivers remarkably low fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Suzuki says the cute compact is good for just 4.4l/100kms fuel and 103g/km from the tailpipe.
The equipment level on the Alto is staggering – Electronic Stability Program (ESP), six airbags (including dual curtain), ABS anti-lock brakes, remote central locking, air-conditioning and CD sound with MP3 input.
Sure, with its compact dimensions, the Alto is geared to urban dwellers but the rear seat is useful if not spacious.
It takes a mindset change, but here’s the plan: instead of taking that SUV or six-cylinder sedan to work each day, the Alto becomes the weekday car while the family car stays at home. Makes sense because the Alto is kind to the planet, it’s loaded with safety and creature comforts and looks to be easy to drive and park.
Works in other parts of the world and we need to start thinking along those lines here.
Suzuki hopes we get the idea from the third quarter of this year when the good-looking Alto goes on sale.
