What Suzuki Alto Truly Costs Over 5 Years of Ownership in Pakistan
Buying a new car is always exciting. The shiny paint, the new car smell, and the promise of convenient travel. For many in Pakistan, the Suzuki Alto is a top choice, due to its affordability relative to other brand new cars . But while the initial price tag is a major consideration, it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the “true cost” of owning your Alto for the long haul.
We’re going to into what you can expect to spend over five years if you drive your Alto VXR Upgraded roughly 20,000 kilometers each year. This isn’t just about the money you hand over at the dealership; it’s about all the ongoing expenses that add up, as well as a unique aspect of the Pakistani car market that few outside the country understand.
Spoiler: Your Alto will cost you, on average, about PKR 441,475 per year to own and operate.
Here’ the detail analysis:
The Initial Investment
Your total initial cost, which includes the car’s price, all the necessary government taxes, vehicle registration, and even your number plates, comes to around PKR 2,901,046. This is the lump sum you pay to get it on the road legally and ready to drive.
The Fuel Bill: Your Biggest Ongoing Expense
Once your Alto is home, the most frequent expense you’ll face is fuel. If you drive about 20,000 kilometers every year, and your Alto gives you a fuel average of 15 kilometers per liter (which is reasonable for mixed city and highway driving), you’ll be buying a lot of petrol. With fuel currently priced at PKR 254 per liter, you’re looking at an annual fuel cost of about PKR 338,666. Over five years, this adds up significantly to a grand total of around PKR 1,693,330 – making it by far the largest single running cost.
Maintenance and Wear & Tear
Just like any machine, your car needs regular care to stay in top shape. This includes routine oil changes, filter replacements, and general check-ups. We’ve estimated these regular services, along with anticipated needs like a new set of tires (after covering 100,000 km in 5 years), a new battery, and occasional brake pad replacements or minor suspension fixes due to our road conditions. All these essential maintenance activities and potential wear and tear parts are estimated to cost you around PKR 216,000 over the entire five-year period.
Car Insurance
Comprehensive insurance protects your vehicle against theft, accidents, and other damages. For a new Alto, you can expect the first year’s premium to be a percentage of the car’s value. Over five years, assuming your premium gradually decreases each year (due to the car’s value slowly reducing and any potential “no claim bonus”), your total insurance bill will be approximately PKR 297,000.
Your Car’s Value
This loss, known as depreciation, is usually the biggest cost of car ownership. However, in Pakistan, especially for popular local models like the Suzuki Alto, the situation is different.
Due to factors like high inflation and the Pakistani Rupee’s value against foreign currencies (which impacts the cost of new cars), vehicles here tend to hold their value remarkably well, or even appreciate in nominal terms. Our analysis shows that if you sell your Alto after five years, you could potentially get back around at least PKR 2,900,000.
This means that you’d only see a minor capital loss of just PKR 1,046 over five years – which is practically negligible.
So, What’s the “True Cost” of Your Alto?
When we add everything up – your initial payment, five years of fuel, all the maintenance, and insurance, and then subtract the impressive amount you get back from selling the car – the total “true cost” of owning your Suzuki Alto VXR Upgraded for five years, covering 100,000 kilometers, comes to an estimated PKR 2,207,376.
Breaking it down further, this means your Alto will cost you, on average, about PKR 441,475 per year to own and operate.