Maruti has launched the third-gen WagonR in India at a starting price of Rs 4.19 lakh . It is available in three variants: L,V and Z. For the first time, Maruti Suzuki is offering two petrol engine options on the WagonR: a 1.0-litre and a 1.2-litre. While the 1.0-litre engine can be had in L and V variants only, the 1.2-litre is available on V and Z variants. All variants except L are available with the option of AMT gearbox as well with both the engines, apart from manual transmission.
Let us now find out which variant and engine combination suits your budget and needs the best.
Before diving into variant details, let's take a look at the colour options on offer and the standard safety features set.
Colour Options:
- Silky Silver
- Magna Grey
- Autumn Orange
- Nutmeg Brown
- Poolside Blue
- Superior White
Standard Safety Features:
- Driver side airbag
- ABS with EBD
- Seat belt reminder for front seats
- Rear parking sensors
- Central locking
Maruti Wagon R Lxi: Basic. For self drivers or buyers who sit at the back.
Safety: Co-passenger airbag (optional) and front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiter (optional).
Exterior: Body-coloured bumpers and roof antenna.
Comfort: Accessory socket for the front row, front power windows and manual AC.
Wheels: 13-inch wheels with 155/80R13 tyre.
Verdict: The new WagonR’s base variant is priced almost at par with the outgoing WagonR’s base. Since it gets more features, including the basic safety net, the new WagonR is more VFM than the outgoing model.
While it’s good to see Maruti offering body-coloured bumpers, rear parking sensors and central locking as standard, we would have liked to see features like defogger, 2DIN audio system, manual day/night IRVM and wheel covers as a part of the basic package.
If you travel alone in your car or with a driver most of the time, we will recommend you to go for the Lxi variant and then personalise it from the aftermarket. If you travel with someone in the passenger seat or with family most of the times, we recommend you to go for the Lxi(O), since it gets co-passenger airbags and seatbelts with pretensioners. The Lxi(O) variant attracts a premium of Rs 6,500 over the Lxi variant.
Maruti Wagon R Vxi: The variant that ticks all basics. Worth considering with 1.2-litre engine.
Features (over Lxi)
Safety: Co-passenger airbag (optional), front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiter (optional), speed sensitive door lock, speed alert system and security alarm.
Exterior: Full wheel cap, body coloured door handles and ORVMs.
Comfort: Electrically adjustable ORVMs, 60:40 split rear seats, remote keyless entry, rear power windows, manual day/night IRVM, tilt adjustable steering and steering-mounted audio controls (only on 1.2L).
Infotainment: 2-din audio system with Bluetooth, USB and Aux.
Wheels: 14-inch steel wheels with 165/70R14 tyres
Verdict: The Vxi variant gets all the basic features right and this is the package that most WagonR buyers will be happy to live with.
But the premium of Rs 50,000 it attracts over the 1.0MT Lxi for these features is steep in our opinion by about Rs 15,000. Clearly, if you’re on a budget and that’s the reason why you’re opting for the WagonR 1.0, we would suggest you to go for the Lxi 1.0MT.
Now if you really want to upgrade to a bigger car from an entry-level hatchback, the WagonR 1.2MT Vxi is a good package. The WagonR 1.2 Vxi is more expensive than the WagonR 1.0 Vxi by Rs 20,000 only, and the bigger and more powerful engine (same engine as the Swift) makes it a car worth considering. However, opt for the WagonR 1.2 Vxi only if you can extend your budget till here (buy the optional variant). If you can dig a little deeper into your pocket, the WagonR Zxi should be the pick. Why? We tell you.
Maruti WagonR Zxi - Total value-for-money upgrade, the modern-day compact utility hatchback
Features (over Vxi)
Safety: Co-passenger airbag and front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiter as standard.
Exterior: Turn indicators on ORVM and fog lamps (7k).
Comfort: Electrically foldable ORVMs, defogger and rear washer and wiper and steering mounted voice controls.
Infotainment: 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Verdict: The Zxi is our recommended variant for the 1.2-litre WagonR (it is not available with 1.0L WagonR) buyer. The additional equipment totally justifies the premium of Rs 33,000 over the Vxi. It not only gets better safety tech, but also other features like a touchscreen infotainment system and electrically-foldable ORVMs that make it a modern-day compact hatchback. If there’s one feature that you’ll miss in this, it will be a height-adjustable driver’s seat. We would have happily paid a little more for it if it was on offer.
Source: cardekho.com
