For Maruti Suzuki India, WagonR has worked wonders for its sales numbers for twenty years now. It has regularly featured in the top 5 selling cars of India. Listed in MSIL’s mini-segment alongwith Alto, WagonR is an entry level vehicle that lets folks enter the car buying ladder at an entry price point. In essence, this is its biggest USP.
Earlier this year, Maruti Suzuki launched new generation WagonR at introductory price range of Rs 4.19 lakhs to Rs 5.22 lakhs, ex-sh. Today, they have not only announced price increase, but also announced the launch of WagonR BS6 variant with 1.2 liter engine.
BS6 compliant WagonR (1.2 Ltr) is now listed at an ex-showroom price (Delhi and NCR region) from Rs. 5,10,000/- to Rs. 5,91,000 /- depending on feature variation. Rest of India price is listed at Rs. 5,15,000/-to Rs. 5,96,000/-. WagonR (1.0 Ltr), introduced in Jan’19 was initially made available at introductory prices. The revised Ex-showroom price in Delhi and NCR region now vary from Rs. 4,34,000/- to Rs. 5,33,000 /-, and in rest of India from Rs.4,39,000/-to Rs.5,38,000/-. All price revisions come into effect today, i.e. June 14, 2019.
In its newest avatar, Maruti Suzuki WagonR is stretched at the seams. The wheelbase is longer by 35mm, and the car is 150mm wider and 56mm longer. WagonR has redesigned headlamps, and taillamps, and a new front grill. The boot is bigger. There’s no LED DRLs or alloy wheels.
The dashboard and circular AC vents are carried out from the previous car. It’s new dimensions having given birth to a beefed up small car that MSIL has termed as ‘New Big WagonR’. The car is no longer listed with Alto in the MINI segment, but is now promoted to the compact segment, in which Maruti also sells Swift, Baleno, Dzire, etc.
Based on the Heartect platform that’s seen in Swift, Ignis and Baleno among others, new WagonR is also lighter. The weight shedding is reported at 40 kg for the 1.3L variant, and 65 kgs for the 1.0L options. Weight reduction is attributed to use of high-strength steel construction. New WagonR features steering-mounted controls, a new instrument cluster, and 7-inch SmartPlay Studio info system. Driver airbag, rear parking sensors, and ABS with EBD are standard features.
Power comes from a 1.0-litre 3-cyl petrol engine that’s been carried forward, and a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder K-series BS6 petrol engine. The smaller engine continues to return max power of 68bhp and 90Nm of peak torque mated to 5-speed manual or AMT. MSIL lists improved ARAI fuel efficiency figures for the 1.0L engine at 22.5kmpl, up from 20.5kmpl. The 1.2L engine returns 21.5kmpl.
2019 Maruti Wagon R is available in three trim levels. LXi gets power from the smaller 998cc petrol engine, and VXi, and ZXi with a 1,197cc petrol engine. Automated manual transmission (AMT) is offered as on option on VXi and ZXi variants. It rivals the likes of Tata Tiago and Hyundai Santro.
