New Suzuki Alto Revealed For The Japanese Market

[UPDATE: We added more pictures and detailed specifications taken from Suzuki’s official website in Japan]

Following a brochure leak a couple of weeks ago, Suzuki has published the first images of the ninth-generation Alto kei car for the Japanese market. Despite their common name, the JDM-spec Alto is a completely different model from the Suzuki Maruti Alto sold in India and other markets.

The new Alto retains the signature two-box hatchback silhouette but the bodywork is fully redesigned. At the front, there is a sculpted bumper and more rounded headlights giving it a less aggressive stance compared to its predecessor which was unveiled back in 2014.

2022 Suzuki Alto kei car (blue) vs 2014 Suzuki Alto (red)

The shape of the new model is boxier thanks to the more upright windshield and the flat roofline, while the profile and the rear end adopt a more conventional city-car look without the Ignis-inspired window line. In that context, the low-positioned taillights of the previous Alto have been moved to an upright position on the sides of the trunk. The new Alto is 3,395 mm (133.7 inches) long, 1,475 mm (58.1 inches) wide, and 1,525 mm (60 inches) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,460 mm (96.9 inches). Depending on the equipment, weight ranges between 680-760 kg (1,499-1,676 pounds).

Inside, the familiar layout shows that the new generation is more like a major update of the existing car. However, there are many new components like the redesigned dashboard with a 7-inch infotainment screen, the new instrument cluster, steering wheel, and additional storage compartments all around the four-seater cabin.

The update will also bring more safety tech, including basic ADAS systems like autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and high-beam assist.

The Suzuki Alto is fitted with a mild-hybrid powertrain combining the existing 660cc three-cylinder petrol engine with an integrated starter generator (ISG) and a lithium-ion battery pack. The petrol engine produces 48 hp ( 36 kW / 49 PS) and 58 Nm (42.8 lb-ft) of torque, with the e-motor adding another 2.5 hp (1.9 kW / 2.6 PS) and 40 Nm (29.5 lb-ft). Power is sent to the front (2WD) or to all four wheels (4WD) through a CVT gearbox. This makes it more fuel-efficient than its already frugal predecessor, with a claimed fuel consumption from 3.61 lt/100km (65 mph).

Suzuki is also offering the Alto with a non-electrified variant of the same 660cc engine. What we don’t know is if the company is planning on a sporty Turbo RS variant for the ninth generation.

The JDM-spec Suzuki Alto is expected to reach the Japanese market in 2022, while a different, new generation model for other markets will likely follow soon. Depending on the variant, prices for the Alto start from ¥943,800 ($8,251) for the base non-hybrid 2WD variant with steelies, all the way up to ¥1,535,600 ($13,424) for a full-spec hybrid 4WD model with all the optional extras.