When I was looking to buy my car, the options I was evaluating were a Santro, Zen, Palio and WagonR.
The WagonR beats all the rest hands down!
The Zen, though a zippy and wonderful car is overpriced for its dated looks.. thanks to the fact there hasnt been much competition in its category for long. Also, there is not much bang for the buck.. the insides are crammed if you are tall.. and the boot space is nothing much to talk about.
Santro seems to be everybody’s darling.. but despite all the nifty features that Hyundai keeps introducing, technically it is no match to the WagonR. The choice in colors is not great either. And inspite of the ugly looks, does not offer as much space as a WagonR does.. Also, the dashboard seems a lot better in the WagonR.
Palio - the best looking car with enormous space was not much of an option considering its fuel efficiency(or is it appetite!?)
I almost made up my mind to buy a Santro.. but before taking the final decision, went for a round of test drives on all the cars in this category.. and incidentally, WagonR was the last on my list to check out. But once I got into the WagonR, it just changed everything. All other cars seemed a distant second! The AC chills amazingly quick. The seat and steering position is extremely convenient for tall people.
It is the only Indian car that actually gave me the feeling I got after driving a Chrysler Minivan. The dashboard is designed with quite a bit of thought - everything is accessible and there is space for almost all your needs.. including space for 25 or so cassettes under the glove box..
Also, space is utilized in a very nice manner.. box shape means that you actually have as much space on the inside as you think you should! I once carried four 17’’ computer monitors (in boxed packages) inside the rear of the car.. and fitting them in was a breeze..
Thoughtful provision of space for front speakers is a plus.
The electronic power steering is definitely more than just a marketing gimmick, there is a very perceptible difference in ease handling compared to the Santro.
Couple of problems I found was that in an attempt to make the seats fully reclinable into a bed, the seats have not been designed with much support to the lower back.. easily taken care of by adding cushioned seat covers. Maruti has this way of fleecing money from people.. the car doesnt come with mud flaps/foot mats/light inside the bonnet, etc.. I was amazed with the 2000 rupee bill price tag for getting additional plastic beading stuck on the doors.
But those are just minor issues - I guess a ploy to make the price tag look very comparable to a Santro.. but the onroad price of this baby is atleast 25K more than the Santro LP.
The seating position gives a very commanding feel. Driving is a pleasure - the car doesnt mind bad road conditions - silky smooth!
The car is very responsive and a pleasure to drive in - both In City and on the Highway.
I have found a few people complain about the gears, etc.. but I guess this is a car for tall people.. and if you are tall, you would find everything very conveniently placed and easy to handle.. while if you are short, it seems to be a bit troublesome. Even the tallest of my friends had no problem getting in or out of the car.. and the tallboy design means you get into the car nice and easy - no crouching and bending required.
The enormous headroom makes you feel at home - unlike the
claustrophobic interiors in other cars!
Five people get in comfortably and there is a huge amount of boot space. Also, reclining backseats give a luxurious feeling.
The slightly narrow build means that inspite of all the space, you can actually drive without hassle in the narrow and congested city traffic.
Verdict: Been about a month since I bought this car.. and I love it!