Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

The third-gen Maruti Suzuki Wagon R carries forward with the high roof or ‘tall boy’ look of its predecessors. The latest Wagon R is easier on the eye but the shape is dictated by practicality more than anything else. The high roof means ingress-egress is very convenient, the view out from the high-set seats is excellent and there’s loads of room in the cabin too. The boot is also large and useable. And while not plush, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R’s interior is reasonably well finished. The build is characteristically light, however.
The Wagon R’s 68hp, 1.0-litre petrol engine is adequate for town but lacks pep. It’s the 83hp, 1.2 engine that delivers sprightlier performance without much of a penalty in fuel economy. The Wagon R’s 5-speed manuals are easy to live with and even the AMTs are smooth enough for average city commutes. Fact is, the Wagon R is best used as a city car where its small dimensions and light controls come handy. The Wagon R’s tall shape and light kerb weight mean it’s not an ideal long-distance car, even if it is more sure-footed than its predecessors.

The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is available across a fairly wide price band. However, we’d only recommend the Wagon R 1.0 for buyers on a strict budget. The 1.2 doesn’t cost a whole lot more and is worth the premium for the performance it brings in. Of the 1.2s, we’d pick the range-topping Zxi trim that packs in a modern touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Note, only Wagon Rs in Zxi trim get dual airbags as standard. A passenger side airbag is an optional extra on lower trims.