Your Only Choice : WAGON R. Review on Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Hi,

This review is more of a comparison between Wagon R and Santro .... the two main contenders in this segment.

I have been able to compare these two vehicles as I myself own a Wagon R LXi and my brother has a Santro XG.

Let me first tell you what Wagon R lacks: and that is because of Maruti's sick mentality.

1) Not just wagonR, maruti's other VXi models too have wider tyres than LXi models. Why does maruti compromise on safety. Santro's all models have same tyre size.

2) Take maruti 800, zen, esteem, wagonR, gypsy, omni ... all have plain rear view mirrors when convex mirrors (if you have seen written : OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR) could be put. This gives a very little visibility to the driver. You'll notice this when you are driving in heavy traffic.

3) No Night mode inside rear view mirror in LXi.

4) The sun wisers are useless when sun comes from side. They are too short. Can't comment on the same for Santro as of now. Never noticed.

Since I knew these facts, I took care of them:

1) Got the tyres replaced with wider ones the moment I bought the car. EXPENSE Rs 500.

2) Installed left rear view mirror. Bought 2 convex Rear view mirrors ( left and right) of Toyota Qualis. Cut them open and threw the plastic cover leaving me with two glass mirrors. Trimmed them using glass cutter to fit the frame of wagon R mirrors. Pasted them over. Now me and my wife are comfortable driving in busy traffic when it comes to changing lanes. EXPENSE Rs. 200 + 340 + 20 = 560.

3) Got the internal rear view mirror replaced with night mode mirror of VXi . EXPENSE: 600

4) Got a clampable sunwiser extender from US for $7 each.

Also I got the 2 tone leather steering cover of Wagon R VXi put on.

Now I love my WagonR more than any other car.

Why ?

Here it is:

First Mileage: I have been getting 16.5 KMPL ( I only use Indian Oil Xtra Premium) in city with jamming traffic. 18 KMPL in a mixed mode 200 KM Highway and 350 KM City per tank full of 30 - 31 Ltrs. 20 KMPL : all highway. This mileage is returned when running w/o AC. Will update with a/c in summers.

I am getting comments about the mileage.

The figures are actual with a 91 octane fuel. I switch to 5th gear anywhere between 30-35 KMPH. and do not drive beyond 80 KMPH. My 16 yrs of driving exp has tought me how to extract power from every drop of fuel. With 91 octane fuel, the engine is capable of producing more torque at lower RPMS. Fuel gets more time to be fully burnt at low RPMs and fetches you more mileage.

Functional: The dash board is very functional with n number of places to keep things. Many of you may not have noticed ( even Maruti sales agent didn't tell me) , there is a bottle holder for people sitting in rear. It is located at the rear end of space between two front seats. You can pull it up and it becomes a bottle holder. All four doors are equipped with magazine holders.

The rear seats are classy and not found in any other car of its class. Haven't seen in bigger cars too. The way back rests of rear seats can be positioned individually is a big comfort for rear passengers. Also passenger side front and rear seats can be combined to make a comfortable bed. We use it often in long drives.

Santro cries for these features. Leg space for rear passengers in Santro is way too less.

WagonR has got a big boot.

WagonR also has head light adjust switch. This is usefull when driving at night with a bigger load in the rear. This load tends to lift the vehicle from front and thus headlight start pointing higher above the focus spot. Using the switch you can bring down the headlight focus. You dont want to see the trees above your head while driving in night. Do you ?

Another question I want to ask Hyundai is: They claim Santro to be 5 seater by putting 3 seat belts in the rear. Is it sufficient ? Where is the third head rest in the rear seat ? Any ways, my WagonR registration certificate shows it to be a 5 seater.

The Electronic Power Steering of WagonR will in the long run save you fuel costs as well as servicing cost. Santro has a Hydraulic Power Steering.

3 people sitting in rear are as uncomfortable as in santro. Santro has more HIP SPACE and less LEG SPACE. WagonR is other way round. You decide. If its normally 2 and rarely 3 people sitting in rear, WagonR would prove a better choice.

If you go out cycling, the roof rails of WagonR can securely hold two of your bicycles.

Next one is a purely personal experience. In past 7 years, I haven't seen any Zen or WagonR turned turtle on road. I have seen 4 Santro cars turned turtle, for reasons what so ever.

I would say switch to WagonR before its too late. You'll remember this advice on a good note.

-Lalit

Recent add on ... March 21, 2006

One of my uncles was admitted to hospital and I was shuttling between home and hospital with lunch boxes and thermos flasks ... now you know you dont want these items to fall down spilling and leaking ....

The hook provided on passenger side .. below the glove compartment came so handy ... proving this car may be designed by a computer .. but yes .. a HUMAN brain was behind the design ... :-)

Any more discoveries will keep coming ...