Maruti launches StingRay priced between Rs. 4.09 lakh – Rs. 4.67 lakh

Maruti has launched a “smarter” Wagon-R in the form of the Maruti Wagon-R Sting Ray. The car has a completely redesigned front end, but the rest of the car is based on the current Wagon-R styling and body. Here’s more on what the Sting Ray is all about.

Prices and variants

All prices, ex-showroom Delhi.

Wagon-R Sting Ray LXI: Rs. 4.09 lakh

Wagon-R Sting Ray VXI: Rs. 4.38 lakh

Wagon-R Sting Ray VXI (Option):  Rs. 4.67 lakh

The Sting Ray is price positioned above the current regular Wagon-R and is designed to appeal to buyers who want a bit of style along with the practical functionality of the regular Wagon-R. There is a Rs. 23,000 price difference, variant for variant between the regular Wagon-R and the StingRay. If there ever was a lesson in how to beautify a box, this is it.

What’s new with the Maruti Wagon-R Sting Ray

There are some significant feature additions and styling changes that differentiate the Sting Ray from the regular Maruti Wagon-R. Starting at the front you have a completely new look with a longer, flatter bonnet. The headlamps are twin beams, with projectors for the low-beam headlamp, giving it a nice up-market feel and the first small hatchback to sport OEM projectors. The grille is an all-plastic chrome affair running in a single band between the headlamps, giving it a mini-SUV look (someone said it looked like a squashed Tata Safari Storme). Actually, it’s not even a grille but a transparent plastic panel that houses a strip of LEDs, that come on with the parking lamps!  The bumper has been redesigned with a large hexagonal grille and new fog lamp housing in it. Also read: Maruti Wagon-R facelift with better mileage 

There are hardly any changes when you look at the car in profile and it is unmistakable as a Wagon-R, except for the decals. At the rear, the car gets clear lens tail-lamps to differentiate it from the regular variant. It also gets a chrome applique over the number plate with Sting Ray embossed in it.

Features of StingRay

On the interiors, the car sports a new audio system, black dashboard and high quality plastics. It also has steering mounted audio controls in the top-end variant. The VXI variant and VXI (Option) variant have a rear wiper, rear defogger and four power windows. The Option pack includes ABS and a single airbag like the current VXI variant.

There is no mechanical change with the car continuing to sport the 1-litre 3-cylinder K-Series engine putting out 67 bhp of power, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The interior space remains the same, and is ideal for four adults. It can carry a fair amount of luggage (over 180 litres), with its flexi seating system. The car continues to be one of the best-selling cars, selling 140,953 cars in the past 12 months alone. Also see: How to buy a used WagonR 

Overall, the Maruti Sting Ray gives buyers the choice of owning a more stylish Wagon-R. But is the styling alone worth the additional price? Tell us.