Small car overview
SUZUKI ALTO GLKS
Neil McDonald
"It's almost cheap enough to put on a credit card." So an outspoken girlfriend tweets when I mentioned that the Alto only costs $11,790 for the entry-level GL model. She winced as I stopped to head into town, expecting something more than our humble Alto. But when she sat down, elbow to elbow, little Susie won her over with her bright red color and bulging headlights.
As he raced through central city traffic, she was even more amazed by his ride quality, composure and speed. Most people who have driven or fiddled around in a small Suzuki car are warm to it. He wins friends everywhere.
There are two reasons for this - fuel economy and ease of parking. The Alto's five-speed manual transmission consumes 4.8 liters of petrol for every 100 km, giving you reasonable range from a 35-litre tank before you have to dive into the servo.
This is the perfect city car. The diminutive 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine is surprisingly capable of city cruising, and with a five-speed it's a breeze. Being a three-cylinder, it tends to throb like a heartbeat at idle, but this quirky characteristic only adds to its charm.
But where it really shows up is in crowded supermarket car parks. You can maneuver the Alto through the tightest of spaces, dive for groceries, and be on the go while some drivers are still speeding their relentless SUVs in place.
The $12,490 manual GLX we drove has some tasty must-have features like electronic stability control, as well as good alloy wheels, fog lights, a tachometer, a four-speaker stereo, and a height-adjustable driver's seat. The only thing we really thought was missing from the specification was the electrically adjustable exterior mirrors.
However, adjusting the passenger mirror is fairly easy because the car is so compact.
The GLX has all the good stuff, but even the base GL doesn't skimp. It comes with six airbags, anti-skid brakes, air conditioning, a stereo system with CD and MP3 input, and remote central locking. What really surprises people about the Alto is that it rides like a big car. The suspension is stiff but rolls over bumps well, and the steering is direct and weighted. The front seats, based on those of the larger Swift, are comfortable too.
Small children will fit in the back, but adults are cramped. In addition, the trunk is relatively small. One person we know who owns it keeps the rear seats flipped forward all the time to carry gear. Since it went on sale 10 months ago, Suzuki Australia has been struggling to keep up with demand. We can understand why.
Suzuki Alto GLX
Price: Starting at $11,790 (GL).
Engine: 1.0 liters
Economy: 4.5 l/100 km
Features: dual front and side airbags, four-speaker CD stereo system, anti-skid brakes, electronic stability control, air conditioning, power windows.
Teak: Compact size makes parking easy
Cross: No electrically adjustable exterior mirrors.
Once upon a time, "cheap and cheerful" meant a Datsun 120Y with a painted smiley. Fortunately, a few decades on the Kia Rio in the picture.
You can buy the super cheap base model for $12,990. Get a four-speed car for around $17,400 and you'll be a lot more fun than those who cheapened the base model when you inevitably get stuck in traffic.
But Rio doesn't stop at being cheap, it goes above and beyond to save you money. Even with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (there's a 1.4-liter as well), speeding tickets will be the last thing on your mind.
This is because you will start to feel sorry for it around 6000 rpm. At this point, you will be moving at a speed of 40 to 50 km/h. It can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h, just give it a little time to get to the place and feel free to put your foot on the hills.
But you don't buy a cheap car to break the sound barrier. If you're determined and determined to do so, you can try knocking it off something very, very high, but that will void the Rio's five-year unlimited mileage warranty. For your safety and the safety of others, do not do this.
The downside of a small engine is saving money on gas, with fuel consumption of 6.8 l/100 km, who will argue? The Rio is for those who want the car to go from point A to point B, and in this regard it ranges from average to brilliant. Handling in tight spaces, such as shopping mall parking lots, is an example of the latter.
Combine responsive steering with its compact size and you can look forward to finally getting holy grail parking at the door. You know one, it sits between two pillars of chipped paint at about the same height as the rear bumper of a super-ambitious XNUMXWD car.
But when you're done looking for great deals with all the money you've saved buying a cheap car, the small size will come back to haunt you as the tiny boot scoffs at any attempt to cram your new 42-inch plasma into it. Throw in some groceries, a few bags of clothes, and you'll slowly slide the front seats forward before paying the bus fare for your passengers.
On the other hand, this means that you will be able to choose what to listen to on the way home. This is important when you have a set of Tweeter speakers connected to an equalizer that tailors the car's sound system to your favorite tunes.
The blue tooth system and iPod and mp3 connectivity will also help young drivers stop using their phone or iPod. Potentially life-saving feature.
But with a base model ANCAP rating of three stars, you may feel like you're putting your bank balance ahead of your life.
First time car buyers on a budget and retirees looking to downsize will appreciate a lot of what Rio has to offer – just avoid the freeways.
