Suzuki Alto dimensions

The Suzuki Alto is the result of a joint project with Nissan that also spawned the Nissan Pixo, and while the Suzuki's bubbly headlamps are cuter, there's nothing particularly interesting about the layout. Black plastic wing mirrors are traditional on all but top specification SZ4 vehicles. For a 5-door hatchback it's very compact, which makes it simple to nip in and out of tight spaces, but the sacrifice is boot room.

The very best city vehicles, like the Fiat Panda, belie their size by product real versatility – the Suzuki Alto doesn't. Practicality is determined by specification, too. Base level SZ2 and middle range SZ3 vehicles don't get a split folding back seat bench – only top SZ4 vehicles do – and nor do base versions get bench height adjustment. The door pockets are so thin as to be virtually useless. The boot is a tiny 129 litres – not large enough to swallow a buggy comfortably – and access is hindered because the parcel shelf doesn't rise with the back hatch.

General SZ2 models get very little traditional equipment (no alarm and manually adjustable wing mirrors), while at least SZ3 versions get air-con. To add ESP, alloy wheels, a split folding back seat bench and body coloured wing mirrors it has to be SZ4 specification, at which point the vehicle is priced on a par with more accomplished competitors like the Hyundai i10.