Best Family Cars: Detailed Comparison of Maruti Suzuki WagonR and S-Presso Variants

What a Family-focused car buyer looks for in a car

A ‘family car’ buyer prioritizes safety, comfort, and convenience. They look for a vehicle that is equipped with advanced safety features like airbags, ABS, and ESC. Roominess in terms of headroom, legroom, and boot capacity is also a significant consideration for comfortable long trips. Additionally, they appreciate convenience features such as power windows, rear AC vents, and parking sensors.

Stability at high speeds and ride comfort also rank high for a smooth and enjoyable family journey. Cost-effectiveness and the brand’s reputation for reliability and service are also deciding factors. Let us explore the Maruti Suzuki WagonR and S-presso variants, and find out which of these can be considered perfect family cars.

Why Maruti Suzuki WagonR and Maruti Suzuki S-Presso are popular among ‘family car’ buyers

Maruti Suzuki WagonR and Maruti Suzuki S-Presso have been popular choices among family-focused car buyers due to their reliability, practicality, and value for money. Maruti’s long-standing reputation for excellent after-sales service and wide service network adds to their appeal. Both figure among the best family hatchbacks in India.

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The WagonR, with its tall-boy design, offers ample headroom and legroom making it comfortable for families. Both the cars come with ABS and airbags, adding to their safety quotient. The WagonR’s boot capacity is decent for family outings, and power windows enhance the convenience. The VXI variant of both models also includes rear AC vents for backseat passenger comfort.

The S-Presso, on the other hand, offers a higher ground clearance making it suitable for Indian roads. Even though its boot capacity is slightly smaller than the WagonR, it compensates with a trendy design and higher seating position for a better road view. The S-Presso VXi Plus and VXi Opt AT also include a touchscreen navigation system for enhanced convenience.

Both these cars offer decent ride comfort and stability at high speeds, making them suitable for city drives and occasional long trips.

Our variants shortlist for Maruti Suzuki WagonR and Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

Here are the shortlisted variants along with their price details:

Product	Variant	Price (INR)
Maruti Suzuki WagonR	LXI	554,000
Maruti Suzuki WagonR	VXI	600,000
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso	VXI	521,000
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso	VXi Plus	550,000
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso	VXi Opt AT	576,000

Maruti Suzuki WagonR LXI – This variant is equipped with basic safety features like ABS and two airbags, ensuring a safer ride for the family. It does have pronounced body roll and lacks rear AC vents, but these are minor trade-offs for its reasonable price. It’s suitable for budget-conscious families looking for a reliable vehicle.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR VXI – The VXI variant of the WagonR adds rear AC vents to the LXI’s features, adding to passenger comfort in the back seat. Like the LXI, it has ABS, two airbags, and a stable high-speed ride. The added comfort makes it a good choice for families who frequently travel together.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso VXI – This variant is similarly equipped as the WagonR LXI but with a lower boot capacity. It however offers a higher ground clearance, which can be advantageous on uneven roads. It’s an excellent choice for families who often encounter rough road conditions.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso VXi Plus – The VXi Plus variant has similar features to the VXI but adds a 7-inch touchscreen navigation system for increased convenience. This is an attractive feature for tech-savvy families or those who frequently travel to new places.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso VXi Opt AT – This variant stands out with its Automatic Transmission and Electronic Stability Control, adding to safety and driving ease. It’s a suitable choice for families preferring an automatic car for city driving.

Best variant among Maruti Suzuki WagonR and Maruti Suzuki S-Presso for Family-focused car buyer

The best variant for a family-focused car buyer among the shortlisted variants is the Maruti Suzuki WagonR VXI. It offers a balanced mix of safety, comfort, and convenience. Safety features like ABS and two airbags are standard, and it offers a stable high-speed ride. In terms of comfort, it offers ample space with a generous boot capacity and rear AC vents, which is a welcome feature for back seat passengers, particularly during hot Indian summers.

Although it has a pronounced body roll, it’s not a significant drawback considering it’s a city car primarily and not intended for sporty driving. The WagonR’s boxy design gives it more headroom and legroom compared to the S-Presso variants, making it the right car for a family man. Also, the WagonR’s reputation for easy maintenance and reliability further strengthens its case.

The Top 3 choices

1. Maruti Suzuki WagonR VXI – With a good blend of safety features, comfort, and the convenience of rear AC vents, the WagonR VXI is the top choice. It’s a well-rounded vehicle that’s also backed by Maruti’s excellent service network.
2. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso VXi Plus – The S-Presso VXi Plus is our second pick. Its higher ground clearance and the addition of a touchscreen navigation system make it a good choice for families who value tech-friendly features and better road handling.
3. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso VXi Opt AT – For those preferring an automatic transmission, the S-Presso VXi Opt AT is a perfect choice. The added safety feature of ESC is a definite plus.

Here’s a comparative table of their P0 attributes

Attribute	Maruti Suzuki WagonR VXI	Maruti Suzuki S-Presso VXi Plus	Maruti Suzuki S-Presso VXi Opt AT
ABS	Yes	Yes	Yes
Airbags (number)	2	2	2
Body roll	Pronounced	Pronounced	Pronounced
Boot capacity (liters)	341	240	240
ESC	No	No	Yes
Ground clearance (mm)	165	180	180
High-speed stability	Stable	Pronounced Body Roll	Pronounced Body Roll
NCAP Rating	1	1	1
Power Windows – Back	Yes	Yes	Yes
Power Windows – Front	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rear AC vents	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rear Parking Sensors	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ride comfort	Yes	Yes	Yes

In summary, these three variants offer a good blend of safety, comfort, and convenience. While they each have distinct features, they all promise a comfortable and safe journey, making them excellent choices for family-focused car buyers.

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