Suzuki Alto Star Performer in AA Energywise Rally

Suzuki Alto a Star Performer in AA Energywise Rally

The Suzuki Alto has maintained its thrifty reputation after a star performance in the four-day AA Energywise Rally run over North Island roads.

Despite being the lowest priced, least powerful car in the event, the five-door Alto hatchback won several awards and was the most economical petrol-engined vehicle.

The three-cylinder, 996cm3 Alto averaged 4.466 litres/100 kilometre (63.25 miles per gallon) in the 1,763 kilometre event, winning the award for the most efficient petrol car.

Driven by the husband and wife team of Donn and Lynne Anderson, the Alto achieved its best performance on the final day from Rotorua to Auckland via Tauranga when it consumed only 3.966 litres/100 km (71.2 miles per gallon).

The Alto AMF310GL model was also judged the lowest emission petrol or diesel car in the national rally, producing just 103.88 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

This compared with 102.11 grams of CO2 per kilometre for the overall winning Toyota Prius petrol/electric hybrid car.

“Although the average speeds were high and the weather conditions often appalling, the Alto handled the tough schedule well,” said Donn Anderson.

“Our overall result would have been even better had we not suffered a time and fuel penalty on the third day when we were the only competing car stranded by a road services truck which blocked the highway near Rotorua for several minutes,” he said.

The Alto capped off its fine performance by winning the micro car class, and was 7 per cent ahead of its manufacturer’s target fuel consumption of 4.8 litres/100 km (58.8 miles per gallon).

Long regarded a fuel economy champion, an earlier model Alto RA410 won its class in the first Energywise Rally in 2002.

A 2-litre Suzuki SX4 GLX driven by Rodney and Lynette Brown was 12.5 per cent ahead of the target 7.6 litres/100 km (37.2 miles per gallon) after averaging 6.653 litres/100 km (42.4 miles per gallon).

This made the SX4 the most economical petrol-engined car in the small lifestyle class, with the lowest CO2 grams per kilometre for a petrol model in the same category.

Anderson, who has achieved fuel economy records in New Zealand and Britain, was impressed by the high comfort standards of the Alto’s seats and the low mechanical noise levels during the relatively long distance motoring event.

“The Alto’s fuel cost for the event was $153.45, or just $5.62 more than the overall winning petrol/electric hybrid car which is a much more expensive and complicated vehicle,” said Anderson.

“The Alto was also more economical than several of the hybrid models and, with the exception of the hybrids, cost less to run than any of the petrol or diesel cars.”

In manual transmission form, the Alto retails at $15,990, including all on-road costs, and an automatic transmission version is also available.

The bi-annual Energywise Rally is jointly organised by the Automobile Association, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and Gull Petroleum New Zealand.

ENDS

© Scoop Media