May 2023 - Maruti Suzuki WagonR Petrol, CNG Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

In this Maruti Suzuki WagonR, variants explained article, you'll find out which variant of the Maruti Suzuki WagonR petrol or CNG you should buy based on the ex-showroom prices, variant-wise features, and value for money. Here we compare and objectively analyse the WagonR’s petrol and CNG variants and features to figure out which variant is worth buying for a good value for money and ownership experience. Then we will compare the engine specs, dimensions, and mileage of the Maruti Suzuki WagonR with its main competitor — the Maruti Celerio.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Updated: Maruti Suzuki recently updated the prices of the WagonR. This update of the Maruti WagonR variants explained includes the latest prices and buying recommendations for each variant.

Also Read: Tata Tiago CNG Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Maruti Suzuki Celerio Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Maruti Nexa Baleno Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Maruti Suzuki WagonR?

In this segment, you get the Maruti Suzuki WagonR's pros and cons in detail.

The pros or advantages of Maruti WagonR are:

  • Extremely value for money pricing for the ZXI variant makes it an easy recommendation for WagonR buyers
  • Tall boy design gives it phenomenal head room and unmistakable road presence
  • Super efficient petrol engines offer significantly higher mileage figures than before
  • Negligible mileage and cost difference between 1.2L and 1.0L engines makes the 1.2L worth the upgrade for better drivability, performance and refinement
  • WagonR has a very high residual value in the used car market given its popularity
  • Maruti Suzuki’s wide service network makes it extremely easy to find spares (first-party and OEM-spec) and skilled labour for the WagonR
  • Optional manual and automatic transmissions with both engines; CNG bi-fuel also available with the 1.0L engine

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR has the following shortcomings or problems:

  • 1.2L CNG not available with the value-for-money ZXI variant
  • WagonR’s popularity also makes it quite common and doesn’t stand out on the road
  • Inflation and the WagonR’s popularity are also pushing the prices of the WagonR to heights; the top model costs as much as Rs. 7.29 lakh ex-showroom, which may be difficult to digest for a WagonR (I had a WagonR with factory fit CNG in the family and we bought it for Rs. 3.12 lakh - on-road in 2010)
  • Ground clearance of 165mm doesn’t do justice to a tall car like WagonR

What Is The Price Of Maruti Arena WagonR Petrol Variants?

The Maruti Arena WagonR is available with 5 engine-transmission combinations:

  • 1.0L normal petrol with manual
  • 1.0L normal petrol with AMT automatic
  • 1.2L normal petrol with manual
  • 1.2L normal petrol with AMT automatic
  • 1.0L normal CNG bi-fuel with manual

In this segment, we will look into the WagonR variants' prices at different engine-transmission combinations.

The 1.0L petrol engine is only available in the LXI and VXI variants while the 1.2L petrol engine is only available in the ZXI and ZXI Plus variants. All variants are available with a petrol-manual combination while petrol-automatic is available in all variants except the base model. The WagonR’s prices start at Rs. 5.55 lakh and go up to Rs. 7.31 lakh.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR PRICE

CNG VS PETROL-MANUAL VS AUTOMATIC

EX-SHOWROOM | May 2023

Variant

CNG-Manual

Difference

Petrol-Manual

Difference

Petrol-Auto

LXI 1.0L

Rs. 6,44,500

Rs. 90,000

Rs. 5,54,500

-

-

VXI 1.0L

Rs. 6,89,500

Rs. 90,000

Rs. 5,99,500

Rs. 55,000

Rs. 6,54,500

ZXI 1.2L

-

-

Rs. 6,28,000

Rs. 55,000

Rs. 6,83,000

ZXI Plus 1.2L

-

-

Rs. 6,75,500

Rs. 55,000

Rs. 7,30,500

AMT automatic, which is available in the VXI 1.0L, ZXI 1.2L and ZXI Plus 1.2L models, carries an additional Rs. 55,000 premium over the petrol-manual variants. Meanwhile, the CNG bi-fuel option, which is available in LXI 1.0L and VXI 1.0L variants, costs Rs. 90,000 more than the comparable petrol-manual variants.

