The much-awaited made in Pakistan Suzuki Alto 660cc has been launched. A successor of Pak Suzuki’s super popular and iconic 800cc hatchback Mehran – the company’s top-selling vehicle for 30 years, Alto 660cc was initially unveiled at the Pakistan Auto Parts Show (PAPS) 2019 organized by PAAPAM.
A Brief History
Suzuki Alto was first introduced in Japan in October 1979. The 8th generation of Suzuki Alto made its debut worldwide in 2014. The current model of Alto has therefore completed its 5 years successfully. While 8th generation Suzuki Alto 2019 has been launched in Pakistan, the 9th generation of the 660cc hatchback is likely to be launched during October 2019 in Japan marking the 40th anniversary of this particular model.
VARIANTS, SPECS, AND FEATURES
Japanese Alto has three variants: L, S, and X. It is equipped with a 658cc 3-cylinder VVT engine under the hood. It is powered by three types of transmissions; a 5-speed manual, 5-speed semi-automatic, and a CVT gearbox model. While the 660cc “Pakistani Alto” comes in both manual and automatic variants.
In the 660cc engine segment category, the Pakistani Alto will be competing with its Japanese counterpart and many other Japanese 660cc cars. Its three variants are:
- Suzuki Alto VX (without AC)
- Suzuki Alto VXR (with AC)
- Suzuki Alto VXL AGS (with auto gear shift)
The Pakistani Alto’s high-end variant, VXL AGS, has power windows, keyless entry feature, immobilizer, retractable mirrors, ABS, etc. At first glance, one may feel the quality of doors and seats like that of Suzuki Wagon R and Cultus. There are two SRS airbags as well in the VXL AGS model.
PakWheels initially reviewed the VXL model of Alto 2019 under display at PAPS 2019 and reported that it has auto gear shift (AGS) and anti-lock braking system (ABS). This technology is already present in the high-end model of the Suzuki Cultus.
The Japanese version of Alto comes with top-of-the-line features like airbags, heated-seats, infotainment systems, upgraded upholstery, and cruise control, etc. Its prominent safety features are parking assistance, and collision warning, etc.
Pakistani and Japanese Alto: Similarities
Both the Pakistani and Japanese high-end variants of Alto have auto gear shift (AGS), anti-lock braking system (ABS), power doors and windows, crystal headlamps, privacy glass (rear and back) and retractable mirrors.
Pakistani and Japanese Alto: Differences
Features like alloy rims, turbo technology, digital climate control, heated seats, rear wiper, and others are missing in the Pakistani VXL variant. The Japanese X variant of Alto has metallic as well as grey two-tone back door options. It also has an ease of optimizing driving position owing to the tilt steering (in X variant) and driver seat lifter (in S and X variants), along with ENE-CHARGE, new Engine Auto Stop-Start System, and ECO-COOL.
The Japanese Alto is regarded as one of the most fuel-efficient cars. It will be interesting to see if the Pakistani version is as good and we’ll only be sure about its fuel economy after it’s on the roads.
PRICE COMPARISON
The 2015/16 high-end variant of the Japanese Alto will cost you more than 13 lac rupees. The all-new made in Pakistan Alto 660cc VXL variant is priced at 1,295,000 and comes with a warranty, which the Japanese Alto doesn’t have.
The booking of Pakistani Alto 660cc is ongoing. You can book yours with PKR 5 lac. The Pakistani Alto is also being advertised to come with a 3-year or 60,000 km warranty.
There is NO Final Verdict Yet
It is still too soon to give a final verdict on this comparison since the Pakistani Alto is not on the roads and hence not tried and tested. So, stay with PakWheels.com for the complete expert review of Suzuki Alto 2019 when it is made available.
Take Away Points:
The all-new made in Pakistan Suzuki Alto 660cc doesn’t come with heated seats, cruise control, parking assistance, and collision warning, etc. However, it is still a worthy competitor of its Japanese counterpart since:
- It is a brand new model, while the Japanese Alto is imported hence old and used
- The Japanese Alto doesn’t come with a warranty
- Pak Suzuki Alto comes with 3 years or 60,000-Km warranty
- Pak Suzuki has promised ready availability of its spare parts
You forgot to mention diffrence in power output of the engine. It is 39hp for PK version while a JDM is 48 Manual and 51 for AGS as well as the CVT. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eababba76a12515797ba58ef1628220ef4134bb51fba762c8a5802e6958f6bdb.jpg
What has happened to Pakwheel? in all their videos, the pakwheel guy keep on saying its has a HP of 52 but according to the specifications of by Suzuki, its 29KW = 39HP.
This 39HP is for all variants I think? otherwise suzuki must have mentioned 52HP for AGS variant.
What has happened to Pakwheel? in all their videos, the pakwheel guy keep on saying its has a HP of 52 but according to the specifications by Suzuki, its 29KW = 39HP.
This 39HP is for all variants I think? otherwise suzuki must have mentioned 52HP for AGS variant in their technical datasheet.
39hp is for all varaints regardless of transmission type for Pakistani Alto . Infact even the compression ratio is 10 for PK Alto while it is 11.5 for JDM..
Wow extremely biased. Pak Suzuki Alto is a HORRIBLY OVERPRICED car. Here is why this article is biased and Pakwheels journalism is going to crap:
1 – “The high-end variant of the Japanese Alto will cost you more than 12 lac rupees. The made in Pakistan
Alto 660cc VXL variant is priced at 1,295,000.”
^ So you’re saying they cost approximately the same but in a way that makes it seem the local version is cheaper.
2 – “Features like alloy rims, turbo technology, digital climate control, heated seats, rear wiper, and others are missing in the Pakistani VXL variant. The Japanese X variant of Alto has metallic as well as grey two-tone back door options. It also has an ease of optimizing driving position owing to the tilt steering (in X variant) and driver seat lifter (in S and X variants), along with ENE-CHARGE, new Engine Auto Stop-Start System, and ECO-COO”
After saying this and saying that the price is pretty much the same you STILL say no verdict? Really? Even though the Japanese variant has a better engine? WHAT?
” However, it is still a worthy competitor of its Japanese counterpart since”
NO. Absolutely NOT. Please Pakwheels stop blatantly being biased (I’m not gonna say you this is a paid article because you have not mentioned it. I hope there is some integrity here).
You are influencing consumers’ decisions. This will get the industry nowhere.
I doubt there is any JDM is 12 lack bracket, except the R & *** grade ones.
You mean “sponsored” by PS.
Look at the hype for 5 year old vehicle.
PS should have waited another year and launched the new model which is expected to be launched late this year.
Seems PS got the die set at discounted rates as its being phased out in Japan.
Welldone PS
Have you checked the price of new model of Japanese Alto ?
i agree
Shoddy wannabe bloggers and quasi-journos… Couldn’t even get basic facts right as pointed above perhaps deliberately to justify Suzuki’s marketing payments to PW.