Datsun redi-Go effect? Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 gets discounts of up to Rs. 82,000.
Datsun redi-Go effect? Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 gets discounts of up to Rs. 82,000. Pictured: Datsun redi-Go Vs Maruti Suzuki Alto 800PR Handout

It looks like the competition in the entry-level hatchback segment is heating up with the arrival of new models like Datsun redi-Go. If the emerging reports are anything to go by, Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest carmaker, is giving a discount of up to Rs. 82,000 in New Delhi on its best selling model -- the Alto.

It would be interesting to note that the new Dastun redi-Go is competing against the likes of the Alto 800 in the market. According to a Oncars.in, while the Alto 800 gets a discount of up to Rs. 82,000 in Delhi, the model gets Rs. 55,000 price cut in Mumbai. Alto has been India's top selling model for over 10 years.

The discount is said to be applicable on the Lxi variant of the Alto 800 and it includes loyalty bonus, exchange bonus, corporate and government discounts. Maruti had introduced the updated version of the Alto 800 before the arrival of the new redi-Go. The Alto 800 also has a serious contender now from the French auto-maker Renault— the Kwid. It is believed that the Kwid has managed to pose some serious threat to the front-runner Alto in its segment with over 1.25 lakh bookings within less than 10 moths of its entry into the market.

Nissan's low-cost brand Datsun launched the redi-Go entry level hatchback, in India on Tuesday, June 7. The redi-Go, the third offering of Datsun in the Indian market, has been priced at Rs. 2.38 lakh for the base variant (ex-showroom Delhi). It comes powered by a 799cc three-cylinder petrol motor that churns out 53bhp and a peak torque of 72Nm. The redi-Go claims to return a fuel efficiency of 25.17kmpl.

On the other hand, the Alto 800, which comes with a claimed fuel efficiency of 22.74 kmpl, has been priced at Rs. 2.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It gets 796cc three-cylinder engine, which develops 47bhp and 69Nm of torque under the hood, and comes mated to five-speed manual transmission.

[1 lakh = 100,000 | 1 crore = 10 million | 100 crore = 1 billion]