Maruti Suzuki 800

Maruti Suzuki 800

Maruti Suzuki India Motors started operations as Maruti Udyog Limited in 1983 when it introudued Maruti Suzuki 800. Till then, Indian streets were occupied with Fiat or Premier Padmini, Ambassador and Contessa cars. HM's Ambassador and Padmini cars used to had rear wheel drive system and offered very little mileage per volume of fuel. Contessa car was a mid-size sedan and was more expensive than others. Besides, Indian middle class was looking further to more options in styling and at same time, needed an automobile which was low-priced. Therefore, it was the most suitable time to launch Maruti Suzuki 800, which made it an instant hit across the country.

So far, Maruti Suzuki Motors has sold more than 1 crore cars across the country, out of which, maximum number of Maruti Suzuki 800 cars can still be seen on city roads as well as on interstate highways. In the month of June of the year 2008, Maruti Suzuki Motors introduced new LPG variants of it which was named as MarutiDuo. This car is BS-III compliant and has same power and torque levels as original petrol versions have.

40 years later, while we celebrate Maruti-Suzuki(that is now only Suzuki) and its multiple impacts, let us also pause and worry a bit from the inequality and climate change point of view that more than 50% of car sales are now of SUVs.

Maruti is one of the most reputed brands for manufacturing cars in India. Previously, Maruti Suzuki India Motors was known as Maruti Udyog. This car manufacturing behemoth launched first car Maruti Suzuki 800 in India. This vehicle was introduced nearly three decades back in the year of 1984. Maruti Suzuki 800 is a small, comfortable and economical car in auto market of India. It is a perfect selection for all middle-class Indian families. Popularity of Maruti Suzuki 800 has remained practically and is still being built and sold today. This car comes with latest design and engines. Moreover, of carries perfect blend of recently developed auto technologies and aerodynamic technologies. Due to excellent performance and reliability, Maruti Suzuki Motors has manufactured and sold over 10 million cars only in India. It is available as different variants. It is fully equipped with a wide range of contemporary features. Maruti Suzuki 800 is powered by 796cc 3-cylinder engine. It is also compatible to AC, you can also buy it without AC in metallic and non-metallic edition. Maruti Suzuki 800 is one of the most successful cars in India till date.

Engine of Maruti Suzuki 800 is highly configured. It boasts the configuration of 796cc, 3 Cylinder Petrol Engine, 37 PS at 6000 rpm, 59 Nm at 2500 rpm and many more. This highly-configured engine is mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox. As mentioned above that this car is available in different variants out of those, you can buy any that suits your budget and requirement better. Some most popular variants of Maruti Suzuki 800 are:

• Maruti Suzuki 800 Std: It comes with reclining and sliding front seats and double tone interior upholstery. Front door pocket, front & rear assist grips and 3-cabin light improvence convenience level to the large extent. Even base variant of Maruti Suzuki 800 is fitted with Intelligent Computerised Anti-theft System. Collapsible steering column, headlight levelling and seatbelts are added.
• Maruti Suzuki 800 AC: Same engine, chassis and overall design. This variant of Maruti Suzuki 800 includes all vital safety, security and convenience aspects as base variant does. Specifically designed Air conditioner for Indian summers is one of the most important features of this car. Alluring green shade glasses are conjoined to improve effectiveness of air conditioning feature.
• Maruti Suzuki 800 Std LPG: Engine capacity and type of this car are same, though it is fitted with an MPFI (multi point fuel injection) system to house LPG kit for low running cost charges. Users can also switch between petrol and LPG modes effortlessly with press of a button. Other features are same to Maruti Suzuki 800 Std.  
• Maruti Suzuki 800 AC LPG: Maruti Suzuki 800 AC LPG variant is similar to Maruti Suzuki 800 AC. It is the highest priced version of Maruti Suzuki 800. Maruti Suzuki 800’s all variants are available in different colour schemes. Out of them, most popular are: Superior White, Silky Silver, Brick Red and Blue Blaze

Maruti Suzuki 800 Review by Autocarbazar.com Editorial team

Maruti Suzuki 800 is an iconic little hatchback car that was launched by Maruti Suzuki Motors in 1983 and company has since sold more than 2.5 million units of car till date. It was the best-selling car until Maruti Alto overtook it in 2006. Maruti Suzuki 800 is a familiar name to every India family in India. This small car of hatchback segment became famous because of low price tag, high reliability and low cost of maintenance and running. This family car was a tremendous hit amongst families looking forward to buying their first car to ride with all family members. Maruti Suzuki has done an excellent job over the decades with Maruti Suzuki 800 hatchback car. This automobile is a domestic name now and has been pride and joy of multiple Indian generations. On outside, you get conventional small headlamps and neat looking honey-comb grille adorns front side.

