Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Tall Boy shots have been fired, and this time it's not a pistol but a double-barrel shotgun!

- Abhishek Wairagade

AFTER TWENTY YEARS AND 2.2 million units, Suzuki is back with the latest iteration of the Wagon R. And unlike the rest of the world, India will get a uniquely Indian version that is based on the Heartect platform underpinning the Baleno, Ignis, Swift, Dzire and the recently launched Ertiga. Quick comments? The third-gen Wagon R has gotten bigger, wider and longer. But that’s not all, Maruti Suzuki is now offering two engine and transmission options. With so much going for it, the Wagon R means business. And without killing suspense I have to tell you the Kwid, Redi-Go, Santro, Celerio, even the Tiago should be worried.

What’s it about?

Another addition to Maruti Suzuki’s portfolio of supersellers! The burgeoning A2 segment was recently hit by the Santro storm. Now it’s Maruti’s turn to strike back, and to kill quite a few birds with one stone, they are offering the Wagon R with not one but two engines. The 998cc K10B, 3-cylinder petrol from Celerio makes 67bhp and 90NM, while the more powerful 1197cc K12M motor from the Swift churns out a healthy 82bhp and 113Nm. While the 1-litre K10B will take the fight to the likes of Datsun Redi-Go and Reanult Kwid 1-litre, the 1.2-litre K12M will slug it out with the class-leading (when it comes to power) Tata Tiago.