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Making the big choice: the Suzuki Alto 800 or the Suzuki Celerio

Autodeal on Jan 27, 2016

Making the big choice: the Suzuki Alto 800 or the Suzuki Celerio

Subcompact hatchbacks make a good choice for your 1st car as these are known for their affordability and practicality over the bigger but more expensive SUV. So we at AutoDeal chose 2 vehicles from Suzuki, who are known to be one of the leading brands when it comes to small cars, to help you make the decision - the Suzuki Alto 800 and the Suzuki Celerio MT.

The Price Tag

The Alto 800 is the most affordable brand new subcompact hatchback out in the market today. Its P398,000 price tag could be very attractive even though it's significantly smaller and less powerful than the Celerio. But what you get in exchange is a fuel efficient fun-to-drive car that can take your barkada from point A to point B.

On the other hand, add P109,000 and you have a little bit more power under the hood, more legroom, and more storage space in the Celerio.

The Design and Interior

Large headlights and a chromed grille topped off with the Japanese manufacturer's badge completes the front fascia of the Alto 800. Compared to its boxy predecessor, it now has a rounded design with subtle character lines that runs from the front bumper towards the tail light giving it a sporty look.

Inside, the bare necessities can be seen such as manual door locks, manual windows, a stereo that can play AM/FM/CD/MP3 through 2 Speakers. Capable of seating up to 4 people, the Alto 800's seats are wrapped in fabric while the panels are made out of plastic. Even with its small body, this subcompact hatchback can carry up to 177L worth of cargo.

For the Celerio, its front features a chrome grille which is garnished with the same prominent emblem as seen in the Alto 800. The curvy exterior is made even more aerodynamic for better fuel efficiency.

The Celerio is 205x110x65 mm larger and has a 65 mm wheelbase advantage giving it more headroom and legroom over the Alto 800. The size difference is further emphasized with its 254L trunk capacity. Fold the rear seats down you get an additional 799L worth of cargo space. Entertainment is taken care by the integrated head unit that can play AM/FM/CD/MP3 with USB and Aux-in capabilities through 4-speakers.

The Engine

The smaller 796cc SOHC 3-cylinder 12-valve engine of the Alto 800 can produce up to 47 hp and 68 Nm of torque. It's also capable of producing 20 km/L fuel efficiency numbers. Unfortunately, that's where the Alto 800 finally loses to the Celerio. Despite having the smaller and lighter body, the Alto 800 bows down to the bigger and more powerful yet fuel efficient Celerio. It's 1.0L DOHC engine can produce up to 67 hp and 90 Nm of torque all while coming out with an impressive 27.8 km/L fuel efficiency rating.

The Verdict

To answer the earlier question, we'd definitely recommend the all-new Celerio. The generous legroom, larger cargo space, better entertainment system, and impressive fuel economy makes up for the P109,000 price difference between the 2. The lower price of the Alto 800 will come in handy if you're really itching to get yourself a ride quickly.