Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

The new Wagon R has been given a facelift. There is a touch of chrome and a more pronounced grille. The rear looks decent. Maruti has tried as hard as they can to eliminate the boxy look. Overall a good touch and the wide-eyed headlights do add value. To simplify, it’s light years ahead of the previous Wagon R in terms of looks.

The engine on offer is the same which is 1061cc that churns out 64bhp at 6200rpm. The overall ride is fairly comfortable and is a nice experience in the city. The main drawback is still the sluggish gearbox which has not been improved upon. The tallboy design does not compromise the handling or ride quality, even on bad roads or long stretches on the highway. It is planted and assured; uncharacteristic of a hatchback with small wheels and tall stance.

The interiors also fall in the list of what has been changed with the changing times. The steering wheel, façade, and door trims are all new and fresh. Overall there is an attempt towards the sporty. Nice.

Last but not the least is the Wagon R Duo that gives you a factory-fitted LPG kit. A tiny switch on the dash lets you pick the fuel you wish to choose to power the car. There is a theoretical loss in power but it isn’t practically noticeable, the value being 58bhp at 6000rpm. A very valuable addition which you must consider.