The hunt for a “ perfect family car” begins with brands like Maruti and Hyundai who have done the hard work of understanding what the thrifty Indian consumer is looking for in their car.
Truth be told, there are few first-time buyers who look beyond these two brands when it comes to budget-friendly four wheelers. The recent comeback of two iconic stalwarts in the budget segment, the Hyundai Santro and the Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R has left many scratching their heads as to which is the better bargain.
Since we have only been behind the wheel of the new Santro and will soon test the Wagon R, let’s keep this comparison more spec-oriented and show you which one of the two is a better bargain on paper. Just FYI, here we are comparing the top-end automatic petrol variants of both the cars (since automatics are in demand these days).
Dimensions & Design
The Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R retains its tall boy design and is based on the Heartech model which is bigger than the model that it replaces. It sports a wheelbase of 2,435mm and is 45mm longer, 115mm taller than before.
The Hyundai Santro too sports a tall boy design like before but is nearly 25mm wider than its competition in this shootout.
Both the cars have undergone considerable cosmetic changes and sport that new-age look. The Wagon-R exudes more practicality than style whereas the Santro looks like a subtle mix of the now discontinued i10 and the old Santro.
Power & Performance
The top-end automatic variant of the Hyundai Santro comes with a 1.1-litre four cylinder engine that is capable of pushing out 68bhp of max power at 5,500rpm and max torque of 99Nm@4,500rpm. The engine has been mated to a five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT) gearbox. When driving the AMT variant, it felt slightly quicker to downshift, but it’s a bit hesitant to upshift, holding on to a gear for a little longer than you would want. It has a creep function that’s pretty useful in city stop-go traffic.
The top-spec AMT variant of the Wagon-R comes with a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that has been coupled with a 5-speed AMT gearbox. In terms of performance, the Wagon-R churns out 81.80bhp of max power at 6,000rpm while it outputs max torque of 113Nm@4,200rpm. This variant is more powerful than the Santro, but for a lesser money, you can still get the 1-litre variant too with an AMT gearbox.
Despite delivering more power, the Wagon-R excels in the mileage department with an ARAI claimed mileage of 21.5 kmpl while the Hyundai Santro offers 20.3kmpl.
Other Features
Okay, now let’s talk about the extra that comes with both these cars. Both these budget friendly vehicles come with ABS with EBD, dual-tone interiors, driver’s seatbelt warning, front power windows, manual AC, power outlet. The Wagon-R offers both driver and passenger side airbags on the ZXi variant, while the Santro offers it only on the driver’s side in the Sportz. Hyundai does not offer an AMT on its top-spec Asta trim.
Both come with their respective touchscreen infotainment systems that offers support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
What the Wagon-R lacks in style, it generously makes up for in terms of additional features like rear parking sensors, tilt-adjustable steering, co-driver seatbelt reminder, power-folding mirrors and rear wipers.
The only additional feature that the Santro offers in this variant and price range is the rear AC vent which is a valuable addition for the hot parts of the country.
Initial Verdict
In terms of value for money, it’s a no-brainer that the Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R offers a bevy of features in this price segment over the Hyundai Santro. In a way, the Wagon-R is the epitome of practicality and that is a tough one to beat for the Santro.
At Rs 5.69 lakh, the top variant of the Wagon-R ZXI is a complete package, but if you still think the asking price is a bit steep, there are two other AMT variants of the same car at lower prices which you can explore.
The Hyundai Santro might not have the best portfolio in terms of features, but it is surely a better looking car against the Wagon-R and that is a key factor many consider when buying a car. There’s no doubt that the Santro too offers a lot of utility and value for money features. If you consider styling as a more compelling factor in buying a car, the Santro does drive a good bargain.
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