New Maruti Suzuki WagonR launch on 23rd January

Despite retaining the boxy silhouette of its predecessor, the 2019 WagonR is expected to be more spacious and more tech-laden than the old car.

Quite a few spy shots of the upcoming 2019 WagonR have been doing the rounds on the internet, with even an all-electric version spotted testing in some regions of the country. Now, word has it that Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to bring back the WagonR nameplate in India with the launch of the new car scheduled for 23rd January 2019.  

When launched, the WagonR will have some tough competition from the likes of the Hyundai Santro and the Tata Tiago, models which have been selling very well for their respective brands. While the confirmed details of the car are scarce at the moment, we expect Maruti to launch the new WagonR with an ex-showroom price tag ranging from ₹ 4 to 5.5 lakh. Seeing the competition at hand, expect the new WagonR to come with upgraded tech and features such as touchscreen infotainment system, inbuilt navigation, rear camera and parking sensors along with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. However, we'll have to wait for the official launch to find out if these features are relegated only to the top-spec model or do they manage to trickle down to some lower-spec variants as well.

While the car's exterior will definitely see an upgrade with the addition of styling elements like alloy wheels, LED tail lamps and even perhaps projector headlamps, what's worth mentioning here is that the new car is also expected to be more spacious than the previous generation. This is a good indication, considering the fact that the Tiago offers one of the roomiest rear seats in the segment. It would be nice to see some competition in that respect.

Under the bonnet, the existing 998cc, three-cylinder K10B engine is likely to continue its duties, however, a 5-speed AMT along with a conventional 5-speed manual seems to be on the cards this time around. While Maruti Suzuki also has plans for introducing its all-electric version sometime in 2020, for now, the variant line-up might continue with a factory-fitted CNG option to take on the Santro.