Note: Check your Car EMI with our - Car EMI Calculator

Maruti Arena WagonR LXI - Base Model Features & Review

The base LXI variant of the Maruti Arena WagonR is only available with the 1.0L normal petrol engine and a 1.0L CNG bi-fuel engine option. It costs Rs. 5.55 lakh (ex-showroom) with the petrol engine and Rs. 6.45 lakh with the CNG bi-fuel option.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR | PRICES

 

LXI

1.0L CNG Manual

Rs. 6,44,500

Difference

Rs. 90,000

1.0L Petrol Manual

Rs. 5,54,500

The most notable WagonR variants features of the WagonR LXI are:

  • 5x bottle holders
  • Dual-tone interiors
  • Standard safety features
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Auto-start/stop (with petrol only)
  • Body-coloured bumpers
  • Black door handles and outside mirrors
  • Manual AC with heater
  • Front power windows
  • 13-inch steel wheels with hubcaps
  • Manual central locking

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR LXI

BASE MODEL STANDARD FEATURES

Safety & Functional

Style

Std. Safety Features

Driver Sun Visor w/ Ticket Holder

Dual-tone interiors

Front Seatbelt Pretensioners w/ Load Limiter

Front Cabin Lamp

Centre cap wheel covers

Rear parking sensors

Auto start/stop (w/ petrol only)

Body-coloured bumpers

5x 1.0L bottle holders

Manual AC with heater

Black door handles

Rear parcel tray (CNG only)

MID

Black outside mirrors

Manual central locking

Front power windows

13-inch steel wheels

If you buy this WagonR variant, you’re likely to miss features like remote central locking, music system, wheel covers, 14-inch wheels, rear parcel tray. Whether you’re buying the WagonR with petrol-manual or CNG, we strongly recommend stretching your budget for the higher VXI variant for a better ownership experience.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR LXI Vs VXI Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The WagonR VXI variant gets 3 powertrain options - 1.0L petrol-manual, 1.0L petrol-automatic, 1.0L CNG-manual. With the 1.0L petrol-manual, the VXI variant costs Rs. 6.0 lakh and with the 1.0L automatic, it costs Rs. 6.55 lakh. The WagonR VXI CNG-manual costs Rs. 6.90 lakh (ex-showroom). These prices are Rs. 45,000 more than the LXI variant.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR | PRICES

 

LXI

Difference

VXI

1.0L CNG Manual

Rs. 6,44,500

Rs. 45,000

Rs. 6,89,500

Difference

Rs. 90,000

 

Rs. 90,000

1.0L Petrol Manual

Rs. 5,54,500

Rs. 45,000

Rs. 5,99,500

Difference

-

 

Rs. 55,000

1.0L Petrol Auto

-

-

Rs. 6,54,500

For the additional sum, you get the following WagonR variant features over the base LXI variant:

  • Day/night inside mirror
  • Remote central locking
  • Tilt steering
  • Split rear seatbacks
  • Hill start assist with AMT
  • Music system
  • Rear parcel tray
  • 14-inch wheels with full wheel covers
  • Rear power windows
  • Auto door locking
  • Power mirrors

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR VXI

FEATURES OVER LXI

Safety & Entertainment

Functional

Style

Day/night inside mirror

60-40 split rear seatbacks

Silver accents on steering

Hill start assist (AMT only)

Tilt steering

Silver inside door handles

Alarm for central locking

Remote central locking

Silver accents on gear lever (AMT only)

Music system

Rear power windows

Full wheel cover

2 speakers

Gear position indicator (AMT only)

Body-coloured door handles

USB, Bluetooth, Aux connectivity

Rear parcel tray (w/ petrol also)

Body-coloured outside mirrors

Phone mounting dock

Auto door locking

14-inch steel wheels

 

Power mirrors

 

The VXI variant of the WagonR offers enough features to justify the upgrade from the LXI variant. For WagonR CNG buyers, we’ll strongly recommend skipping the base model and buying the VXI CNG for a better ownership experience. The VXI variant is also a value for money upgrade. So, you’re getting the features worth your money.

