Suzuki: Alto a great city slicker

The Suzuki Alto is aimed at the urban driver. Photo / Supplied

The diminutive Suzuki Alto heading to New Zealand has achieved a four-star rating from the latest ANCAP crash test rounds. That is the same as the Mazda2, Hyundai Getz and Honda Jazz, albeit less than Ford's Fiesta.

It's one more than the Alto achieved in Europe, where it was tested with just twin front airbags, not the six that will be fitted to the New Zealand market car.

It's light at under 900kg and the newly-developed three-cylinder 1000cc engine assists it to a claimed 4.4l/100km thirst - in five-speed manual form.

Also on the menu, the four-speed auto boosts thirst and turns the zero-to-100 time into an endurance test - no word yet on which transmissions will be available here.

Although it's just 3500mm long, this is a bigger, more attractive Alto than its predecessor and it's clearly aimed at city drivers who will appreciate the small carbon footprint and who won't ask too much in the way of performance vigour.

Those buyers will be surprised by the generous passenger space, but may be disappointed in the 129-litre boot.