Maruti WagonR BS6 Review: What Is New In This Big New WagonR?

Maruti Wagon R Overview: Top Models

The BS6 Maruti Wagon R is available in 14 variants.

Since the first Maruti Suzuki WagonR hit the Indian roads in 1999, Maruti Suzuki has sold over 2.2 million units of the tall-boy hatchback over the last two generations. Used to being cited as one of the biggest blockbusters in the domestic automotive industry, the Maruti WagonR is not ready to be put down. In its latest generation, the Wagon R is far more modern in all aspects, right from the design and interior to the platform and the specifications. Do they help India’s most-celebrated automotive company to satisfy the higher aspirations of the modern gearheads? Why, yes! 

Maruti WagonR 360 View: Exterior Review

Front View

Maruti Suzuki developed a fresher design for the new WagonR. The 'big new Maruti WagonR', as the company calls it, comes a sleeker honey-comb matte black grille, a new trapezium-shaped air dam housing bold front fog lamps and the curvy cat-eyed dual-split headlamps.

Side and Rear View

The robust design philosophy is streamlined on the side and rear profile of the hatchback with strong shoulder lines, sculpted rear bumper and Ertiga-like taillights. Besides, the well-proportioned wheel arches and black plastic claddings on the C-pillars give the floating roof effect. Overall, the third generation of the WagonR has definitely offered a sturdier and more attractive look than its predecessors.

BS6 Maruti WagonR is offered with well-sculpted design on the exterior

Maruti WagonR Dimensions: Length, Width, Height & More

When the WagonR is among any conversations, it is often praised for being a big, tall and boxy hatch. That's why Maruti Suzuki has kept the formula intact. The new WagonR still sticks to the tall-boy silhouette but gets the increments in terms of dimension.

The new car is 125 mm wider and has a 35 mm longer wheelbase, which makes it larger than all the previous generations. With the all-new Heartect Platform that the Maruti WagonR is based on, the new-gen WagonR shares the architecture with the Maruti Swift, Baleno and Ertiga siblings. It enables a lighter curb weight but has a stronger and more rigid body structure when compared to the model it has replaced.

Especially, with a 341-litre boot space, the new WagonR offers a much more amber cabin than its competitors and even some cars belonging to higher segnents. Actually, its boot is more spacious than that of the Baleno (339 litres) and the Vitara Brezza (328 litres). The WagonR is one of the few cars which measure less than four metres in length and have a boot space of more than 340 litres.

The BS6 Maruti WagonR continues to be a boxy tall-boy hatch with slight changes on the interior

Maruti WagonR: Interior Review

Seating capacity

The Maruti WagonR can accommodate up to five occupants. With greyish-beige upholsteries with brown highlights and amber headroom, the cabin gets a lairy feeling. The passengers can enjoy a comfortable travelling experience when sitting in the front seats, thanks to the sufficient side bolsters. Nevertheless, in the rear seat, the under-thigh support is insufficient, even for average occupants. Fortunately enough, the legroom in the rear is one of the most roomy in the segment. The greater width gives the middle rear passengers much more comfort than the outgoing model. 

Safety & Security Features

As you know, the all-new Maruti WagonR has been developed on the new Heartect Platform that ensures better safety and stability with the impact absorbing structure. Driving the WagonR hatchback gives out not merely the supreme convenience and comfort but also the utmost liability and confidence on the go. The safety features package has been extended with driver airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), speed alert, front seatbelt reminder with buzzer, central locking, rear parking sensors and child-proof rear door lock.

Maruti Suzuki excels in making the WagonR the big new confident hatch on every place it goes

Comfort features

While the Indian auto enthusiasts are shifting their attention towards cars with the feature-rich cabins, Maruti Suzuki, of course, could not shut its eyes. The carmaker has made the WagonR’s interior look a tad more upmarket by adding two-tone black and beige theme with a minimalized but versatile dashboard. For the very first time, the company’s new Smartplay Studio touchscreen infotainment system debuts inside a WagonR’s cabin which gives away the spectacular in-car entertainment. Meanwhile, the tilt adjustable steering wheel with mounted audio and calling control contributes to a refreshing driving experience for the ones who are behind the wheel.

The cabin is enlarged to offer the feeling of home-on-the-go drive

The instrument cluster is well-lit by amber and white light and offers functionalities like low fuel warning, Tachometer, gearshift indicator, distance to empty, door ajar warning lamp, headlamp on warning and real-time fuel consumption.

