Alto high on savings.

Byline: By John Scantlebury

The Alto is the motor industry's equivalent to the starter home. It does a job while you get organised for something more in keeping with your ambitions.

For a fiver short of a paltry six grand ( getting on towards a half of the average price of a new car ( Suzuki will provide you with a brand-new five-door hatch to be getting on with.

That said, the little one-spec Alto is not entirely without frills.

For a start, you get a genuine 1.1-litre four-cylinder 16-valve engine, so it's not a pop-pop machine. Okay, the strain is to be heard if you make demands on it ( or tackle a lengthy climb ( but it will give you 43mpg in town and over 70mpg on the open road.

And there's power steering, electric front windows, a pair of airbags, radio/cassette player, headrests, split/folding rear seats, front disc brakes and central - though not remote - locking. Why, there are even drinks holders.

Fold over those two back seats and the Alto actually has fair load space, too. With them in place, passenger room at the rear is, however, minimal, purely kids' size.

Space at the front for mum and dad is pretty good though, the product of good height and a well-stretched wheelbase which, nevertheless, allows for a 9.2m turning circle. That aids the nimbleness of the Alto in town.

To be honest, that's where it is best experienced. Although it has a nominal top speed of 96mph, the meagrely-powered Alto has to work hard to overtake or keep up motorway speeds, with the consequent rise in decibels I mentioned earlier.

It can hop about a bit at pace, as well, and the light steering, so useful in urban territory, becomes airy. Simply, the Alto is best regarded as a true city car.

There's plenty of glass, so visibility is fine, and the simplicity of lay-out of controls and information is commendable. The lack of steering wheel variation and seat-height adjustment limits the choice of driving positions, but comfort is passable.

You don't expect chic at this price, but, if the decor is basic, the dash is pleasantly shaped, while externally the slightly-rising flanks help give reasonable looks. The India-built car is by no means a box on wheels.

And you can hardly complain about its economic credentials, be it in buying or running.

Facts and figures

Make: Suzuki

Model: Alto 1.1 GL

Price: pounds 5,995

Mechanical: 62bhp, 1,061cc, 4cyl petrol

Max speed: 96.3

0-62mph: 16.8

Combined mpg: 57.6

Insurance group: 5

Warranty: 3 years/ 60,000 miles