Maruti Suzuki has been one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world with its Alto series being the best-selling vehicle in many countries.
Maruti still makes the Alto which has been updated to comply with pollution norms but has discontinued the Alto K10.
Key Takeaways
- Maruti Alto K10 has a more powerful 998 cc engine, while Maruti Alto features a 796 cc engine.
- Maruti Alto K10 offers better performance and higher top speed than Maruti Alto.
- Maruti Alto boasts better fuel efficiency than Maruti Alto K10.
Maruti Alto vs Maruti Alto K10
The Maruti Alto was first launched in 2000 and has been one of the most popular small cars in India. It is a budget-friendly. It is known for its fuel efficiency, low maintenance cost, and easy handling. The Maruti Alto K10 was launched in 2010 and is an upgraded version of the Maruti Alto. It is a more powerful and feature-packed car than the regular Alto.
The Maruti Alto is Maruti’s most sold car because of its efficient performance and affordable price. It features dual airbags, dual disc brakes, and spacious interiors with a new aero design.
It has a mileage of 22.05 kilometers per liter of petrol. It has safety alerts, vehicle tracking, and live vehicle tracking status.
The Maruti Alto K10 was a more powerful car by Maruti Suzuki. It is a 4 and 5 seater car with a mileage of 24.07 kilometers per liter.
It was not updated to the BS6 pollution emission standard and was, therefore, discontinued. It has a fabric-based seat upholstery and headrests both in the front and back seats.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Maruti Alto | Maruti Alto K10 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | It comes equipped with a 796 cc, 3 Cylinders Inline, 4 Valves/cylinders, SOHC engine. | It comes equipped with a 998 cc, 3 Cylinders Inline, 4 Valves/cylinders, DOHC engine. |
| Torque | It can generate a maximum torque of 69 Nm @ 3500 rpm. | The maximum torque generated by the Maruti Alto K10 is 90 Nm @ 3500 rpm. |
| Suspension | The front tires of the Maruti Alto are equipped with the Mac Pherson Strut type suspension. | The front tires of the Maruti Alto K10 are equipped with the Gas-Filled McPherson Strut suspension. |
| Power | It can generate a maximum power of 47 bhp @ 6000 rpm. | It can generate a maximum power of 67 bhp @ 6000 rpm. |
| Engine Type | It features an F8D type engine. | It comes equipped with a K10 B-type engine. |
What is Maruti Alto?
Maruti Alto is a consumer-centric car designed and manufactured by Maruti Suzuki and it has become the best-selling car produced by Maruti Suzuki.
It comes in both CNG and petrol options with 5 models ranging from the standard one to the VXI, LXI, LXI+, etc, which are the deluxe versions.
The dimensions of the vehicle are length 3445 mm, breadth 1515 mm, and height 1475 mm. Its wheelbase is 2360 mm in length and its minimum ground clearance is 160 mm.
It is a relatively light vehicle with excellent steering capabilities and the ability to do tight turns with a weight of only 730 KG.
The Maruti Alto has a seating capacity of 5 people arranged in 2 rows in which 2 people can sit at the front and two at the back. The car has a boot space of 177 liters and a fuel tank of 35 liters.
The tires are equipped with disc breaks and have steel rims. The car also has advanced safety features such as seat belt warnings, Overspeed warnings, etc.
Overall, the easy usability and affordable prices combined with its multi-country release have made the Maruti Alto a very popular vehicle. It is equipped with all the features an ordinary consumer might need in a car.
What is Maruti Alto K10?
The Maruti Alto K10 was released in 2010 by Maruti Suzuki as a new addition to the Alto series. It cemented itself in the market it was released in, that is the Indian market.
It had a 5-gear manual drive operating system and comes with a 5 seater interior with a boot space of 177 liters.
The dimensions of the Maruti Alto K10 are length 3545 mm, breadth 1490, and height 1475 mm. Its wheelbase is the same as the Maruti Alto at 2360 mm. It is a little heavier than the Maruti Alto at a weight of 740 kgs.
It is a powerful vehicle with an engine that can generate much more power than the Maruti Alto.
Other features of the Maruti Alto K10 include a child safety lock, engine immobilizer, and air conditioning which is manual. The car has a strong performance while still being easy to drive and also has compact dimensions.
The reviews for the vehicle mention the lack of safety features such as the lack of immobilization and airbags.
The Maruti Alto K10 was discontinued by Maruti in all markets and can no longer be purchased in new condition. Maruti Suzuki released a new car with a similar footprint in 2020 named S-Presso.
Main Differences Between Maruti Alto and Maruti Alto K10
- The Maruti Alto was first released much earlier than the Maruti Alto K10, in the late 90s whereas the K10 was released in 2010.
- The Maruti Alto K10 has a more powerful engine than the Maruti Alto with approximately 200cc more power.
- The Maruti Alto K10 is heavier than the Maruti Alto but is more compact in size and lacks some security features that are present in the Maruti Alto.
- The Maruti Alto K10 has more mileage per liter of petrol than the Maruti Alto despite having a more powerful engine, therefore it is more efficient.
- The Maruti Alto was released in many countries like India, Japan, Korea, etc whereas the Maruti Alto K10 was released only in India.
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The information provided in the article is excellent, it gives a clear understanding of the differences between the two cars.
The comparison table made it clear why the Alto K10 had better performance, it’s a shame that it is not available anymore.
I completely agree, it’s hard to find a car with that much performance in that price range.
The Alto seems to be the most logical choice in this scenario, it’s a great car all around.
It’s sad to see the Maruti Alto K10 go, it was a powerful and reliable car.
I agree, it’s a shame that it was discontinued, hopefully, they bring something with a similar performance but updated to match the emission standards.
I find it interesting that Alto K10 was discontinued due to pollution emission standards despite having better mileage.
I was thinking the same thing, it doesn’t seem fair to the consumers. I wonder if the company will make another version instead.
I wonder if any other companies offer cars with similar features as the Alto or the Alto K10.