For petrol-manual and automatic buyers, we strongly recommend skipping the VXI variant and jumping to the ZXI. While the VXI is a value upgrade, you should still buy the WagonR ZXI. In terms of EMI, the upgrade is worth barely anything as the ZXI only costs Rs. 28,500 more.

Maruti Arena WagonR VXI vs ZXI Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Maruti Arena WagonR ZXI variant is available only with the 1.2L petrol engine and has the option of a manual and an AMT automatic transmission. The ZXI petrol-manual costs Rs. 6.28 lakh while the petrol-automatic costs Rs. 6.83 lakh. It’s Rs. 28,500 more expensive than the lower VXI 1.0L variants. For this additional price, the WagonR ZXI adds only 2 notable features over the VXI variant, which are steering-mounted controls and B-pillar black wrap.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR VARIANTS PRICES

 

VXI 1.0L

Difference

ZXI 1.2L

CNG Manual

Rs. 6,89,500

-

-

Difference

Rs. 90,000

 

-

Petrol Manual

Rs. 5,99,500

Rs. 28,500

Rs. 6,28,000

Difference

Rs. 55,000

 

Rs. 55,000

Petrol Auto

Rs. 6,54,500

Rs. 28,500

Rs. 6,83,000

While the ZXI variant doesn’t add too many features, the extra power and torque output of the 1.2L engine alone are worth more than the incremental asking price. On top of that, you also get steering-mounted controls, which will certainly improve your ownership experience.

For the sheer value-for-money quotient of the ZXI, we can’t suggest a lower variant to any WagonR buyers. The ZXI is an easy choice and earns our top recommendation. It’ll also offer you better city and highway drivability without sacrificing on the fuel efficiency along with better refinement.

Maruti WagonR Petrol ZXI vs ZXI Plus Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The ZXI Plus top model of the Maruti Arena WagonR Rs. 47,500 more than the lower ZXI variant and it’s available with the same 1.2L petrol engine. It costs Rs. 6.76 lakh with the petrol-manual and Rs. 7.31 lakh with the petrol-automatic powertrain.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR | PRICES

 

ZXI 1.2L

Difference

ZXI Plus 1.2L

Petrol MT

Rs. 6,28,000

Rs. 47,500

Rs. 6,75,500

Difference

Rs. 55,000

 

Rs. 55,000

Petrol AT

Rs. 6,83,000

Rs. 47,500

Rs. 7,30,500

The top model of the WagonR variants gets the following additional features over the ZXI trim:

  • Rear defogger
  • Rear washer wiper
  • Front fog lamps
  • 7-inch touchscreen
  • Android Auto and Apple Carplay
  • Tachometer
  • Power folding outside mirrors
  • White instrument cluster
  • Alloy wheels
  • Underseat storage tray and seat back pockets

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR ZXI PLUS

FEATURES OVER ZXI

Safety

Entertainment

Functional

Style

Rear defogger

7-inch touchscreen

Tachometer

White instrument cluster theme

Front fog lamps

Wired Android Auto & Apple Carplay

Front passenger under seat tray

Alloy wheels

Rear washer wiper

+2x speakers

Front passenger seat back pocket

Dual-tone exterior (optional)

 

Voice command button on steering

Power folding mirrors

Black outside mirrors (w/ DT)

The WagonR ZXI Plus adds some must-have along with mostly good-to-have features. On the value front, the top model of the WagonR seems like a worthy upgrade. So, if you want these features in your car, then you can buy the ZXI Plus variant without compromising on value.

Which Maruti WagonR Petrol Variant Of 2023 Should You Buy?

Let’s start the buying recommendation for the Maruti WagonR with the petrol-manual variants.

The base model is missing many must-have features. So, we can’t recommend buying it. While the VXI variant justifies the cost of upgrade, it can’t match the ZXI’s value for money points, which gives you a more powerful 1.2L petrol engine with steering-mounted controls. The 1.2L petrol engine offers better drivability and performance with a similar mileage figure as that of the 1.0L engine. It’ll also be smoother because of 4 cylinders. For these reasons, the ZXI variant is an easy choice for WagonR buyers and our top recommendation.