Maruti Suzuki 800 is a small hatchback car that is nicely built and exterior fit and finish is a bit old and requires improvement though. Maruti Suzuki Motors over years have made several changes to this car and it looks best now. Maruti Suzuki 800 has conventional appearance of hatchback vehicle with big front and big rear glass. Inside has seating capacity for 5 passengers including driver which car will accommodate very easily. Car has a very simple yet fully-functional dashboard while instrument panel is set in a cockpit shape. It comes with features many beneficial features including air conditioning and heater, optional music system, mobile charging outlet, adjustable head rests. There are also several key points for keeping small items inside car. Maruti Suzuki 800 has 3-cylinder, 796cc petrol engine which generates maximum power of 37 PS at 5000 RPM and maximum torque of 59 Nm at as low as 2500 RPM. It is coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox transmission and provides excellent drivability.

This excellent auto product from one of the leading auto companies is a treat to drive in city and manages to do well at triple digit speeds. Engine of this car has been tuned well and refinement levels are very good. This car from Maruti has finely tuned its suspension to soak all bumps of bad-conditioned roads and provide comfortable and smooth driving experience to passengers and drivers. It has decent ride quality which cushions bumps very well. Noise and vibration levels are nicely controlled in car and it is easy to flick on city roads as well as provides enough highway stability. Engine has tuned well and refinement levels are very good inside car. It has been rated by ARAI to provide maximum mileage of 16.1 kmpl. Priced from 2 lakh to Rs 2.2 lakhs, Maruti Suzuki 800 is an icon of India.

 What's new in Maruti Suzuki 800

• LPG variant of this car is known as Maruti Suzuki 800 Duo. It works on Gas Mixer System that uses revolutionary attached Gas Technology. This environment friendly engine has around 10 per cent lower carbon dioxide emissions and effectively decreases running costs of car. Though power is not affected, torque is bit lower than petrol variant. For extra safety and quality control, all components of LPG variants are loaded on-line alongside petrol variants of car. LPG variant has approximately 10 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions than petrol variants.     
• Users can simply press a button to switch from petrol to LPG mode and vice versa. Power drop during switch over is kept to a minimum possible rating. These new Maruti Suzuki 800 cars have got computerised system which effectively manages complete fuel burnout before a switch over happens. LPG variants come with company approved LPG cylinders. LPG inlet has been provided besides petrol fuel inlet lid for added convenience in refueling.

You will like Maruti Suzuki 800 for

You will surely like Maruti Suzuki 800 if you love to drive with dears at affordable cost. High technology of Maruti Suzuki 800 also makes it possible for consumers to spend low amount of money to drive. Obviously, it is a perfect car to drive so buy Maruti Suzuki 800 to enjoy remarkable driving experience.

You May Not Like Maruti Suzuki 800 for

Maruti Suzuki 800 is certainly the best car to drive but you may not like this car if you love to drive on faster lane. With 796 cc engine this car only generated 37 PS of power this is only capable to drive efficiently on busy city roads. On faster highways, this car can only compete with bullock carts or low speed mopeds.

