The Wagon R's unconventional styling took some getting used to, but aided by a few price cuts along the way, it’s gone on to become a roaring success. We uncover what lies beneath that quirky shape.

DESIGN & ENGINEERING
TOWERING HEIGHT AND SMALL WIDTH GIVE IT PECULIAR PROPORTIONS
The Wagon R’s skyscraper proportions easily make it the tallest in the group. Though the new headlamps, grille, bumpers and shiny alloys, introduced not long ago, have smartened the looks, it still has a quirky, boxy, slab-sided appearance. Built to Japan's 'Kei-jidosha' regulations, the Wagon R is quite narrow, which accentuates its oddball proportions. Interestingly, the Wagon R is built on the same platform as the Alto and shares many of its sibling’s underpinnings.

INTERIORS, SPACE & EQUIPMENT
FLEXIBLE INTERIOR, BUT PLASTICS FEEL CHEAP
The external proportions suddenly start to make sense when you get inside the Wagon R, whose height and erect, slim pillars make for an extremely spacious, airy interior.
Headroom is exceptional and you have more than you know what to do with, unless you're a member of a basketball team. Legroom is decent but the lack of width is very apparent. The Wagon R will seat four comfortably, on airline-style seats that recline and fold to create a very flexible interior, but try seating five and the split-line at the rear is uncomfortable. Boot space is superb for a car of this size and with the split rear seats folding forwards, it’s versatile too.
The dull grey plastics aren't of the best quality — they look shiny and cheap. The dials are clear and easy to read, and come with a tacho and electronic odometer as standard. The high-set driver's seat is very comfortable, with good under-thigh support and offers superb all-round visibility, which helps, particularly in the city.
There are plenty of useful cubbyholes and hooks in the vertically-stacked dashboard, designed to hold everything from cans to cell-phones and plastic bags. We would have appreciated modern rotary air-con controls, instead of which you get old-fashioned slide-type switches and cheap buttons. Equipment levels are reasonable on the VXi model and include roof rails and fog lamps, but exclude essentials like internally-adjustable mirrors.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE
FLEXIBLE AND PUNCHY BUT LACKS REFINEMENT
The long-stroke 1061cc engine is extremely flexible, thanks to a wide and flat torque curve. In the city, it chugs along effortlessly at low speeds and is pretty good on the highway too, despite its very unaerodynamic shape. The Wagon R will cruise at speeds all day long where the Santro would struggle to keep up. The gearbox is rubbery and you don’t derive any joy when shifting gears. This engine though is quite noisy when extended and less refined than you would expect. The four-valve-per-cylinder head has accentuated the racket.

RIDE & HANDLING
WELL CONTROLLED DESPITE HEIGHT
The EPS or electric power steering is extremely light and makes the Wagon R effortless to manoeuvre at parking speeds. Though it lacks the precision and nicely weighted feel of a hydraulic system, the EPS is quite responsive. Through corners, the Wagon R hangs on admirably but you are always aware of its towering height. The ride quality of the Wagon R is pretty good and were it not for the relatively low profile 155/65-R13 tyres, it would be even better. At low speeds you can feel sharp protrusions filtering through but as speed builds up, the Wagon R's body control is impressive and it's pretty stable on the highway in comparison to the Santro.

FUEL EFFICIENCY
PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE
The 16.4kpl highway and 11.9kpl city figures makes the Wagon R the most fuel-efficient in the overall standings. Because of its large frontal area, it just loses out to the Zen on the highway. The flexible nature of the engine is largely responsible for the Wagon R's fuel efficiency.

BUYING & OWNING
HASSLE-FREE, LOW OVERALL COSTS
Wagon Rs, like most Marutis, are very reliable even if they lack that built-to-last feel. The unmatched dealer and service network is a big plus, of course.