Suzuki Wagon R Smile


Debut: 2021
Maker: Suzuki
Predecessor:
No


 Published on 13 Oct 2021
All rights reserved. 


Suzuki follows Daihatsu to launch an extra-tall K-car with sliding doors.


Last year, more than half the K-cars sold in Japan came with sliding doors. This might be attributed to the domination of MPV-style super-tall K-cars, but it also implies Japanese motorists, especially younger ones, prefer sliding doors. It might sound strange to us that the type of doors could have a significant impact to sales results, but Japan is a special place where streets in urban area could be very tight, so sliding doors have an advantage of allowing access when parking space is limited. Perception is another reason. Some said the young car buyers today were grown up in the 1990s when MPVs with sliding doors, such as Honda Stepwgn and Nissan Serena, were popular. They got used to sliding doors in their childhood. For those with small children, sliding doors are also safer and more convenient to use.

Under this background, Suzuki introduced Wagon R Smile. Make no mistake, it is not a derivative of Wagon R in any sense, but an all-new car which happens to wear the same badge to help adding up the numbers. In fact, Daihatsu did the same with Move Canbus, which helped the sales numbers of Move surged pass Wagon R. The Smile is just a counter-attack. It is funny that Japanese car makers keep doing silly things in their intense competition.



Interesting packaging, uninteresting driving dynamics.


There is nothing innovative in the Smile. It follows Move Canbus in many ways: the sliding doors, the extra-tall body which is 45mm taller than that of Move but 90mm lower than Spacia. Even the exterior design has some similarities – a flat bonnet, upright windscreen and a glasshouse covered with 4 windows at each side. However, the Suzuki appears squarer, and it roof is not completely “floating”, as the last pillar is not blackened. Both cars have their exterior styling inspired by Western classics: VW Microbus for Daihatsu, Mini for the oval and heavily chromed headlamps of Suzuki. The Smile offers many choices of paint, including 4 mono colors and 8 two-tone paint schemes. It looks youthful, because its target audiences are young unmarried females.

Inside, you can easily tell which car provides inspiration for its interior design: Fiat 500. Its retro single-dial instrument and the light-color lacquered dashboard panel look so familiar. Not only pretty, it also delivers a strong sense of quality and attention to details, such as the copper-color vents and door lock surrounds, the quilted roof trims, the quality seat fabrics, the stitched pattern on dash top trims, the soft padded door panels… Although plenty of cheaper hard plastics can be seen lower down, this is still the best K-car interior we have seen.



Interior obviously inspired by Fiat 500.


Space is also aplenty, thanks to the extra-tall roof. You get into the rear cabin through a tall and quite wide aperture. Even six-footers will find plenty of head and legroom, although the higher mounted front seats could make the rear passengers feel a bit claustrophobic. That higher front seat gives the driver MPV-style commanding view on the road. The slim pillars help visibility, too. Optional head-up display keeps your eyes on the road. Predictably, the rear seat is highly versatile. It splits, slides and folds flat. A lot of luggage can be loaded. Safety features are also up to date, with adaptive cruise control, collision prevention and road sign identification capability.

Mechanical aspect is a bit weak. It is built on the existing Suzuki K-car platform but only naturally aspirated engine is offered. The latest R06D unit might be cleaner and more efficient, but it produces less power thus struggles at faster paces. Although Suzuki has applied more sound-deadening measures, keep revving the engine at close to 4000 rpm in cruising remains an uncomfortable experience on any K-cars. Because the Smile is designed for women, it is made for comfort and ease of driving in the first place. This means soft suspension, lots of roll and plenty of understeer. The steering is very light, dead and slow. A very interesting package, but not very interesting to drive.
Verdict: 
Specifications





Year
Layout
Chassis
Body
Length / width / height
Wheelbase
Engine
Capacity
Valve gears
Induction
Other engine features
Max power
Max torque
Transmission
Suspension layout
Suspension features
Tires
Kerb weight
Top speed
0-60 mph (sec)
0-100 mph (sec)
Wagon R Smile
2021
Front-engined, FWD
Steel monocoque
Mainly steel
3395 / 1475 / 1695 mm
2460 mm
Inline-3, mild hybrid
657 cc
DOHC 12 valves, DVVT
-
-
49 hp + 2.6 hp
43 lbft + 29 lbft
CVT
F: strut; R: torsion-beam
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155/65SR14
870 kg
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Wagon R Smile



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