The top model also justifies the upgrade over the ZXI variant, but it mostly adds good-to-have features. So, you can buy it if you want these features without compromising on value for money.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR PETROL-MANUAL

BUYING RECOMMENDATION

Variant

VFM Rank

Price

Recommendation

LXI 1.0L

Rank 3

Rs. 5,53,000

Not recommended

VXI 1.0L

Rank 4

Rs. 5,98,000

Not recommended

ZXI 1.2L

Rank 1

Rs. 6,26,500

Top recommended

ZXI Plus 1.2L

Rank 2

Rs. 6,74,000

VFM upgrade; buyer discretion

The recommendation remains the same for WagonR automatic buyers. Skip the VXI even though it offers a balanced set of features for a value-for-money price tag. The ZXI will offer a far better driving experience with its better power and torque output without affecting the mileage. The ZXI Plus is worth buying but doesn’t add enough must-have features to warrant an upgrade. If you want these features or intend to add these later on, then you should consider the ZXI Plus trim.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR PETROL-AUTOMATIC

BUYING RECOMMENDATION

Variant

VFM Rank

Price

Recommendation

VXI 1.0L

Rank 3

Rs. 6,53,000

Not recommended

ZXI 1.2L

Rank 1

Rs. 6,81,500

Top recommended

ZXI Plus 1.2L

Rank 2

Rs. 7,29,000

VFM upgrade; buyer discretion

Since the WagonR CNG is not available with the 1.2L ZXI variant, you’ll have to choose between the LXI and VXI 1.0L CNG bi-fuel options. Between these two, the VXI is our top choice as it will offer a far better ownership experience without compromising on value for money. We wish Maruti Suzuki also offered the ZXI 1.2L CNG as that would’ve been a better choice.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR CNG-MANUAL

BUYING RECOMMENDATION

Variant

VFM Rank

Price

Recommendation

LXI 1.0L

Rank 1

Rs. 6,43,000

Not recommended

VXI 1.0L

Rank 2

Rs. 6,88,000

Top recommended

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The Maruti Suzuki WagonR Petrol Variant?

The WagonR 1.0L has good power and torque output but with fantastic mileage figures. The WagonR 1.2L also gets similar mileage figures but also higher power and torque output compared to the smaller 1.0L engine. The WagonR’s mileage figures are almost on par with the Celerio’s.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR PETROL VS COMPETITION

ENGINE SPECS COMPARISON

 

WagonR

Celerio

Engine

1.2L

1.0L

1.0L

Cylinder

4

3

3

Displacement

1197cc

998cc

998cc

Power

90PS @ 6000rpm

67PS @ 5500rpm

67PS @ 5500rpm

Torque

113Nm @ 4400rpm

89Nm @ 3500rpm

89Nm @ 3500rpm

Manual

5-speed

5-speed

5-speed

Manual FE

23.56kmpl

24.35kmpl

24.97 - 25.23kmpl

Automatic

5-speed AMT

5-speed AMT

5-speed AMT

Automatic FE

24.43kmpl

25.19kmpl

26.00 - 26.68kmpl

Also Read: 10 Tips To Get Better Mileage From Your Petrol, Diesel Or CNG Car

The WagonR’s 1.0L CNG bi-fuel engine also gets a slightly better mileage figure but the jump is not as big as that with the petrol model. This is partially because the CNG model doesn’t get the auto-start stop feature. We wish the WagonR offered the CNG option with the more powerful 1.2L engine also.

You should consider buying the WagonR CNG variant if you intend to run the car for more than 46,000km to recover the higher upfront cost for the CNG model. Considering the May 2023 fuel prices in Delhi and the official mileage figures, the WagonR CNG variant will cost you Rs. 2.16 for every kilometre you drive. It’s on par with the Celerio CNG’s fuel costs.