Front line features of Maruti Suzuki 800 are:

• Collapsible steering columns
• High mount stop lamp
• Clear lens Headlamps
• Front Grille
• Dual Tone interior upholstery
• Bharat stage III : Hi-tech 32 ECM and ultra-refined engine
• Suzuki badging
• Clear multi reflector headlights
• Attractive tail lamp
• Specifically placed crumple zone
• Side impact beams
• Laminated windshield
• Additional body reinforcement

Maruti Suzuki 800 Looks and style

Nw grille stamped with Suzuki badge adds touch of excitement to this otherwise staid car. External rear view mirror, green tinted glasses, a lockable fuel lid and a back door lock are some standard features of Maruti Suzuki 800. Double tone interior upholstery brightens up interior a bit, although quality of material is not quite what one would hope for. Seating is spacious and comfortable as one can expect from car’s size. Some amenities inside car include reclining and sliding front seats, head restraints, glove compartment, sun visors on both sides, front and rear assist grips, front door pocket, floor and luggage room carpets, moulded roof lining, stay type fuel gauge, inside rear view mirror, electrical equipment, front wipers (2 speed + intermittent), cabin light (3 positions), windshield washer, airflow controls, clear lens headlamps and rear combination lamps, halogen bulbs, an air conditioner, safety equipment, side impact beams, laminated windshield, additional body reinforcements, a collapsible steering column and front and rear seats belts.

Maruti Suzuki 800 car has especially allocated 'crumple zones' which absorb impact of accident and collision. Headlamp leveling feature adjusts beam angle at four different levels according to the load of car. It decreases blinding light from oncoming automobiles besides improving visibility.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Interiors

Being an affordable low priced hatchback car nothing much is expected out of interiors of Maruti Suzuki 800. Despite this, it dons impressive interiors. Getting inside new Maruti Suzuki 800 is easier. There is a seating capacity for up to five people, four however can seat in extremely comfortable sitting position. Rear seats of this car are like bench. Front seats have reclining and sliding function and come with adjustable facility. Height adjustment facility is not available. Overall interior plastic quality is not impressive but proves sturdy. Interior carries dual tone upholstery.

Dash is set in cockpit shape. There is a 2-spoke steering wheel with Maruti logo placed in the middle. Instrument cluster besides steering has minimal indictors. There is a large dial type speedometer at centre and two small stay type fuel and temperature gauges on one side. On opposite side of speedometer there are indictors such as oil, battery and others. Ac and its controls are mounted on box which surrounds instrument cluster. There are four ac vents - two on each side and two at centre. Central console houses a slot for music system, lighter and ash tray. There is also a utility box just above two AC vents at centre. There is also a sufficiently enough sized glove box on left with an open space above dash for keeping things. There are manually adjustable headrests on front seats and two fixed foam type cushion based headrests on rear seat. There is also an adjustable inside rear view mirror with room lamp.

Maruti Suzuki 800 comprises many comfort features despite being an entry level hatchback car in India. This car offers basic functionalities including manually adjustable sliding and reclining seats. There are also manually adjustable head restraints. Furthermore, there is also a large glove compartment on dashboard with central glove with lid. Besides this there are sun visors for both driver and front passenger. There is also a front door pocket on front passenger door. Additionally, there is AC with air flow control and a 3-position adjustable room lamp. 

Despite being a small car, Maruti Suzuki 800 in no way compromises with comfort of occupants. There is sufficiently good headroom and legroom on front side and equally at rear. There is also sufficient space for storage at back side as well.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Exterior

Maruti Suzuki 800’s exterior appearance has inspired hatchback segment in India and became an iconic car in India. Typical hatchback exteriors are somewhat mundane. Front has a characteristic shape with a long and slanting windscreen. The bonnet dominates front coupled with front grille which underwent several changes during evolution of Maruti Suzuki 800. Honeycomb shaped grille came at later stage. Besides two headlamps recently got makeover and are made sleeker and were combined with barreled parking lights. Front bumper was also revamped and was made broader and extended to front down of Maruti Suzuki 800. Sides are somewhat box type with ORVMs and side indicators on side fenders. Base window line is almost flat with nearly flat roofline. Typical appearance of hatch dominates rear with a big rear windscreen.          

Maruti Suzuki 800 is expected to have total revamped exteriors. It is expected to receive some exteriors from its segment sibling Maruti Alto. Though, it cannot be said that Maruti Suzuki 800 will be a look alike of Alto but surely will derive its dimensions from it.

