Suzuki Wagon R+ User Manual
Car test
F YOU CAN BUY THE SAME CAR AS
a Vauxhall, why buy a Suzuki? There
I
are fewer dealers, the list price is
higher ...
Clearly, anyone serious about owning the
Wagon R should refer to our Agila report as
well. However, there are differences –
subtle but significant – and despite a recent
price rise, the Suzuki’s standard kit,
ready-for-the-road, would actually cost
nearly £200 more on the Agila.
Of course, the Wagon R has been selling
well for several years back home in Japan.
This latest European version is built in
Hungary and obviously has much in
common with the Polish-assembled Agila.
The biggest difference is under the
bonnet. Enlarged from 1.2 to 1.3 litres, the
Suzuki all-alloy engine is quicker, but
brasher than the Agila’s 1.2 unit and its
pattern of thirst is different too – see our
‘Fuel Economy’ panels on both cars for the
details, including a cheaper car tax band.
Not only in power-delivery but in matters
of suspension and seating too, the Wagon
R is firmer, trying to be tauter, more
extrovert. The wider, lower-profile tyres
succeed in giving better emergency
braking but no one could describe this
Suzuki as a sports hatch. Indeed, it has a
four-speed automatic option – of the
old-style, inefficient but user-friendly kind;
this should improve its town-car appeal
even more but expect to suffer an overall
5-7mpg loss as well.
No, the real advantages of the Wagon R
are not dynamic, but emerge when it
comes to negotiating narrow or
Suzuki Wagon R+
congested roads or tricky parking slots,
or when you need to convey three
full-sized passengers on a regular basis.
The interior finish is surprisingly posh as
well, with a rear-seat folding
arrangement that is second-to-none.
More’s the pity therefore that its clutch
engages early and unprogressively and
that several items are too stiff for arthritic
hands. The heater too, suffers from
uneven side-to-side warmth at lower
temperature settings – bad news if your
regular passenger likes more warmth
than you, the driver.
VERDICT
Some people choose a car because
of its looks, others by what they think
they look like, being seen in it. We
have to say that even this perked-up
Wagon R is unlikely to appeal to
either sort. No, the main reasons for
preferring either the Agila or Wagon
R will be to make your domestic
motoring cheaper and more
hassle-free. In town or around the
lanes, they succeed admirably, with
the Wagon R showing to advantage
in both acceleration and fuel
economy, at such times. However,
the Agila is less of a fidget, more
easy-going. The choice is yours.
R0076
See also R0056
December 2000
AT A GLANCE
considering size, price and rivals
Overtaking ability µµµµ¡
Space/practicality µµµµµ
Controls/displays µµµ¡¡
Safety µµµµ¡
Handling/steering µµµ¡¡
Comfort µµµ¡¡
Fuel economy µµ¡¡¡
SPECIFICATION
engine 1298cc, 4-cylinder, petrol;
76bhp at 5500rpm, 85 lb ft at 4250rpm;
belt-driven single overhead camshaft, 16
valves
transmission 5-speed manual, front
wheel drive; 18.8 mph/1000rpm in 5th,
15.8 in 4th
suspension front: independent
damper/struts with integral coil springs.
Rear: torsion beam (dead) axle, coil
springs and a Panhard rod
steering electric power assistance; 3.3
turns lock-to-lock; 10.25m diameter
turning circle between kerbs (16.0m for
one turn of the wheel)
brakes solid discs front, drums rear, with
ABS anti-skid control optional extra
wheels/tyres 4½in steel with 165/60R14
tyres (Michelin on test car); full size spare
LIKES ...
unobtrusive seatbelts in use
no door sills to speak of
light, powerful handbrake
cool heads/warm feet easy to attain
… and GRIPES
miniscule radio controls – set low
interior lamps’ switch too stiff
clutch too sudden – easy to stall
demise of under-seat plastic bucket!
THE WAGON-R RANGE
body mini/city MPV-style hatch (mid
priced)
trim levels GA, GL
engines petrol: 4 cylinder/1.3 litre/76bhp
diesel: none
drive front-wheel drive, 5-speed manual;
4-speed stepped automatic (with torque
converter) optional
OVERTAKING ABILITY µµµµ¡
Livelier and more rorty than 1.2 Agila; gears clunky but not
obstructive clutch too abrupt. Flexible at low (town) speeds
acceleration
in seconds
through
gears*
th
gear
th
gear
20-40mph 3.7 9.8 13.0
30-50mph 4.8 9.7 12.3
40-60mph 6.4 10.6 13.5
50-70mph 8.4 11.3 16.7
30-70mph 13.2 21.0 29.0
max speed in each gear (*using 6000rpm for best acceleration)
gear
*
*
*
*
speed (mph) 27 48 72 95 98
SPACE AND PRACTICALITY µµµµµ
As a four-seater only, room and ease of seat folding put larger cars
to shame. Parking is a doddle too and central locking works well
in centimetres (5-door city car)
outside
length 350
- inc mirrors
width
- mirrors folded
(inc roof bars)
height
(inside/outside)
load sill
steering
turns lock-to-lock 3.3
turning circle
easy to park/garage?
