Over the weekend, carspiritpk.com revealed that United Motors has increased the price of the Alpha Hatchback by Rs. 50,000. When it was launched, the price of the car was Rs. 1,395,000 but touched Rs. 1,445,000 on 26 April. The company has not given any reason for this price hike so far.
Based on the first generation Chery QQ hatchback, the United Alpha is a subcompact hatchback that competes in the same class of cars like the Kia Picanto and the Suzuki Cultus and was launched in Pakistan in early 2021.
The Alpha is available in only one variant that has a 1.0-liter, naturally-aspirated Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 68 hp and 93 Nm of torque, and is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Furthermore, the engine is Euro-4 compliant.
It also has the following features:
Convenience
- Power windows
- Power door locks
- Cupholders
- Remote keyfob
- 4 speaker sound system
- Heater + air conditioner
- Touch-based infotainment screen
- USB connectivity
- Reversing camera
Safety
- Driver and passenger 3-point seatbelts (front and rear)
- Child locks in the rear doors
- 3rd high-mounted brake light
- Front Foglights
- Anti-collision bars on the sides
Is the Alpha a Threat to the Competition?
No. The United Alpha is an old product taking on much younger cars.
The Kia Picanto and the Suzuki Cultus/Celerio are still being produced in their current forms, and are vastly popular in several markets. Conversely, the United Alpha is based on a first-generation Chery QQ hatchback that went into production in 2003 and was retired in 2015 without any changes during the course of its existence.
Unfortunately, United Motors does not have a lot of brand value in the Pakistani market. This implies that if one were to buy a United Alpha or Bravo, the resale value (which plays a huge part in a person’s car-buying decision) would not be as strong as that of the Picanto or the Cultus.
Ultimately, although the Alpha is much cheaper than the Picanto and the Cultus, it is not much of a threat to its competition despite the price hike.
