New Maruti Alto 800 at Bike-Like Price – 5-Seater Car With 22+ KMPL Mileage & CNG Option

The Maruti Alto 800 is the little champ of India’s bustling roads. Launched in 2012 as the successor to the legendary Maruti 800, this compact hatchback took city driving to new heights. With its 796 cc petrol engine, light and handy styling, and low maintenance costs, the Maruti Alto 800 became an instant favorite.

Behind its simple shell is a clever ride built for everyday people. Students, first-time buyers, small families, and even retirees found comfort in its small footprint and easy upkeep. It wasn’t flashy it didn’t need to be. Instead, it mastered the art of affordability without compromising reliability.

Crystal‑Clear Pricing: Easy on the Pocket

At launch, the Maruti Alto 800’s price tag made jaw-dropping headlines. Starting from around ₹3.25 lakh for the basic petrol STD model and rising modestly to ₹4.56 lakh for the VXi Plus, it set a new milestone. For those seeking fuel efficiency, factory‑fitted CNG variants ranged between ₹4.16 lakh and ₹5.12 lakh. What made the Maruti Alto 800 truly shine was its pocket-friendly running cost something that kept Indian families smiling for years.

Even though production stopped in 2023 due to stricter norms, the used‑car market is alive with bargains. Well-maintained models today fetch between ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh depending on age, usage, and condition. That’s a small price to pay for a zero‑hassle, city-ready companion.

Small Engine, Mighty Return on Fuel

Under its light hood, you’ll find an unassuming yet efficient 47 bhp, 796 cc three‑cylinder petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. It might not roar, but it purrs delivering strong torque at low speeds and effortless drive through traffic.

ACRAI figures promise a respectable ~22 kmpl on petrol and about 31 km/kg when running on CNG. Real-world numbers often hover around 21-25 kmpl some drivers even see up to 26 kmpl in city use. And CNG? A staggering 24 km/kg under daily city routines. With its feather-light body weighing just under 770 kg, the Maruti Alto 800 sips fuel like a minimalist sipping fine tea.

Trim Levels: Matching Every Lifestyle

The Maruti Alto 800 came in six petrol trims and four CNG variants. Here’s a breakdown:

• STD (Petrol): A barebones workhorse no power steering, manual roll-down windows, but incredibly affordable.
• STD (O): Adds power steering makes city parking easier.
• LXi: Adds modern comforts like automated power windows and front power steering.
• VXi: Introduces a touchscreen infotainment system and easy reversing sensors.
• VXi Plus: Packs in max features Infotainment, reverse camera, sleek styling you name it.
• CNG models (LXi, VXi, VXi Plus): Factory-fitted gas kits provide the highest mileage and excellent value for daily commuters.

You could tailor your Maruti Alto 800 to your budget and needs minimalist, basic comfort, or fully loaded with tech.

Design & Comfort: Charming in Every Detail

Exterior Styling

With a friendly face, rounded headlights, and smooth body lines, the Maruti Alto 800 looks cheerful rather than aggressive. The 2019 facelift brought refreshed bumpers and grille accents, giving it a neater, more modern vibe.

Interior Experience

Inside Maruti Alto 800, it’s tight but cozy. Seats wrap around you firmly, though tall passengers might feel the squeeze. The dashboard is plain and easy on the eyes no clutter, no confusing buttons. The higher trims offer a 7-inch infotainment screen, Bluetooth, USB, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and rear parking sensors striking a balance between simplicity and convenience.

Cargo Space

With around 177 litres of boot capacity, you can easily stash shopping bags, a weekly grocery haul, or a compact cabin bag. Forget long road-trip luggage this car thrives on smart, short runs.

Safety: Steady Steps Toward Better Protection

By modern standards, the Maruti Alto 800 doesn’t shine in safety tests. Yet, Maruti Suzuki ensured it met core norms. Across trims, you get driver and passenger airbags, ABS with EBD, seat-belt reminders, and speed alerts. Some versions add reverse parking sensors. However, it lacked adult crash test ratings from Global NCAP, scoring zero for adults and two-star for kids in earlier tests.

Although the Alto was discontinued in 2023 due to stricter crash and emission norms, its affordable successors now target higher safety features like ESP, reinforced frames, and additional airbags.

Real-World Performance: Made for City Life

In daily use, the Maruti Alto 800 offers ease and predictability:

• City Manoeuvrability: Light steering and small turning radius make tight spots easy.
• Urbane Performance: At low to mid speeds, the tight torque keeps you feeling peppy.
• Modest Acceleration: It takes time to hit 100 km/h but that’s not its job. This is a city car first and foremost.
• Balanced Comfort & Ride: Suspension soaks up ruts moderately neither harsh nor overly soft.

Bare‑bones? Yes. But fun, light, and reliable? Absolutely.

Value Check: Pros and Cons

Buyer Fit: Who Will Love It

• First-time car owners looking for straightforward ownership
• Budget-conscious buyers wanting new or nearly new
• Small families needing a reliable daily driver
• Second-car seekers wanting light, no-fuss mobility
• CNG adopters chasing maximum fuel savings

Used Car Market: Scoring a Gem

Since production ended in 2023, the used market thrives. Maruti Alto 800s affectionately refer to as the “last Maruti 800-era gem.” Prices range from well-used 2007–10 models under ₹1.5 lakh, to late 2023 cars costing almost ₹3 lakh.

To pick the best deal: ask for complete service history, avoid rusty older vehicles, and take note of accident-free paint and metalwork. A routine 60–70 km test drive will quickly reveal clutch smoothness, gearbox shifts, and AC cooling.

How It Compares to Competitors

• Against Renault Kwid: Kwid looks bolder but runs higher costs and has fewer service centers.
• Vs Alto K10: K10 has a peppier 1.0 L engine but costs more. For many, Maruti Alto 800’s ₹1 lakh difference was hard to ignore.
• Alternatives like S-Presso, Celerio, Wagon-R, Tiago: Superior in safety, space, and comfort but with heavier price tags.

For pure urban value, the Maruti Alto 800 remained unmatched.

Smart Tips: Optimize Your Maruti Alto 800 Experience

For short or occasional drives, petrol is fine. But for daily city use, CNG saves more in the long run, even with a higher starting price. Choose LXi for a simple, low-cost option. VXi Plus is better if you want music and reverse sensors. When buying used, check service history, brakes, tyres, and rust under the doors.

Always take a test drive to feel the gearbox. For maintenance, use Maruti-approved oils and parts. Change oil every 10,000 km or yearly. Avoid cheap parts they can damage the engine.

Fresh Insight: The Maruti Alto 800’s Hidden Strength

No one talks about this: the Maruti Alto 800 is quietly eco‑friendly. Its tiny engine and low fuel use mean smaller carbon emissions compared to larger city cars. Some independent tests say it emits 10–15% less CO₂ than its 1.0 L peers. That translates to cost savings and a greener drive something even first-time owners may not realize.

Plus, with its small size, fewer materials go into production, and its life-cycle “eco‑burden” is minor. Its modest parts demand makes it easier to recycle at end-of-life, leaving less waste behind.

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Final Verdict: Is the Maruti Alto 800 Still Worth Your Buck?

Absolutely but only if you stay realistic. It makes perfect sense for simple, city-centered lives where space and high-speed power don’t matter much. Its budget-friendly lifecycle from purchase to daily running to resale stands strong.

But if you seek safety, modern tech, comfort, and larger cabin space, go for newer hatchbacks like Alto K10, Wagon‑R, or Tiago. They meet newer regulations and come standard with features. Still, for pure value and nostalgia, the Maruti Alto 800 is tough to beat.