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Although it may not look like it, Suzuki has packed a lot of quality and engineering into the Alto. This compact, 1-litre vehicle is an ideal urban runabout and means to show that just because it's in the lower segment of the market, it's not about to compromise on comfort or practicality.

The trim and build quality – inside and out – are solid. During the entire time I drove the car there was not one rattle, squeak or shudder from the Alto and it left me with the impression that if it was treated fairly it would remain in good condition for hundreds of thousands of kilometres to come.

Cute but not cuddly

What has not impressed me is its overall design. It's very similar in shape to many of the compact cars on the road and seems as if it was designed more to mimic popular cars rather than stand out as an original creation. Nonetheless, it's easy on the eyes – cute even - and is thankfully free of black bumpers and trim that are ideal for making a small car look a like bargain-basement special.

The body also copes well with city driving, providing a solid, comfortable ride, while cornering and holding the road well. I drove the Alto in all kinds of weather and even on tar covered in loose sand and its behaviour was always predictable and stable.

Driving in rain is almost painful. Because of its size and perhaps thinner materials used in construction, you can hear every drop hit the roof and windscreen. In a heavy downpour the engine, radio and most of the road noise is completely drowned out by racket. The Alto still sticks to road in these conditions so the experience is annoying rather than fear-inducing.

Thank goodness for aircon

In hot weather the air-conditioner holds its own. The engine may be small and the effect of the cooling unit on its output is noticeable, but the car keeps pulling along and the icy-cold air keeps pouring out the vents.

Hill-climbing is its soft spot. If I approached an incline at speed and kept the revs up, the Alto would happily shunt all the way up a long climb. However, if I at any point lifted my foot from the accelerator or applied the brakes, the car was pretty much finished. A lot of gearshift stirring and foot-to-the-floor action was required to get it going again and response was sluggish.

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