The Suzuki Alto may no longer be offered in the Philippines, but it continues to be a popular model elsewhere in the world. Over in Japan, the Alto looks vastly different from the ones in other markets. That’s because it’s sold as a tiny kei-car instead of a subcompact hatch. With the 8th-generation Alto kei-car already 7 years old, Suzuki has now replaced it with an all-new model.
Meet the 9th-generation Alto, and it looks strangely familiar. It retains the boxy shape and proportions but adopts a softer and more rounded design. There’s a new set of headlights, which are now smaller compared to the aggressive look of the previous-generation model. The bumper also drops the four vertical inlet bars in favor of a smaller opening below the Suzuki logo.
Along the side, Suzuki flattened the wheel arches to clean up the body lines. Instead, there’s a small hump that runs through the lower portion of the door. At the rear, it has a more boxy design with a more upright tailgate and small vertical taillights.
Because of the redesign, we can’t help but think the new Alto resembles the S-Presso minus the tall ride height. The bumpers might be different, but the shape and styling are similar especially from the front, don’t you think?
The similarities with the S-Presso stop with the exterior, though. Inside, the new Alto comes with a layered dashboard with colors that give it a more exciting vibe. Depending on the variant, the Alto comes with a touchscreen infotainment system and an automatic climate control system.
Suzuki has yet to reveal powertrain details of the new Alto, but it will come with a 660cc three-cylinder engine per Japan’s kei-car regulations. Interestingly, it will also be available as a hybrid that uses an integrated starter generator and a small lithium-ion battery. The model will also come with a suite of safety systems like before.
Similar to the previous-generation model, this new Alto will be a Japan-exclusive model as well.