Indian hatch is a compact small car thus does not boast big dimensions. Maruti Suzuki 800 is 1405mm high, 1440mm wide and is 3335mm long. Despite being a small car, it has ground clearance of 170mm that is decent enough to handle big pothole rich Indian roads. Wheel base of Maruti Suzuki 800 is 2175mm. It weighs only 665kg. Fuel tank capacity of Maruti Suzuki 800 is 28 litres. All-new Maruti Suzuki 800 is expected to have same dimension.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Safety

Maruti Suzuki 800 in India comes with advanced Intelligent Computerised Anti-theft System which basically is a common alarm system. Front and rear seat belts are provided as standard safety feature in Maruti Suzuki 800. In case, collision or accident occurs laminated wind shield prevents toughened glass from splitting and causing injuries in process.

Besides, side impact beams which are a part of Maruti Suzuki 800’s safety features also protect even severe side injuries. Collapsible steering wheel column in this car is very effective in decreasing the frontal injuries in such scenarios. Additional body reinforcements add to occupant's safety. Headlamp leveling device and front wipers are other safety measures included in car.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Features

Engine of Maruti Suzuki 800 features two valves per cylinder and generates 37 PS of power which is quite okay if you restrict yourself to city commute. Engine is noisy and takes long time to reach decent speeds. On highway, Maruti Suzuki 800 is useless and there is overtaking grunt only against bullock carts and mopeds! 5-speed gearbox was rather good in harnessing the power in a linear manner. Shift back to 4-speed tranny has only brought the things a notch lower. What engine of Maruti Suzuki 800 does brilliantly is drink petrol. Mileage has always been the forte of 800 and even today it does not disappoint. You can expect around 16kmpl in city while on highway this number can stretch to as high as 22kpl! The best part about dynamics of 800 is steering. It is clear and offers good feel. You do miss power steering though especially at low speeds or while parking. Handling is lackluster and ride choppy. Do not even think about going corner-carving with Maruti Suzuki 800.

Immortality has a new name – Maruti Suzuki 800. This car has been around for donkey’s years and is still going strong. Typical city commute is what it does best at and is easy to manage in traffic. Lack of comfort can get irritate but you will dismiss it when you realize that mileage rate is beyond comparison! Maruti Suzuki 800 hatchback car is cheap, reliable and crude car that put India on wheels.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Engine

Maruti Suzuki 800 is powered by a 796cc, 4-stroke, water cooled SOHC engine. This engine has three pots and outputs 37 PS at 5000rpm and a maximum torque of 59 Nm at 2500rpm. Lower rpm makes it best suitable for congested city roads in India. All variants are powered by same engine which is coupled to a 4-speed gearbox. It also has a 5-speed AC variant available. All-new Maruti Suzuki 800 is expected to have same engine under hood but with only 5-speed transmission as standard.   

Maruti Suzuki 800 Fuel Economy

Maruti Suzuki 800 is known for frugal nature. Being a small and compact car and with not much features besides AC, Maruti Suzuki 800 Mileage rate delivers of 15.7 kmpl on city roads and around 19.9 kmpl on highways. LPG variants viz. Maruti Suzuki 800 Std. LPG and Maruti Suzuki 800 AC LPG returns a mileage rate of 12 kmpl in city and 16.4 on highways.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Performance

Maruti Suzuki 800 is powered by a 796cc, 4-stroke, water cooled SOHC engine  that has 3pot and power output of 37 PS at 5000 rpm and maximum torque of 59 Nm at 2500rpm. Lower rpm makes it best suited for congested city roads in India. All versions are powered by same engine which is coupled to a manual 4-speed gearbox transmission. It has a 5-speed AC variant available. This car is expected to be fitted with same engine under hood but with only 5-speed transmission as standard.   

