TIME was when "something in the city" usually referred to a bowler-hatted gent, liveried in pin-stripe, bearing briefcase in one hand and umbrella in the other.
This was, of course, in the days before City Car became one of the ever-growing number of niche sectors in the car market and, perhaps, one of the earliest members of this particular club was the Suzuki Alto.
It was back in the early 80s that this five-door hatchback frist arrived in the UK marketplace, its three-cylinder 796cc engine providing adequate urban transport for not a lot of the folding stuff.
As the world of the City Car began to become an increasingly broad church in the mid-90s, Suzuki introduced the second generation Alto, a car built at the company's Maruti plant in India.
However, to succeed in the City Car world, these ultra-compacts need to be much more than just around-town runabouts, and, while Alto Mark II may have proved satisfactory in some parts of the world market, it never really got on the pace in the UK.
So, in January this year, enter an all-new Alto which, says Suzuki, has been designed to create a more refined and substantial appearance both inside and out, providing more satisfaction and reassurance in everyday use - so, have they succeeded?
For starters, there is more than a hint of style where once there was very little. New Alto looks much more up-to-date than its predecessor.
The inside story is one of more refinement with the fabric used for seating and door panels proving much more tactile, although I wouldn't fancy the garish design pattern on my living room curtains!
The use of a longer wheelbase translates into a quite spacious front compartment but the rear of the cabin is less accommodating. While bootroom is quite adequate for the shopping trolley run, it could have its limitations for some when holiday time comes around!
There is plenty of kit on board - electric front windows, digital clock, vanity mirror, radio/cassette player, lights-on and key-in reminders all help to dispel the spartan image set by the interior of its predecessor.
In addition, safety has been well addressed with driver and passenger front airbags, side impact protection beams and childproof rear door locks leading the way.
On the road New Alto is a true city slicker, doing its urban work in comfortable fashion. A generous turning circle and nicely responsive power steering make even the tightest of parking spots an attractive proposition.
The five-speed manual transmission, too, is well sorted. Not only is it responsive on the urban trawl, it impresses out of town too and the Alto proves surprisingly athletic with confident handling and roadholding.
On the straight and not-so-narrow, the new Alto gives a good performance, too. On the motorway the newly-developed 1,061cc 16-valve engine is responsive and economical.
Overall, this is a good effort by Suzuki, the one model Alto 1.1 GL five-door providing a practical, low cost answer to the new car, used car question, with the added bonus of Suzuki's three-year/ 60,000-mile new vehicle and six-year anti-perforation warranties.
FAST FACTS
Suzuki Alto 1.1 GL 5-dr
Price: £5,995
Mechanical: 62bhp, 1,061cc, 4cylinder petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 96mph
0-60mph: N/A
Combined mpg: 57.6mpg
Insurance group: 5
CO2 emissions: 119g/km
BiK Rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust