Maruti launches new Wagon R

So what do I think of the ‘all-new’ Maruti Suzuki Wagon R? Well, I think it has grown up immensely. Let me be frank about this – I never liked the Wagon R. I hated the odd, boxy styling. I hated the cheap plastic quality. The seats were hilariously unsupportive and then were the ride and handling issues. I would’ve been better off on a boat!

And as much as I’d wanted things to be bad with the new one too, I must confess, things look promising with the new Wagon R. The key to all the improvement is a brand new platform on which the car sits.

More importantly, it is the same YR9 platform that the Japanese version of Wagon R is based on. Now, since the Wagon R designers still have not understood the definition of good-looking, let’s not talk about the outright styling. It is still as boxy and as uninspiring to behold as an IT geek at a pool party.

What really matters in this revised product is the dynamics. The chassis is stiffer and the front suspension unit sits on a solid sub-frame that improves dynamic ability of the car and reduces the vibrations filtering through the cabin. The cabin quality, though vastly improved, is still a couple of notches behind Wagon R’s rivals, namely Hyundai i10 and the new hottie in town, Chevrolet Beat.

Practicality has been a forte of the Wagon R and, well, it’s a mixed bag with the new one. Seats are much better, thankfully! There is good under-thigh support and decent space to stretch your legs. The glovebox would rather not have been there, than be of the size we get now and whatever happened to the boot? It’s down in volume by 48 litres. Forty eight! Come to think of it, a lot of customers fit LPG and CNG kits to their cars, and that 180 litre tank will give them a bit of a problem, I am certain.

The engine powering the new Wagon R is the same K-Series 1-litre motor that you find in the A-Star and Estilo. I did not quite like the Estilo because the engine was always trying too hard, but failing still. It was a bit too heavy a body to pull and the mis-matched gear ratios did not help either. But here, in the new Wagon R, it feels appropriate. The ratios on that cable-operated gearshift of the Estilo have been revised for the Wagon R. Talk about learning from one’s mistake! The engine pulls cleanly, but does not feel sprightly or sporty per se and starts to get rough beyond 120 clicks.

The dynamic ability of the car has improved a tad, owing to the new chassis. The new Wagon R feels quite planted even when doing high speeds. The ride is hugely comfortable at low speeds but becomes slightly choppy as the needle goes north. Overall, the new Wagon R is a product that should have been when the Wagon R got a cosmetic facelift. There is still work required in a lot of areas, but there is decent work done in a lot of key ones – chiefly, dynamics and comfort. Don’t know about you, I wouldn’t bother with this one.

Maruti Wagon R engine specs

Engine: 3-Cylinder; K-Series (KB10); 998cc

Power: 67Bhp

Torque: 90Nm

Maruti Wagon R prices (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

LX: Rs 3.28lakhs

LXi: Rs 3.57lakhs

VXi: Rs 3.81lakhs

VXi (ABS + Airbags): Rs 4.12lakhs