Many cars come and gone, but the car that put this nation on wheels is always around, in one form or another. India’s best-selling car has been upgraded with multi-point fuel-injection to meet the new emission norms that come into effect this April Bharat III norm. But it’s not just a cleaner exhaust the injected 800 comes with. Four valves per cylinder head and five-speed gearbox complements the MPFI system to give it a level of performance that’s best experienced and new headlights and tail-lights. But the 800’s invincible price advantage is coming under threat, not in the form of another low-priced car but with expensive fuel-injection technology that is becoming a must for all cars to meet the new emission norms. 

 

This car retains the same external dimensions as the old one, the changes being limited to the details. The new clear lens headlamps now feature a headlamp beam-leveling device to meet new safety regulations that come into effect from April this year. Other changes include the new design grille featuring the Suzuki badge prominently at its centre and the tail-lamp lens covers.

 

On the inside, the dual-tone seats and door pads help brighten up the cabin, but it feels disappointed by the slight drop in the quality of the upholstery, although the seats themselves are softer and more comfortable. And, as expected, there are three new colours to choose from — Icy Blue, Crystal Gold and Caribbean blue.

 

The core values of the 800 remain intact, and that is, the wallet-friendly price-tag, the peppy performance, and compact dimensions that make it a breeze to drive through traffic and the frugal drinking habits of the engine.

 

Maruti has still not taken pains to cure the old faults of the 800. Quality has been deteriorating. Body panel gaps have become wider over the years, mainly because this is a high volume car and the manufacturing dies tend to wear out faster. Engine noise intrudes heavily into the cabin when revved, the ride is still nothing to write home about and the gearshift quality, best described as rubbery, has not been improved. But most owners will tend to overlook these faults. In this segment, the price-tag and cost of ownership are the main factors and the 800 still scores here.

Filed under: Maruti Cars in India