Once you get inside the car, you'll be quick to notice the abundance of space on offer. The seats are bigger than that of the outgoing models while 125 mm width increment leads to an ample shoulder space. The headroom and legroom of the car are also more generous thanks to the larger dimensions of the WagonR. 

The SmartPlay Studio infotainment system marks its debut with the latest Maruti WagonR.

Maruti WagonR Performance: Engine Review

Engine and Transmission

The Maruti WagonR now is much more powerful than ever before with the addition of the K12M petrol engine to the motor options. Refer to the table below for the details of the Maruti Wagon R engines.

It can be obviously seen that Maruti Suzuki WagonR, in spite of its popularity, was still an anaemic family carrier with regards to the performance, especially on the highways. The good thing is, the all-new powertrain system on the new WagonR is available with the1.2-litre K-series petrol engine along with the 1.0-litre K10 motor of the previous version. Plus, the reduction in the vehicle’s curb weight from the usage of the Heartect platform further aids performance. The four-cylinder gasoline motor is capable of churning out 83 PS of max power and 113 Nm of torque. The 1.0-litre K10B 3-cylinder petrol engine, on the other hand, releases 68 PS of power and 90 Nm torque. Both of the motors are mated to a 5-speed MT/AMT gearbox. The tallboy hatchback is available with a CNG variant in the 1.0-litre version.

The updated K12M petrol engine is one of the biggest changes on the WagonR

Riding and Handling Quality

The riding and handling quality of the new-gen WagonR has witnessed a breakthrough over the outgoing model, thanks to the new stiffer platform, larger tyres and a softer suspension system. The undulations and bumps do not interfere with the performance of the hatchback as much as before. The new 1.2-litre motor generates much lesser vibrations, in comparison with the 1.0-litre on the old model.

It would be much better if the steering were more responsive. Whereas the front wheels are partially covered, the rear ones are without cladding; therefore, things which get the wheel are easy to realize inside the cabin. The WagonR also does not perform well enough during sharp turning since it rolls a lot, which can be explained by its softer suspension system and height. Instead, the new hatchback prefers simple journey inside the city, thanks to a small turning radius, which helps it handle in the city and park in tight spots quite easily.

To see how the Maruti Wagon R perform in real conditions, have a look at this video.

BS6 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R - First Drive Review 

Maruti Wagon R Fuel Mileage: Is it fuel-efficient?

Fuel mileage is one of the top determining factors to the buyer's car purchase decision since a fuel-efficient car will help the owner save a great amount og money in the long run. Refer to the table below for detailed fuel milegae information of the new Maruti WagonR.

While the bigger four-cylinder motor unit is more powerful than the smaller variant, even the three-cylinder unit is sufficiently powerful and is even quite fuel efficient. The BS6 Maruti WagonR comes with manual and AGS (Auto Gear Shift) transmissions. The all-new Maruti WagonR 1.2L petrol is claimed to get the fuel efficiency of 21.5 kmpl for both manual and AGS variants while the 1.0L counterpart offers an ARAI-tested mileage of 22.5 kmpl. These figures are around 10% higher than the mileage of the outgoing Maruti WagonR. In brief, the ride quality of the third version of WagonR has been enhanced considerably to meet any fastidious expectations for a family vehicle in the space.

Maruti Wagon R Price: Is it Affordable?

The Maruti Wagon R is priced in the range from INR 4.80 lakh to INR 6.33 lakh (ex-showroom)

With such an aggressive price range and top-notch features right from the base variant, the Maruti Wagon R is such a good value for money.

To buy a used Maruti WagonR at even a lower price, pay a visit to IndianAuto.

Maruti WagonR colours: How Many Options?

The new Maruti WagonR is offered in six different colours: Superior White, Silky Silver, Autumn Orange, Magma Grey, Nutmeg Brown, Poolside Blue.

Verdict: Is Maruti WagonR Worth Buying?

With an attractive appearance, top-notch features right from the base variant and powerful engines, the Maruti Wagon R has recorded a good sales number since its launch in the Indian auto market. The tall-boy hatch should continue to stay ahead of the competition like the Hyundai Santro, Tata Tiago or even the Maruti Celerio.

For more Maruti cars reviews, please pay a visit to IndianAuto.