Suzuki Wagon R

	Suzuki Wagon R
	Debut: 2017 Maker: Suzuki Predecessor: Wagon R (2012)

Published on 13 Oct 2021

FZ tries to mimic Toyota Alphard with a classier nose and triangular B-pillar.

Born in 1993, Wagon R was the pioneer of tall-body K-cars, which made it the best-selling car in Japan in the years of economic depression. Time flies, today Wagon R is no longer the best selling among K-cars. The trend turned to even taller, MPV-style alternatives like Honda N-Box, Suzuki Spacia and Daihatsu Tanto. Last year, sales of the Wagon R dropped to only 66,000 units, ranked only no. 10 in K-car sales chart. This proves that the makeover in 2017 failed to reverse that trend.

The 2017 generation tries to be everything. It is available in 3 different styles to please different kinds of customers. The standard version (yellow car below) has the simplest fascia and is supposed to please female buyers. The FZ (blue car) uses 2-tier headlights and chromed grille to pretend to be more upmarket. Stingray (red car) plays with sportier image. Unfortunately, none of them could be described as pretty. They lack originality as well. The triangular B-pillar is obviously introduced to make the car appear like a mini-Toyota Alphard. The Stingray uses Cadillac headlights and Chevrolet mask. Lacking its own styling philosophy, the Wagon R has lost the character and confidence of its ancestors.

Stingray uses Cadillac headlights and Chevrolet mask.

Its biggest strength remains to be a highly practical interior. While plastics are hard and soft paddings are lacking, the Wagon R’s cabin is extremely spacious. Its 2450mm cabin length is said to be the longest in its class (excluding super-tall K-cars), thanks to compressing the engine compartment further. Rear legroom is so vast that you need to be an NBA player to feel tight. Ditto the headroom afforded by the 1265mm cabin height. The only weakness is foot room under the front passenger seat, which is occupied by the lithium battery of mild hybrid system.

As before, the cabin has countless of storage cubbies for oddities. Making good use of the triangular B-pillar, the rear doors have added a clip for mounting umbrella vertically, and a tray underneath catches water dripping – a nice touch. The rear seats can split, slide or fold flat, or recline to form a double bed. Frankly, I don't know its luggage utility has any space left for improvement.

This cabin offers more space, practicality and versatility than you can imagine.

The Wagon R is built on the so-called “Heartect” platform, which uses bent main rails to achieve impact absorption while reducing the number of parts, hence weight. It also employs higher percentage of high and ultra-high strength steel in construction. Therefore, the entire car weighs 20kg less than the last generation, even though equipment level is enhanced. All powertrains can be equipped with mild-hybrid system, which uses integrated starter generator to assist acceleration and save a little bit fuel. While the old car also offered a mild-hybrid option called “ene s-charge”, the new ISG is slightly more powerful, and the lithium battery has 3 times the capacity, so electric push can last for up to 30 seconds.

At launch, the car was offered with the existing R06A 3-cylinder motors, rated at 52hp and 44 lbft in NA form or 64hp and 72 lbft in turbocharged form. In 2020, the normally aspirated engine was replaced with R06D unit, whose output dropped to 49hp and 43 lbft (electric power also dropped a little, see spec.) in pursuit for higher fuel efficiency and compliance with stricter emission regulations. It introduced cooled EGR, dual-injectors and a higher, 12.0:1 compression ratio for higher thermal efficiency. Sadly, over the last 10 years the output of normally aspirated K-car engines kept dropping. If you turn back to the 2003 model, it offered 5 horsepower and 3 pound-foot more than today’s car. This means, while the new Wagon R has sufficient power for inner city driving, on highway it is very slow and noisy. The turbo engine is a better bet. I think Japan should consider lifting the capacity limit of K-car engines beyond 660 c.c.

As for ride and handling, Suzuki has maintained a good balance between the two. For sure it lacks the chassis rigidity and sense of refinement of a larger supermini like Toyota Yaris, but as far as K-cars are concerned, it is pretty competent.

Verdict: