The small-sized Alto reached its fifth generation in 1998 when Suzuki introduced it on the market and then exported it in several countries.
Suzuki had a factory in India where it started to build the vehicle. Soon, the Japanese management decided to export the Indian-produced ones on the European market but badged as Suzuki, not as Maruti-Suzuki. With that said, the Indian carmaker started exporting it to European countries.
The car also received a facelift, and there were a few differences compared to the 1998 model. At the front, the Alto featured a wrapped-around plastic bumper with integrated upper and lower grilles. Its new headlights got a corner-mounted turn signal with clear lenses. Those were complimented on the sides by an additional set of orange lights. Regardless of the trim level, the Alto sported black, unpainted door handles and mirrors. Its five-door version featured an extra set of doors in the back for easier ingress and egress to the car.
Inside, it was no surprise to find a cramped cabin and cheap materials. The hard plastic dashboard featured a more comprehensive instrument cluster, which covered the center stack as well. It carried over the ventilation system controls and the stereo from its bigger brother, the Swift. Due to its short wheelbase, it wasn't easy to put more than four people inside an Alto, but the carmaker installed two seats at the front and a bench in the back.
Under the hood, Suzuki installed a Euro 3 compliant 1.1-liter engine, and it paired it with a five-speed manual gearbox only.