Maruti Suzuki Alto800 and Alto K10 now comes with driver airbag

With the end user becoming conscious about safety, car manufacturers have started offering safety equipment as standard in quite a few car models. The entry-level hatchback segment however, was not part of this paradigm shift. Now though, with Renault offering airbag as an optional fitment on the Kwid, Maruti Suzuki was quick to follow the lead. 

In a recent announcement from the Manesar-based car maker revealed that airbags will be offered as optional fitment in all Alto800 and Alto K10 variants. Of course, the cost of the additional feature will have to be borne by the end user. The base STD variant of the Alto800 with the optional airbag has been priced at Rs 2.62 lakh while the top end trim of the Alto K10 with the airbag is priced at Rs 4.11 lakh. 

R S Kalsi, Executive Director, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki, said: “With driver airbag being offered from the base variant upward as an option for the Alto, a very large number of car customers in India will feel reassured. We have offered enhanced safety features, from the base variants, across our model range, ahead of regulations.”

With car makers like Ford offering airbags and ABS as standard features in their premium hatchbacks, it was only a matter of time before these features trickled down to entry-level offerings. Moreover, this move also works in line keeping in mind that a proposal to make airbags mandatory will soon be made to the parliament.