Maruti Suzuki 800 Front Suspension

Maruti Suzuki 800 is manufactured for comfortable driving on smooth and faster highways as well as on ill-conditioned city roads. Trained and skilled Maruti Suzuki experts have fitted front suspension with McPherson Strut with coil spring that works perfectly when car passes through pot holes and brakers on roads.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Rear Suspension

Like front side suspension, back sided suspension is also nicely fitted by experts. On back side, this car carries coil spring with gas filled shock absorbers which perfectly team up with front suspensions to keep bumps away while driving. Improved suspension system of Maruti Suzuki 800 also helps to enjoy faster driving with great convenience.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Braking and Handling

Maruti Suzuki 800 has a cute look from outside. Car has overall Length of 3,340 mm (131.5 in) and overall Width 1,440 mm (56.7 in) along with a height of overall 1,405 mm (55.3 in). Besides, two headlamps recently got a makeover and were made sleeker and combined with barreled parking lights. Front bumper was also redesigned and made broader and stretched to front down of Maruti Suzuki 800. Sides are somewhat box type with ORVMs and side indicators on side fenders. Despite being a small car, Maruti Suzuki 800 has good ground clearance of 170mm that is decent enough to handle deep pothole rich Indian roads. Maruti Suzuki 800 boasts wheel base measuring 2175mm. It carries weight of just 665kg. Its fuel tank capacity is 28 litres that is quite good for long trips. Light system of Maruti Suzuki 800 hatchback car has been placed to suit driver perfectly along with looks. Rear lights add to beauty of favourite car of Indian users.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Wheels

Maruti Suzuki 800 hatchback car India runs on 12” radial tyres which provide good grip even on slippery and wet roads. Suspensions are perfectly matched with vehicle type and are able to manage every major or minor pothole on road. Moreover, these suspensions keep Maruti Suzuki 800 evenly grounded at sharp turns and high speeds.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Accessories

Maruti Suzuki 800 Accessories have a long list and it is not possible to mention everyone in one writeup. Another important aspect to note down is accessory list keep adding new devices and features at regular interval to improve performance and usefulness of car. You essentially need to know that some accessories came fitted with car while buying whereas some needs buying over the counter per your taste. Full car body cover is one of the main accessories for Maruti Suzuki 800 Accessories. It proves very useful in keeping the car safe. Some best uses of this full car body cover of Maruti Suzuki 800 Accessories are 100% heat resistant special Fabric keeps interior cool, Protects your car from harmful pollution, UV rays, Water repellent, yet breathable for extremely wet or snowy climates, Double stitched seams for maximum strength, Fabric naturally resist rot an mildew, machine washable, Adjustable tie –down strap with fastening clip at bottom hem for a more secure fit, Speed –Lock system for the theft deterrence, Protects car's finish from dirt and airborne contaminants, Reduces interior fade caused by the sun, Made of IMPORTED Fabric and much more. This car also comes fitted with hi-performance music system. However, this audio system does not let complaint on any ground as it comes with many  connectivity features including USB and Bluetooth but you can also switch to more powerful one to take entertainment experience to the next level.

Maruti Suzuki 800 Driving Impressions

Maruti Suzuki 800 is a nice car to have but does not score heavily in the looks department. Regular improvements make it look modest at best but could we ask for more at cheaper price?  Headlamps sport clear lenses. Grille has been given a touch-up too with smiling face now being dumped in favour of a fresh and contemporary trapezoidal unit. Rear narrates same story. Build quality is also not up to mark and wide panel gaps point at age-old dies being used.

Cabin of Maruti Suzuki 800 is bare-bones but practical. There are quite a few cubbyholes and dashboard sports a pop-top storage box too. Plastic quality is poor and door pockets are good for nothing. Good thing is that interior has been given a new look. New dials, fabric and a better-looking instrument console make for a light and airy experience. Seats are inadequately bolstered and space is lacking by a fair margin.

800cc engine of Maruti Suzuki 800 features two valves per cylinder and churns out 37 PS of power which is alright if you only drive to commute with in the city. Engine is little rowdy and takes long time to reach decent speeds. On highway, Maruti Suzuki 800 is useless and there is overtaking grunt only for carts and low-speed mopeds! 5-speed gearbox was rather good in harnessing power in a linear manner. Shift back to four-speed tranny has only brought things a notch lower. What engine of Maruti Suzuki 800 does brilliantly is drink petrol. Fuel economy has always been the forte of this particular car and even today it does not disappoint. Users can expect close to 16kmpl on city roads while on highway this number can stretch to as high as 22kmpl! Best part about dynamics of the Maruti Suzuki 800 is steering. It is best in its segment and offers good experience. Customers do miss power steering though, especially at low speeds or while parking in a congested lot. Handling is boring and ride choppy. Do not even think about going corner-carving with Maruti Suzuki 800.