Kia Rio
Price: from 14,990 rub.
Engine: 1.4 liter or 1.6 liter (please check with Nathan)
Economy: 6.7 l/100 km, 6.8 l/100 km
Features: Dual front airbags, XNUMX-speaker stereo system, power steering, air conditioning, power windows, remote central locking.
Likes: industrial heating, headroom and visibility, especially side mirrors,
Dislikes: Lack of power, boring looks, poor use of interior space, especially trunk.
FIRST, a confession: quite a few unworn items hang forlornly at one end of my wardrobe with sale tags attached. Untouched items include a shirt bought at such a discount that bright orange and brown stripes seemed like an attractive combination, and jeans so cheap that I fooled myself, dropping two sizes would be easy.
Yes, I'm a complete sucker for the deal. Thus, the statement that I was absolutely blown away by the Ford Fiesta CL elicited nods of understanding from my partner, who suggested that its low price swayed my opinion.
There’s no disputing this little ripper is value for money. The base model includes air-conditioning, CD sound system, power steering, electric windows, two airbags, anti-skid brakes and remote locking (check!).
More importantly, the Fiesta is a great engine. The bouncy 1.6-litre engine was even more fun than usual, buzzing around the city's wholesalers and vintage shops. It accelerates brilliantly, enters corners neatly and has a particularly slick gearbox. Its slim fit slips through the tightest parking spaces and makes me want to do the same in these useless skinny jeans! Although there is a blind spot when reversing.
Thoughtful touches, such as parking and interior lights that light up when you open it, add to the sense of security - great for women who linger alone. This beauty is not only practical, but more stylish than her boxy rivals, with modern curves inside and out.
The dash is perhaps too spacey - I struggled to make sense of the radio switch and the repulsive overgrowth of other buttons, but GenY would probably figure it out. Cheap fabric seat upholstery and some plastic parts in the interior trim are minor niggles, but by no means decisive.
There's absolutely no danger this little number will go unloved in any bargain hunter's driveway - even if you opt for the rather obnoxious metallic lime green they call "Squeeze."
Ford Fiesta KL
Price: Starting at $16,090 (Three-Door)
Engine: 1.6 liters
Economy: 6.1 l/100 km
Features: Dual airbags, four-speaker CD stereo with MP3 support, power steering, air conditioning, remote central locking, power front windows.
I GUESS it's easy to be impressed when you start with the lowest expectations, but this machine definitely surprised me. It's hard not to be taken aback when you're told you'll be testing the cheapest car in Australia, but right from the start, the Proton S16 has been a winner.
Apart from the lack of luxury - because, let's face it, there aren't any - this car is superb to drive. It's a wonderful change to drive a new car without feeling like you have to read the manual first. Everything is simple and convenient, no unpleasant surprises.
The car is equipped with power steering and is easy to drive. Avoiding busy city traffic is easy, and even the horn is surprisingly powerful.
The space inside the car is also impressive. Unlike many of its cheap counterparts, the Proton S16 doesn't cause too many leg cramps or cause fights over who gets to ride in the front passenger seat.
Having said that, you probably won't have any friends willing to ride with you either. It's also unlikely to elevate your social status, impress prospective dates, or intimidate that jerk who cut you off.
The car has character despite being simple. I even caught myself giggling when I discovered that I had to use the key to open the trunk - very old school.
Its biggest drawback is the single driver's side airbag. Unfortunately, this is a pretty big flaw in my books. Another downside is the stereo sound quality. With only two speakers, music lovers will want to upgrade their stereos right away - otherwise they risk listening to tinny, weak tunes.
There is no automatic version of the Proton S16 yet, although it will appear this year. But while shifting between first and second gear in traffic isn't always a pleasure, you'd be surprised how quickly you shift between five gears on the open road.
For a small and cheap car, the Proton S16 is surprisingly powerful and accelerates to 100 km/h with relative ease. It is also quite economical, with an economy of 6.3 l / 100 km. The bargain price means you probably won't have too many problems squeezing into tight parking spaces or navigating busy shopping mall parking lots either.
So is it worth buying? As a base car for daily commuting, the Proton S16 has a lot of value. As a family car or a vehicle for transporting people, the safety features on this car are not good enough.
Proton C16
Price: from 11,990 rub.
Engine: 1.6 liters
Economy: 6.0 l/100 km
Features: driver's airbag, stereo with two speakers, power steering, air conditioning, remote central locking with immobilizer and alarm, rear parking sensors.
Proton C16
Price: from 11,990 rub.
Engine: 1.6 liters
Economy: 6.0 l/100 km
Features: driver's airbag, stereo with two speakers, power steering, air conditioning, remote central locking with immobilizer and alarm, rear parking sensors.
