Perking up

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR has been amongst the top selling cars in India for years. Over time, it has received numerous design tweaks, however, the third generation version that recently made its debut is an all-new car from the ground up and it promises to be bigger and better in just about every aspect when compared to its predecessor.

Bold Design
Built on Suzuki’s 5th generation HEARTECT platform, the latest version is wider and longer than previous ones. It carries a bold new design that includes sculpted body panels, strong character lines, Christmas tree rear lights and a striking looking front which includes a classy grille, large unique dual-split headlamps and fog lamps integrated into the front bumper. It has a modern outlook, yet, manages to retain the charm of the WagonR with its tall boy stance.

Crafted Cabin
It has a very large cabin, and amazing ingress and egress. Increased width means it can seat five adults in comfort and you get a decent sized luggage compartment. The quality fit and finish includes the use of fine surfaces that look and feel good to give the cabin a premium appeal. Key features include a digital driver information display, a large touchscreen infotainment system with SmartPlay Studio, 60:40 split rear seats, power windows, electronically adjustable ORVMs, remote keyless entry and steering mounted audio controls.

Performance Upgrade
There are two engine choices in this model, namely the 1.0 litre and the larger, 1.2 litre petrol units. Undoubtedly, the preference is the latter K Series unit that delivers 82 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque while returning an average economy of 21.5 kmpl. The 1.0 litre does a decent job of delivering 68 PS of power and 90 Nm of torque while returning a fuel efficiency of 22.5 kmpl. Both cars get a 5-speed manual transmission, however, with the larger 1.2 litre version you also get the choice to go in for an AGS (auto gear shift) for that added convenience.

Verdict
The novel version of WagonR is a car you can’t go wrong with. It ticks all the right boxes, looks good and is very comfortable for a small family. Depending on the variant, the automobile has been priced at `4.19 lakh and going up to `5.69 lakh.

Motorscribes

(A pitstop for modern-day car and bike enthusiasts, this column features the latest machines, reviews, roadtrips and more. By a team of automotive insiders  who call themselves MotorScribes)