MARUTI SUZUKI WAGONR CNG VS COMPETITORS

ENGINE SPEC COMPARISON

 

WagonR

Celerio

Engine

1.0L

1.0L

Cylinder

3

3

Displacement

998cc

998cc

Maximum Power

57PS @ 5300rpm

57PS @ 5300rpm

Power:Weight

65PS/tonne

63PS/tonne

Peak Torque

82Nm @ 3400rpm

82Nm @ 3400rpm

Torque:Weight

86Nm/tonne

91Nm/tonne

Manual

5-speed

5-speed

Manual FE

34.05kmpkg

34.43kmpkg

Per KM Fuel Cost

Rs. 2.16

Rs. 2.14

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how any petrol, diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

Fuel Cost Calculator in India

What Are The Dimensions Of The Maruti Arena WagonR?

The WagonR uses the same platform as the older model with minimal changes in the design. So, it retains the same dimensions and offers the same road presence as before. It has the best boot space among its peers but a 5mm lower ground clearance figure than the Celerio.

CELERIO vs RIVALS

DIMENSION COMPARISON

 

WagonR

Celerio

Length

3655mm

3695mm

Width

1620mm

1655mm

Height

1675mm

1555mm

Wheelbase

2435mm

2435mm

Ground Clearance

165mm

170mm

Boot Space

341L

313L

Fuel Tank

32L

32L

Tyre Size (Base)

155/80 R13

165/70 R14

Tyre Size (Top)

165/70 R14

175/60 R15

*Estimated

What Are The Colour Options Of The 2023 Maruti Arena WagonR?

The WagonR is available in the following 6 monotone colour options:

  • White
  • Silver
  • Grey
  • Red
  • Brown
  • Blue

The ZXI Plus variant is also available with an optional dual-tone exterior for an additional premium of Rs. 12,000. The 2 optional dual-tone colours of the Maruti Arena WagonR are:

  • Grey with black roof
  • Red with black roof

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we classify cars based on their size.

CLASSIFICATION OF CARS

UPDATED: MARCH 2023

SEGMENT

LENGTH

BODY STYLES

EXAMPLE

A Segment

< 3699mm

Hatchback

Alto, Alto K10, Celerio

SUV (Micro)

Exception: Kwid

S-Presso

       

B1 Segment

3700 - 3850mm

Hatchback

Grand i10 Nios, Swift, Tiago

SUV (Mini)

Punch, Ignis, Tiago NRG

       

B2 Segment

3850 - 3999mm

Hatchback

Altroz, Baleno, i20

Sedan

Dzire, Amaze, Aura

MPV

Triber

SUV (Sub-Compact)

Brezza, Nexon, Venue, Magnite, Fronx, C3, Kiger, Fronx, Sonet, XUV300

Off-Road

Thar, Jimny

       

C1 Segment

4000 - 4399mm

SUV (Compact)

Kushaq, Creta, Seltos, Grand Vitara, XUV400, Hyryder, Taigun, XUV400

MPV

Ertiga

       

C2 Segment

4400 - 4599mm

Sedan

City, Verna, Ciaz, Slavia, Virtus

SUV (Mid-size)

Alcazar, Scorpio Classic

MPV

Carens, XL6

       

D1 Segment

4600 - 4799mm

SUV (Large)

Exception: Harrier (2mm less)

XUV700, Innova Hycross, Hector, Safari, Hector Plus, Scorpio N, Ioniq 5, Kodiaq

Sedan

Octavia

MPV

Innova Crysta

       

D2 Segment

> 4800mm

SUV (Full-size)

Exception: Fortuner (5mm less)

Gloster

MPV

Carnival

Sedan

Superb, Camry

Also Read: Car Segments Explained - With Body Styles And Examples

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mahesh Yadav

Mahesh is a fan of compact, quirky and underrated vehicles that punch above their weight. Multix, Nano and Navi are his favorites.

3 Comments

  1. N Nawab Ali says:
    March 04 2022 22:24:36

    Cng

  2. N Nawab Ali says:
    March 04 2022 22:24:37

    Cng

  3. S STANLEY JOSEPH says:
    October 09 2023 22:13:11

    A realistic review and a honest comments .really helpful for an assessment.thanks.

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