Is the Hyundai Eon a better choice than the Maruti Wagon R?

Hyundai has just launched its direct Alto rival, the Eon at a price range starting from Rs. 2.69 lakh. Hyundai offers six variants of Eon with roughly Rs. 20,000 price difference between each variant going up to Rs. 3.71 lakh for the top-end variant, the Eon Sports. The Eon’s wide price range also penetrates the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R price bracket (Rs. 3.35 lakh – Rs. 4.20 lakh) though its primary rival is Alto (Rs. 2.32 lakh – Rs. 3.17 lakh). All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.

Here, we compare the WagonR LXi variant with the Eon Sportz to check out which model’s variant offers more bang for the buck.

Driving and handling

The Eon is powered by 814 cc, 3-cylinder motor (derived from the 1.1 litre Epsilon engine of Santro) that puts out 56 bhp of power. This engine is smooth and refined, but does not put out as much power as the Wagon R’s engine.  On the other hand, the WagonR’s engine offers enough mid range grunt and 67 bhp of power to tackle city chaos without much fuss. Both the cars are powered by 3-cylinder engines and hence expect slightly audible engine noise when revved hard. Also see: Hyundai Eon Magna vs Maruti Suzuki Alto VXi

With regard to handling, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR is easy to handle as long as you do not over speed at corners. On open highways, crosswinds may spoil the WagonR’s road manners and it pitches a bit. Based on the compact dimensions of the Eon, we can safely assume that the Eon will be easy to handle in city speeds. We’ll update you on its highway manners after a detailed road test.

Based on power specifications alone, the WagonR holds an edge in performance.

Looks

The new WagonR manages to hide the boxy designs of the previous generation WagonR. The tall boy design will not win a beauty contest, but will allow you to drive through narrow gaps in city roads with ease.

The Eon is the latest Hyundai model to wear the company’s global fluidic design language. The hexagonal grille, triangular fog lamps and large headlamps (resembling i10’s) gives the Eon, a big car stance. The style even hides the fact that only a small 814 cc engine rests under its hood.

In terms of looks, the Eon has an edge over the WagonR.

Features

Both the WagonR Lxi and Eon Sportz come with front power windows, power steering, central locking, AC, tinted glass, remote fuel lid & tail gate opener.

However, the Eon Sportz has tilt-adjustable steering for comfortable driving position and gear shift indicator on the MID (Multi-Information Display) for better fuel economy. These features are not found in the Wagon R. On the other hand, the Wagon R Lxi is equipped with 60:40 split rear seats and iCats Anti-theft system.

Summing up, both the WagonR and the Eon are reasonably feature-loaded. While the WagonR offers more space-flexibility features, the Eon offers more electronic features.

Price, mileage and overall value for money

The WagonR is priced at Rs. 3.65 lakh while the Eon Sportz is priced at Rs. 3.71 lakh. With almost similar pricing, the Wagon R is a bigger car with more practical features.

As per specifications, the Eon is more frugal because, the ARAI-certified mileage of the Eon is 21.4 kmpl while that of the Wagon R is 18.9 kmpl.

Overall, the WagonR is a better buy, for it comes with a bigger engine that offers better performance, though its boxy looks may not be liked by all.

Pros and Cons

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Verdict

When it comes to style and boot space, the Hyundai Eon may have an edge, but when it comes to practicality and long term reliability, the Wagon R is the better choice. If you’re looking for a small city runabout where mileage is more of a concern than power, the Eon is a better choice. But if you want an all-round practical car which gives decent mileage and has good performance, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR is still a sensible buy.