Flashback to Feb 2010 - I am considering to buy my first car. I have a wife & 2 young children. I am looking for a balance of practicality with looks. My budget was 4.0-4.5 lacs for a first hand petrol car. I had short listed a few cars like the Chevy Beat & Ford Figo, but a relative who had inside information advised me to wait a couple of months for the new Wagon R.
Fast Forward to May 28 2010 - I am so glad I decided to wait because I have just received delivery of the new Wagon R "Blue Eyed Boy" in Breeze Blue color, after a waiting period of 15 days only! Here are my first impressions after driving the car for last 4-5 days(approx 350 kms);
Maruti have out done themselves once again with this new avatar of the Wagon R, which already is one their top selling models.
It’s looks will not appeal to everybody, but with all the features they have stashed into this, compared to the price, who cares? As the driver or the passenger, it’s more important that your interior comfort is excellent, and this scores very high on that.
I’am of average height(5’7"), and I have a few friends and cousins who are 6 feet plus. With me in the driving seat, in a comfortable position, my friends and cousins had enough space & comfort in the rear seat to be able to stretch their legs without their knees rubbing against the front seats. Also the floor of the rear is flat, so the person sitting in the middle is also comfortable. Headroom is best in class, and my tall passengers felt they were sitting in a SUV style vehicle.
The old Wagon R’s gear box was probably it’s weakest point, but Maruti seems to have taken heed of all the complaints received over the years. The new gearbox is slick and all the gears slot into place very smoothly and it’s a real pleasure when you have to do some quick shifts to overtake on the highway.
Innovatively designed dashboard and front fascia, which has been inspired by the Grand Vitara is fantastic. Mix of deep grey and silver highlights form the color scheme of dashboard, and gives it a pleasing yet professional look. Quality of plastics could have been better, but I am not complaining.
The dash-integrated music system(CD/MP3/WMA/AUX IN)is pretty good(unless you really like deep bass sounds). It comes with 4 speakers(1 speaker per door) which provides a very good surround sound effect. The music system does not come with a remote control, but you may purchase it from Maruti for additional cost. IPOD & USB devices are also compatible, but you have to purchase IPOD/USB adaptor from Maruti to use with this music system.
The A.C is very effective and has impressed me the most, especially as temperatures are touching 45 degrees+ in Gurgaon these days. Within 3-4 minutes of switching on the A.C the out side heat is driven out. I am yet to apply sun film on my windows, so I am sure the A.C efficiency will only improve once I have done that!
The cup holders are innovative push action devices and are situated in front of A.C vents, so your cold drinks can stay cool(I hear this feature is inspired from BMW).
Tilt steering is provided & is a good option, for different driver’s and their different preferences.
Innovative storage basket provided under passenger seat. It’s big enough to store a laptop or 5-6 bottles of brewskis. The basket can be pulled out and carried along for shopping, although I may never use it for this purpose, but who knows?
The seats are comfortable and provide enough back and under-thigh support. Real test will be once I take it for a long drive on the highway, but I am confident that it will not be too bad.
The sound dampening is pretty good and very little outside noise squeezes into the cabin.
The shocks and suspensions are 100 times better than the previous Wagon R’s and even some of the Swift’s I have driven. They are firm/stiff yet comfortable, and the body roll tendency of Tall Boy design cars is remarkably reduced in the new Wagon R. This could also be because the VXI comes with 14" Tubeless Tyres(Good Year 155/65).
New K series engine is peppy yet pretty refined and will definitely be a super-saver in terms of fuel efficiency(but I can only confidently give some numbers post the 1st servicing, which is after 1000 kms or 1 month). But Maruti claims 18.9 kmpl under test conditions, which usually equals to 15-16 kmpl under real driving conditions(with A.C). Fun to drive and decent pick-up with A.C & 5 people.
Boot space is a little reduced compared to previous models, but still big enough for most families requirements. Moreover, with the flexibility of 60:40 folding rear seats, you can always increase boot space as per requirement.
Overall, this is a great value for money car for all kinds of people - individuals or families(both young and old). May not be the best looking, but at Rs. 4, 07, 860(on road price Gurgaon), Maruti has another sure shot winner, and will add many more to the already vast Wagon R owner’s club.