Immortality has a new name the Maruti Suzuki 800. This quality car has been around for donkey’s years and is still improving. Typical city travel is what it does best at and is easy to tackel in traffic. The lack of comfort level can get irritating but you will dismiss it when realize that mileage rate is beyond comparison! Maruti Suzuki 800 is cheap, reliable and crude car that put nation on wheels.

Pros

Maruti Suzuki 800 continues to impress with higher mileage rate and consistent low maintenance performance. Inclusion of air conditioning and launching of LPG variants are welcome improvements and have reflected well in company's sales figures.

Cons

No significant revamp in interior spacing or comfort features has been noticed in Maruti Suzuki 800. Quality of plastics is still same and user feels lack of small conveniences like cup holders. Fog lamps, which are now an essential part of every car are also missing inside car.

Verdict

When Maruti Suzuki 800 was discontinued in 13 major cities in India in April 2010 as Maruti decided not to upgrade its engine to next level to meet tougher BSIV emission norms, everybody thought story of this car was over.

These cities which include four metros including Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and likes account for close to half of all cars sold in India.

Zero sales record in these cities for any car means a big chunk of market is inaccessible.

And lower numbers for a company as rooted to volumes as Maruti Suzuki means a speedy demise. Not many thought Maruti Suzuki 800 would even survive till 2016 in rest of the country.

Car has however defied traditional reasoning. It isn’t that its absence from big cities has not impacted at all.

From a level of around 2,500 cars per month in pre 2010, its sales came down to around 1,500 units a month today. And to expect growth from this ageing brand which enjoys negligible push in terms of marketing would also be foolhardy.

Compared to some other high profile cars however one would have to say Maruti Suzuki 800 is not doing too badly for itself. For example, General Motors’ entry level Spark. It is not even a decade old in market and yet it finds fewer takers in market.

Or, Maruti Suzuki Motors’ own tragic triumvirate of Estilo, A Star and SX4. Despite so much sweat being shed to ensure their success in terms of discounts, branding, advertisements and other sundry marketing activities they registered fewer numbers than Maruti Suzuki 800.

Indeed in 2012, Maruti Suzuki 800 overtook as many cars in India as those that outsold it. It is commendable for a car saddled with so many restrictions.

Some notable names which could not quite match up to it include Nissan Micra, Renault Pulse, Fiat Punto and Linea, Honda Jazz, Skoda Fabia and Ford Fiesta (both old and new).

It is also ageing very gracefully indeed. While rising cost of petrol fuel has seen most solo fuel cars suffer in 2012, Maruti Suzuki 800 seems to have managed better than counterparts.

Only Fiesta and Jazz have fared better and registered little growth. Former due to a midyear refresh by  American firm and a price correction.

Latter’s is more of a statistical correction as in 2011 its production was hampered by earthquake in Japan and floods in Thailand.

One big factor why Maruti Suzuki 800 continues to find such a consistent stream of customers could be because it fits in perfectly with the requirement of rural consumers.

In second half of last decade, Maruti Suzuki Motors had itself downplayed Maruti Suzuki 800 in favour of Alto and Wagon R and refused to refresh it or upgrade with new features that meant new age big city consumers readily moved away from it.

Rural customer in contrast is a lot different. He is often a first time car buyer and even Rs 20,000 price gap means a lot more to him. In terms of value proposition, Maruti Suzuki 800 remains matchless.

He is not that much anxious by features but values reliability and durability more–factors where no other car scores higher than Maruti Suzuki 800.

Finally, his decision making is also majorly impacted by experiences shared by his peer group. If he sees a relative or a friend is happy with Maruti Suzuki 800, he will be content to buy one for himself rather than look at newer fancy car for novelty value. To that end, like Maruti Suzuki 800, he is very simple at heart.

So, even as there can never be a new dawn for this legendary vehicle, it does seem its numbers of new fans are enough for it to survive till 2016.

While thanking to another round of emission norms, it would be forced to be taken off from market altogether?

In this process, it will keep harassing all others like Spark, A Star, Punto and Jazz, who cannot match up to it.