Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

The third-generation Wagon R keeps its signature tall-boy look and dimensions although it looks more proportioned now. The new car is longer and wider now, with a bigger wheelbase, while being lighter than before as well. The Wagon R feels more stylish now, with the rounded-off design for its nose and the chunkier elements including the arrow headlamps and the sporty touches all around. The shoulder line is chiselled, and the wheel arches get plenty of definition alongside. The black plaque to the tailgate from the C pillar looks nice, with the impression of a floating roof and the taillights are big and attractive too. The door handles are not as pleasing, while alloy wheels are only offered as accessories. The bonnet shut line should have been tighter, although the company has reportedly claimed that it is deliberate, to prevent damages to the upper part of the grille if the bonnet is slammed. 

Getting in and out of the car is easy and the cabin is airy with big windows. The cabin looks nice with its dual-tone theme in beige and black. The new instrument console (with a digital tachometer for higher trims) also adds to the overall cabin ambiance. The steering wheel comes from the Ignis and feels better to use. The soft-touch feeling is still absent, although the dashboard has a good textured feel to it. Finishing is better for the door pads although the dashboard could have been better proportioned. The central console’s angle may be a little problem for drivers. The vents and other components look slightly awkward. The new front seats are bigger and the fixed front headrests do limit front visibility for those at the back. The cabin feels wider with more legroom and headroom. Adjustable rear headrests could have been included in the cabin as well. Boot space has gone up to 341 litres, while there is a 60:40 split ratio for the seats too. There is a bigger glovebox with chunky front door pockets and rear door ones as well. The cubby hole over the gear lever feels unnecessary. A dedicated mobile placement slot will be required as well. 

The Wagon R comes with the SmartPlay Studio infotainment unit of 7 inches. There is superior touch response and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included. It can deploy the internet connectivity of a paired device for online music streaming, news, weather, and other updates. You can also control audio through the Neat smartphone app. There are also steering-mounted controls for the Wagon R’s infotainment unit. 

The 1.2-litre engine is smooth and already does duty in the Baleno, Ignis, Dzire, and Swift. It is a sportier and peppy engine to drive while the lightweight nature of the car automatically enhances overall performance. The new 1.2-litre engine feels agile and responsive, picking up speed smoothly and making for great city cruising as well. The car feels lively with more pulling powers, while the engine appreciates higher revs throughout the power band. The 1.2-litre engine is quicker than rivals like the Santro, Tiago, and the Celerio as well. The grip of the wheels is pretty good as well. Yet, the top power band zones between 5-6,500 RPM make the WagonR quite noisy. Sound insulation is not very good for the Wagon R as well. The manual gearbox is also not the best, although it feels easy and light mostly. The AMT version is the better one of the lot although it is not as smooth as you would otherwise desire. Higher gears ensure better performance overall, while the gearbox does not feel compromised in any manner. The handbrake should be carefully used while doing hill starts. The car may roll back before the engagement of the gearbox.

The Wagon R feels more stable this time around and it does not do well with sudden high-speed changes and directional shifts. The lightweight may also make it a little more vulnerable to gusty winds. The steering sometimes feels a little non-responsive. The Wagon R offers good ride and handling while taking large bumps and potholes with ease. The suspension setup is also quieter than before. The insulation levels in the cabin have also improved from the previous version. Yet, suspension and road noise still come into the cabin. 

The safety features include a driver’s side airbag, anti-lock brakes, rear parking sensors, and other add-ons for complying with new-age safety guidelines. 

The Wagon R has six variants each for its 1.2 litre and 1.0 litre engines. The 1.0 lire engine is there from the LXI to the LXI O variant and the VXI O and ZXI variant. The 1.2-litre engine is there for the VXI, VXI O, and the top-end ZXI variant. The entry-level LXI version comes with basic safety features like ABS, EBD, rear parking sensors, driver’s airbag, front seat-belt reminders, speed alert systems, and more. It gets an MID and front power windows. The VXI is slightly costlier but packs in more features like body-colored door handles and mirrors, full-wheel caps, a Bluetooth audio unit, steering controls, power windows, split rear seats, remote key entry, and more. This is the high-value variant to buy, especially if you can choose the optional safety pack. The ZXI is the top-end version with fog lamps in front, a rear wiper and washer, a rear defogger, a touch-screen infotainment unit, electric folding outside mirrors, and a lot more. The 1.0-litre LXI is for those on a budget, while the LXI O variant is also decent. The 1.2 litre ZXI variant is the best of the lot since you do not pay a lot more than the VXI. 

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR takes on the Hyundai Santro, Tata Tiago, and the Datsun Go, along with its sibling, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio. It is the lightest and tallest car in the segment while the Datsun Go has the lengthiest wheelbase. The Wagon R has the smallest boot space. The new engine gets the Wagon R at par with rivals like the Tata Tiago, while it can also take on the Hyundai Santro. All the hatchbacks have touch screen infotainment units for the top-end trims, although the Tiago only has support for Android Auto. The new Wagon R has LED DRLs although it does not get alloy wheels. Dual airbags are only a standard feature for the Datsun Go. However, at this price point, the Wagon R still offers a great value proposition with its space, legroom, headroom, improved design, good performance, fuel economy, and decent features. 

The Wagon R is bigger and taller than many other cars. It has a better and more powerful engine now and with better interiors and overall build quality. The Wagon R offers great drivability and a smooth engine with decent features, especially in the top-end trim. It is still reasonably priced and comes with a frugal engine too. The space and design make it an attractive proposition for most buyers, especially if you take practicality and affordability into account.