Published
on 13
Oct 2021
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All rights reserved.
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FZ
tries to mimic Toyota Alphard with a classier nose and triangular
B-pillar.
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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.
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Stingray
uses Cadillac headlights and Chevrolet mask.
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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.
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This
cabin offers more space, practicality and versatility than you can
imagine.
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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.
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Verdict: |
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Wagon R
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2017
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Front-engined,
FWD
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Steel monocoque |
Mainly steel
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3395 / 1475 / 1650 mm |
2460 mm |
Inline-3, mild hybrid
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658 cc |
DOHC 12 valves, DVVT
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52 hp + 3.1 hp
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44 lbft + 37 lbft
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CVT
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F: strut; R: torsion-beam
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155/65SR14
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770 kg
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Wagon R
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2020
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Front-engined,
FWD
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Steel monocoque |
Mainly steel
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3395 / 1475 / 1650 mm |
2460 mm |
Inline-3, mild hybrid
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657 cc |
DOHC 12 valves, DVVT
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Dual-injector
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49 hp + 2.6 hp
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43 lbft + 29 lbft
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CVT
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F: strut; R: torsion-beam
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155/65SR14
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770 kg
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Wagon R Stingray turbo
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2017
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Front-engined,
FWD
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Steel monocoque |
Mainly steel
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3395 / 1475 / 1650 mm |
2460 mm |
Inline-3, mild hybrid
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658 cc |
DOHC 12 valves, VVT
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Turbo
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64 hp + 3.1 hp
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72 lbft + 37 lbft
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CVT
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F: strut; R: torsion-beam
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165/55VR15
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800 kg
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Performance
tested by: -
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