The Peugeot 107 Compared to the Suzuki Alto

What makes a great city car? Most advocates of these nippy little vehicles would point to several key factors. For example, fuel costs, comfort and price – to name but a few.
Two of the best city cars currently available are the Peugeot 107 and the Suzuki Alto – but how do these cars perform when they’re compared in terms of these important factors?
Well, before we start the direct comparison, we’ll give a quick overview of the Peugeot 107 and Suzuki’s city car effort.
The Peugeot 107 was first produced in 2005. It was created as a replacement for the 106, which had ceased production in around 2004, and had been produced since 1991. It comes in several trim levels, including Urban Lite, Urban, and Urban Move. There are also trim levels that were produced for a time but have now ceased production, such as the Kiss edition and the Sport XS. The 107 has seen a number of facelifts over the years, including one in 2009 – featuring a large, prominent grill – and in 2012.
The Suzuki Alto, meanwhile, was first introduced – in a radically different form – way back in 1979. As of 2012, the car had reached its seventh generation. The current version was first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2009. There is another version available, known as the Alto Eco, which features a different engine that offers better fuel economy.
So how do the cars compare in terms of basic specs? Available with a choice of two engines. The 1.0i 12V petrol model boasts a power output of 67 horsepower at 6000 revolutions per minute, allowing a top speed of 98 mile per hour. The diesel version, meanwhile, is known as the 1.4HDi 8V, and can offer 54 horsepower at 4000 revolutions per minute, as well as a top speed of 96 miles per hour. The diesel version also offers faster acceleration.
The Alto, meanwhile, has a 658cc petrol engine that boasts an output of 61 brake horsepower at 6000 revolutions per minute. Its top speed is 96 miles per hour.
In terms of economy, the 107 and the Alto are sold at similar prices. Fuel economy is pretty evenly matched, too. The 107 benefits from the potential for high resale values when it comes time to move on to another set of wheels.
Comfort is another important consideration in city cars because they have to get a lot of use out of a smaller space. The Alto lacks legroom in the back, so passengers may have a slightly uncomfortable ride, but it does boast soft suspension which means that it absorbs bumps very well if you decide to take it out on country roads.
The 107 boasts an impressive amount of legroom in the front, whilst the space for backseat passengers – whilst being a little more cramped – is more than adequate enough for average-sized adults. It also boasts plenty of storage space for those little items that can’t stay in your pockets.