All-new Maruti WagonR SPIED ahead of launch: Hyundai Santro challenger

Maruti Suzuki is all set to replace the current WagonR – a best seller in its segment – with an all-new version. The all-new Maruti WagonR has just been spied testing ahead of its official launch, which is slated for early 2019. The new Maruti WagonR will continue operating in the same segment as its predecessor, and will take on the recently launched Hyundai Santro.

From the spyshots, it’s clear that the new Maruti WagonR will look quite different from the Japan Domestic Model (JDM). While it retains the tall-boy design, both the front and rear ends of the car get massive design changes. The new WagonR appears curvier than before. Wraparound headlamps up front and X’Mas tree tail lamps are the other changes we can spot from the grainy spyshots.

The car gets a floating roof design, which seems inspired by the JDM version, and this touch does give the car an element of funkiness. On the whole, the new WagonR will be a much more stylish version than the outgoing model. This is a good thing as the older car was considered to be a bread box by the younger lot. The newer one, which while retaining the slab sides, does appear a lot more youthful.

There’s a reason why Maruti continues to persist with a boxy design for the WagonR. The boxy design gives designers enough room to make the car spacious, and practical from the inside. Moreover, the car is chiefly aimed at buyers who want practicality over style. The new WagonR is likely to be slightly larger than the outgoing model, both on the inside and on the outside.

Mechanically, Maruti is likely to continue using the same platform as the current model, but with revisions to make it lighter, and safer. Notably, the new Maruti WagonR will get standard safety features such as ABS, an airbag, reverse parking sensors, ISOFIX provision for child seats, seat belt reminder and a speed alert due to the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program mandate.

As for the mechanicals, the 1 liter-3 cylinder petrol engine with 67 Bhp-90 Nm is likely to continue, along with 5 speed manual and AMT options. Maruti is also working on an all-electric variant of the new WagonR for launch in 2020. Before the electric variant arrives, there will be other frugal, low polluting options such as LPG and CNG powered variants introduced. Now that the new Maruti WagonR has lost its camouflage, it’s just a matter of time before its launched in India. Keep an eye out for clearer spyshots.

As for pricing, the new WagonR is likely to be similarly priced to the outgoing version. Expect Maruti to match the Hyundai Santro or come very close to the latter with the new WagonR’s pricing. The battle seems well and truly on and the Hyundai Santro will get some stiff competition from the beginning of next year. We expect Hyundai to launch a smaller engined, cut price version of the Santro to keep the momentum going.

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