Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 2013-2022

The bigger-than-even dimensions have naturally led to the largest-ever cabin space. Also, the interior now uses slightly better quality plastics and even offers a better fit and finish. As always, the front occupants sit pretty high, which, coupled with the large greenhouse, helps the driver with a very clear view of the surrounding. The seats are quite comfortable and can easily accommodate a heavily-built driver but the lack of adjustable headrests is something that might be an issue for some. The WagonR shares its tilt-adjustable steering wheel with the Ignis, while the speedo console looks pretty attractive.

The rear seat occupants will surely love the massive legroom on offer. Even the bench seat is quite comfortable and can even accommodate three adults, which is something that wasn’t exactly possible with the previous version. All door pads offer a bottle-holder and there’s also enough space below the aircon controls to store a cellphone, wallet and other knick knacks. However, there’s no can holder on the dashboard, but the 340-litre boot is bigger than what even many costlier cars have on offer. The 60:40 split function available on the higher trims further enhances the practicality.

Source: Maruti Wagon R

The top-spec WagonR comes with enough features for a car of this segment. The highlight here is the SmartPlay Studio infotainment unit that offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Other than this, one even gets a multi-function steering wheel, electric windows, steering-mounted audio and telephone controls and central locking.

The introduction of the 1.2-litre petrol option has made the WagonR one of the strongest performers in its price segment. The bigger motor is not only more powerful than the 1.0-litre option but even offers a higher refinement owing to the four-cylinder layout. The 83 PS-113 Nm of maximum output, along with the low kerb weight of just 845 kg, makes the WagonR a sprightly performer with a power-to-weight ratio of almost 100 PS/tonne. The motor is also quite peppy and loves to be revved to the redline, while the 5-speed manual transmission offers smooth shifts. There’s also enough low-end grunt to let you drive on crowded streets in the second-cog without fearing to stall the car.

However, those on a budget can opt for the 1.0-lite K10B petrol engine. With a three-cylinder layout, this motor outputs 68 PS and 90 Nm. Of course, this engine doesn’t have the grunt of the 1.2-litre unit but still feels adequate to propel the WagonR. Even with this engine, the gearbox offers sufficiently smooth shift action along with a light clutch. Also, in both the motors, the 5-speed AMT offers a near-jerk-free experience and well-timed shifts. Both the engine variants make the WagonR feel at home on crowded streets but out there on the expressways, it’s the 1.2-litre unit that provides a stress-free driving experience. The 1.0-litre unit isn’t underpowered by any stretch of the imagination but often, overtaking high-speed traffic requires a lot of planning. Finally, both the versions are pretty frugal and end up offering a good mix of performance and fuel efficiency.

Thanks to the tallboy design and a rather high ground clearance, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR has never had great handling characteristics. However, the latest model is a huge improvement over the predecessors, much of which has been made possible with the lightweight-yet-rigid HEARTECT platform. The advanced architecture has improved the high speed stability while even the body roll has reduced a fair bit. That said, the tall bodyshell and the light weight makes the car susceptible to crosswinds.

At city speeds, the steering wheel is light enough to help you easily make your way through a congested street while it does weigh up a bit as speeds rise. However, it does feel a bit vague at the dead-centre position. The ride quality, on the other hand, is pretty good and the WagonR should keep the occupants pretty happy on most road surfaces. That said, the body-roll on the really broken patches of roads is surely something that has a detrimental effect on the overall ride comfort that this car offers.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR has scored a rather lowly 2-star rating at the Global NCAP crash test. As per the test report, the base-spec LXi variant of the WagonR, which comes only with a driver’s airbag, has scored only 6.93 out of 17 points for adult occupant protection, while it has bagged 16.33 out of 49 points for child occupant protection. The testing agency has reported that the WagonR has an ‘unstable’ structure that is ‘not capable of withstanding further loadings’.

The standard safety features on the latest Maruti Suzuki WagonR include driver’s side airbag, ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors. The top-end variant also gets co-driver airbag and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters. Meanwhile, both these features are also available on the lower variants as optional extras.