(metres)
194
175
170
4/64
10.25
µµµµ¡
inside (without sunroof
front - legroom 94-107
- headroom 104
rear - typical leg/ 98/
kneeroom 68
- headroom 100
- hiproom 123
load space (all seats in use)
(litres/cu ft)
load length 48-114
full length to facia 210
load width 112-132
load height (
to top of aperture
to shelf/
)98
280/9.9
48/
CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS µµµ¡¡
Front seats harder than Agilas but its a good driving position
despite stiff rake handwheel and no height adjustment for wheel
or seat. Dial lighting fixed and bright
SAFETY µµµµ¡
Star ratings based on primary safety. Brakes better than Agilas obviously,
tyres make a difference. Stable cornering too, though no sports-hatch
braking
pedal feel
in emergency
handbrake
µµµµ¡
µµµµ¡
µµµµ¡
dry road stopping distance
from 50mph (without ABS)
pedal load distance
10kg 36m
29kg 24½mbeststop
+4kg ie 33kg 29m
skidding
EURO NCAP CRASH TEST RATINGS
Suzuki Wagon R+ not yet tested
SECURITY FEATURES
central locking ü
remote control
auto window closure
deadlocks
ü
standard 0 factory option
)
HANDLING AND STEERING µµµ¡¡
Only high-set seats deters quick cornering passengers complain.
Some directional nervousness in cross-winds or on bumpy roads
alarm
û
immobiliser
luggage security
û
ü
µµµ¡¡
û
not available
û
ü
COMFORT µµµ¡¡
Ride a shade harsher than Agilas (tyres/seats?) but surprisingly
generous head and legroom all round. Too noisy between 60 and
70mph but better after that!
FUEL ECONOMY µµ¡¡¡
Same overall as Vauxhall but uses less on short trips more on
the motorway. Easy filler but cant lose it cap may also be cant
undo it!
type of use (air conditioning off) AA test (mpg)
urban (17mph average/heavy traffic) 32
suburban (27mph average/6.4 miles from cold start) 39
motorway (70mph cruising) 34
cross-country (brisk driving/20 miles from cold start) 44
rural (gentle driving/20 miles from cold start) 52
typical mpg overall 42
realistic tank capacity/range 36 litres/330miles
official mpg (urban/extra urban/combined) 36.2/55.4/46.3
emissions 145g/km car tax band A
CO
2
HOW THE WAGON R
COMPARES
SUZUKI WAGON R 1.3 GL 4/1298/76 3730 13.2 29.0/21.0 42 24½/29 107 98/68 3.3/10.25 350
Hyundai Amica GSi
Vauxhall Agila 1.2 16v
Daewoo Matiz SE
Toyota Yaris 1.0 GS
Ford Ka 2
Peugeot 106 1.1 Zest
engine
cyl/cap/power
(no/cc/bhp)
4/999/55 3740 17.6 35.0/26.5 46 29/17 99 99/63 3.0/9.6 350
4/1199/75 3720 14.7 34.2/24.7 42 28/27 107 98/68 3.3/10.35 350
3/796/50 4300 21.8 45.6/29.0 44½ 25½/27 105 101/66 3.2/9.3 350
4/998/68 3850 14.8 32.5/23.3 47 26½/12 105 102/70 3.3/10.1 362
4/1299/60 3490 17.3 31.0/21.4 42 28/22 105 92/64 2.8/10.1 362
4/1124/60 3790 14.1 29.6/20.8 46½ 29/27 106 89/64 4.1/9.75
revs at
30-70mph
70mph
through
(rpm)
gears (sec)
© The Automobile Association Limited 2000
30-70mph
in 5th/4th
gears (sec)
fuel
economy
(mpg)
brakes - best
stop from
50mph (m/kg)
maximum
legroom -
front (cm)
typical leg/
kneeroom -
rear (cm)
steering
turns/
circle (m)
(m)
manual
(m)
overall
length
(cm)
368
steering
Loading...