2009 Suzuki Celerio

The all-new Celerio is Suzuki's latest mini-car offering, launching in the middle of 2009 to be sold alongside the existing Alto. In reality, the Celerio is sold as an Alto replacement in other countries, and is built by Suzuki-Maruti in India. The Celerio offers all the styling of a modern hatchback, although its features are on the low side to keep prices down. Fitted with a standard 1.0-litre 4-cylinder engine, the tiny motor can be mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. Touted as a "full options" hatchback, the Celerio comes with a CD stereo with MP3, dual front airbags, ABS, fog lamps, alloy wheels, keyless entry and power steering. The cabin features a hard plastic dashboard housing a minimalistic gauge cluster and various storage areas. The rear-side windows cannot be rolled down, but can slightly pop out at the edge for ventilation. While it didn't do too well in European crash tests, its lightness puts it among the most fuel-efficient cars in the GCC.