The Legend of WagonR: India's Unofficial National Car Is All You Need

The ‘R’ of the Maruti Suzuki WagonR stands for “Revolution and Relaxation.” This car was born as a kei car in 1993 in Japan and finally made its way to the Indian shores in 1999. The brand made design alterations and added a bigger engine compared to the Japanese iteration.

However, the tallboy design was kept in the Indian car, too.

The immense popularity of the legendary WagonR 

At the time of WagonR’s India debut, the Hyundai Santro was ruling the hearts of entry-level car buyers. Hence, it was not an easy empty field for the WagonR to wander around.

Its spacious tallboy cabin in a compact overall footprint, combined with a peppy yet efficient petrol engine at an affordable price, made the WagonR an instant hit. Maruti’s household image also worked in the favour of the WagonR.

The WagonR became so popular that Hyundai discontinued the Santro due to low sales and lack of demand. Currently, the WagonR sells an average of over 13,000 units monthly. It has been the top-selling Maruti Suzuki car for the last few years. Not only is it loved by first-time car buyers but the cab drivers also love the WagonR for its unmatched combination of space and efficiency. 

Performance of WagonR

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR used to be offered with the LPG fueling option which was later discontinued. Currently, the car is offered with two engine options. The first is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine which also offers the convenience of CNG. The power output is 66 hp and 89 Nm on petrol and 56 hp and 86 Nm on CNG. 

The second engine is a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which is not offered with CNG. It produces 89 hp and 113 Nm of peak torque. This shows that there is a WagonR for almost everyone. If you want the most efficient car, get it with the CNG.

If you want performance along with efficiency then get it with the 1.2-litre engine.

Future of WagonR

The WagonR is expected to get a facelift in 2026 and there are rumours that there might also be an electric version of the WagonR, which has been in the news as the Maruti Suzuki eWX. Historically, the WagonR has been the accessible entry-level car for the masses. Hence, Maruti Suzuki may bring the speculated electric WagonR (the eWX) as the most affordable electric car in India. 

WagonR: The ideal car for most Indians

We believe the Maruti Suzuki WagonR to be a very practical choice as a first car for most Indians. The car also has a massive road presence in comparison to any other hatchback at of similar price point. Other than appearance, the WagonR glides through most city potholes and speed bumps effortlessly, thanks to its ample ground clearance of 165mm combined with a short wheelbase of 2435mm. 

The car has enough space inside as well. It has the tallest cabin amongst its peers, meaning all sorts of drivers and passengers get ample headspace. The cabin is not that wide so three adults at the rear are a tight fit; not a problem for short intracity rides. The front seats are comfortable and supportive; the legroom and knee room are also very good. The second row may feel a bit tight if tall people (taller than 5’10”) are driving/sitting in the front row. 

Other than the comfort, the top variant of the car is also loaded with modern features such as a 7-inch smart play studio infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The car also has a 4-speaker music system along with steering-mounted audio controls. The WagonR also gets safety features like ABS, EBD, ESP, hill hold assist, dual airbags and more.

The performance of the WagonR is also very punchy with a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and if all you want is the best efficiency or convenience of automatic, you can also opt for AMT/CNG variants of the car. 

One area where the Maruti Suzuki WagonR falls behind is crashworthiness. It has received a one-star rating from the GNCAP, which is not the best in this price range. If safety is your utmost concern, then the Tata Tiago with its four-star rating is the only option in this price range.

Except for safety, the WagonR is a well-suited first car for most Indians. Its alluring performance, commanding driving position, comfortable cabin and frugal nature make it a compelling offering for beginner drivers.