This car really needs no introduction. We all have sat in this car at least once, or even more than that, at least. The Wagon-R moniker, which was slapped on a tallboy designed car in 1999. Since then, this car is unstoppable and nothing has replaced it till date. Three generations later, it is still going strong and is the preferred choice of every first-time car buyer. But what makes it so special and what improvements Maruti Suzuki has made to the Wagon-R in these 20 years? We shall find out just that in the first look review of the Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R.
Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R First Look Review - Exteriors
Gone are those days when the Wagon-R used to come with an asymmetrical number plate. In these long 20 years, the Wagon-R has improved leaps and bounds in terms of design and feel. The new Wagon-R looks premium and mature. Despite all this, Wagon-R always retained its ground roots which include a tall stance on the road. The new model comes with dual barrel headlamps, scooped-out wheel arches and high-set taillights.
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The new Wagon-R is now wider - which makes it seem less tall than before. The dimensions are changed and it now sits on a lighter Heartect platform which also liberates more space on the inside. The D-pillar gets plastic extenders to give it a sloping roof-like stance. All in all, Maruti has thoughtfully designed the Wagon-R and it surely looks soothing to every kind of buyer.
Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R First Look Review - Interiors Features
The new Wagon-R gets good looking interiors with a good amount of features. Talking about the design first, Maruti took a clean approach in terms of design by offering black and beige interiors. The centre of the dashboard gets a touchscreen which is flanked with vertical AC vents. The touchscreen unit protrudes a little for easy accessibility. One downside of the Wagon-R is that it no longer offers adjustable headrests - not in any row of seats.
Talking about the features, we get 7-inch touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple Car Play, steering mounted controls, digital rev counter, electric ORVMs, dual airbags (optional in lower trims), ABS, EBD, seatbelt reminders, speed sensing alarm, reverse camera and sensors, 60:40 split seats, rear wiper and washer and many more useful features. The new Wagon-R also gets 341 litres of boot space which is much improved than the previous-gen car's shallow boot.
Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R First Look Review - Engines and Performance
The Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R is known for its peppy yet frugal engines and this one is no exception. Maruti Suzuki gave two of its best engines to the new Wagon-R - 1.0L K10 petrol and 1.2L K12 petrol. The K10 is a three-pot petrol engine which produces 68PS and 91 Nm of torque. The K12 is a four-pot motor, carried over from the Swift, which produces 83PS and 113 Nm of torque. Both the engines can be had with a 5-speed manual and AGS box. The 1.0L is also available with a factory-fitted CNG option which produces 59PS and 78 Nm of torque.
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Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R First Look Review - Prices and Rivals
The range of prices for the Wagon-R increased due to the addition of a four-cylinder engine. The Wagon-R 1.0L is offered in LXI, LXI CNG, VXI and VXI AGS. Prices for the same starts from Rs 4.45 lakh and goes to Rs 5.45 lakh ex-showroom, New Delhi. Talking about the 1.2L, it is offered in VXI, VXI AGS, ZXI and ZXI AGS trims. Prices for the same starts from Rs 5.14 lakh and goes to Rs 5.95 lakh ex-showroom, New Delhi. The Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R takes on the likes of the Hyundai Santro, Datsun Go and Tata Tiago.
