Clash Of Segments: New Maruti Wagon R 2019 vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis - Which Car To Buy?
A tried and tested tallboy hatchback retailed through Arena dealerships or a quirky, millennial-centric Nexa offering, which one should you buy?
Launched at prices ranging from Rs 4.19 lakh to Rs 5.69 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi), the Maruti Wagon R 2019 improves upon a tried and tested formula that has worked wonders for Maruti. However, its prices overlap with the Maruti Ignis, which is a quirky offering, targeted more towards millennials. Also, while the former is retailed through Maruti's Arena dealership network, the latter is sold through the more premium Nexa chain of dealerships. In case, you are confused among the two, we have got your back. We have compared closely priced variants of the two to find out which one should you put your money on.
First, let us have a look at the basic differences between the new WagonR and the Ignis.
| Maruti Suzuki WagonR | Maruti Suzuki Ignis |
| Powertrain: The WagonR is available with two petrol engines (1.0-litre and 1.2-litre), both of which can be had with a manual transmission as well as an AMT. There’s no diesel option though. | Powertrain: The Ignis is offered only with one petrol engine (1.2-litre), which can be had with both manual transmission and an AMT. Both the Ignis and WagonR get the same 1.2-litre petrol engine. |
| Sold from Arena showrooms: The WagonR is retailed from Maruti Suzuki Arena dealerships. | Sold from Nexa showrooms: The Ignis is retailed through Nexa showrooms and is positioned as a premium offering. |
| Direct Competition: The WagonR’s primary rivals in the market are the Hyundai Santro, Tata Tiago and Datsun GO. | Direct Competition: The Ignis’ competition in the market is the Hyundai Grand i10 and Mahindra KUV100. |
Dimensions comparison
| Measurements | Maruti Suzuki WagonR | Maruti Suzuki Ignis |
| Length | 3655mm | 3700mm |
| Width | 1620mm | 1690mm |
| Height | 1675mm | 1595mm |
| Wheelbase | 2435mm | 2435mm |
| Ground Clearance | NA | 180mm |
| Boot Space | 341 litres | 260 litres |
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Both the new WagonR and the Ignis are based on the same Heartect A platform. Their wheelbase is also identical.
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The Ignis is, however, longer and wider than the WagonR.
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But the WagonR has a bigger boot - its boot volume is 81 litres more than that of the Ignis.
Engine comparison
| Engine | WagonR 1.0-litre | WagonR 1.2-litre | Ignis 1.2-litre |
| Displacement | 1.0-litre | 1.2-litre | 1.2-litre |
| Power | 67PS | 82PS | 82PS |
| Torque | 90Nm | 113Nm | 113Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT/AMT | 5-speed MT/AMT | 5-speed MT/AMT |
| Fuel Efficiency | 22.5kmpl | 21.5kmpl | 20.89kmpl |
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Both the Ignis and WagonR share the same 1.2-litre petrol engine in the same state of tune. Both offer manual as well as automatic transmission options.
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The WagonR is lighter than the Ignis. It is more fuel efficient as well, by 0.61kmpl.
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The WagonR can also be had with a 1.0-litre engine, which is less powerful than the 1.2-litre unit. The WagonR 1.0 is more fuel efficient than the WagonR 1.2 by 1kmpl. This engine can also be had with both manual and automatic transmission options.
Now that we have differentiated the two based on basic differences, dimensions and engine specs, let’s have a look at the prices of different variants of the WagonR and Ignis. We will only be comparing variants that are priced within Rs 50,000 of each other. (Prices of all variants of both the cars are at the end of this story)
| Maruti Suzuki WagonR Variant | Price | Maruti Suzuki Ignis Variant | Price |
| WagonR 1.0 VXi Opt. | Rs 4.75 lakh | Ignis 1.2 Sigma | Rs 4.67 lakh |
| WagonR 1.2 ZXi | Rs 5.22 lakh | Ignis 1.2 Delta | Rs 5.28 lakh |
| WagonR 1.2 ZXi AMT | Rs 5.69 lakh | Ignis 1.2 AMT Delta | Rs 5.83 lakh |
All prices are (ex-showroom New Delhi)
Variants Comparison
WagonR 1.0 VXi (O) vs Ignis 1.2 Sigma
| WagonR 1.0 VXi (O) | Ignis 1.2 Sigma | Price Difference |
| Rs 4.75 lakh | Rs 4.67 lakh | Rs 8,000 (WagonR is more expensive) |
Common features: Tilt-adjustable steering, front power windows, uto-down driver window, dual airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioner & force limiters (driver and co-driver), ABS with EBD, speed sensing auto door locks, body coloured door handles, ORVMs and bumpers, driver seat belt reminder, 12V power outlet
What WagonR 1.0 VXi (O) has over Ignis 1.2 Sigma: Remote keyless entry, rear power windows, audio system with Bluetooth/USB/Aux connectivity, 2 speakers, rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable ORVM, passenger seatbelt reminder, Day/Night IRVM, rear seat 60:40 split
What Ignis 1.2 Sigma has over WagonR 1.0 VXi (O): ISOFIX child seat anchor points
Verdict: The mid-spec WagonR 1.0 is available with quite a few additional features over the base-spec Ignis and costs Rs 8,000 more. With all basic safety features included and some extra features on offer, the WagonR 1.0 is the clear winner here. However, it misses out on ISOFIX child seat anchor points. If you have kids who require child seats in the car, the Ignis should be your pick. In all other instances, the WagonR is the better package.
WagonR 1.2 ZXi vs Ignis 1.2 Delta
| WagonR 1.2 ZXi | Ignis 1.2 Delta | Price Difference | |
| Manual | Rs 5.22 lakh | Rs 5.28 lakh | Rs 6,000 (Ignis is more expensive) |
| AMT | Rs 5.69 lakh | Rs 5.83 lakh | Rs 14,000 (Ignis is more expensive) |
Common features (over previous variants): Audio system with Bluetooth/USB/Aux connectivity, Steering-mounted audio controls, 2 speakers, remote keyless entry,electrically adjustable ORVM, front and rear power windows, turn signal on ORVM, rear seat 60:40 split, Day/Night IRVM
What WagonR 1.2 ZXi has over Ignis 1.2 Delta: Rear parking sensors, passenger seatbelt reminder, rear defogger, 7-inch SmartPlay infotainment system with touchscreen, steering-mounted voice controls, front fog lamps, electrically foldable ORVMs, rear wiper and washer
What Ignis 1.2 Delta has over WagonR 1.2 ZXi: Rear seat adjustable head restraints, ISOFIX anchors points
Verdict: The WagonR is clearly the better equipped car here and in this variant, it’s also available with the same powertrain as the Ignis. Clearly, it’s the hatchback of choice here, but not for everyone. If you have a kid who’ll need a child seat, we recommend you go for the Ignis as the WagonR doesn’t get ISOFIX child seat attachment even in this variant. The Ignis also gets adjustable rear headrests, which the WagonR doesn’t - useful for those who spend more time at the back or travel with their families.
Why buy the Maruti Suzuki WagonR?
Boot space: The WagonR, despite being shorter in length compared to the Ignis, boasts more than 80 litres of boot space over the Nexa offering. And that should come in really handy over longer journeys when you have a lot of luggage.
Affordable: Prices of the WagonR start from Rs 4.19 lakh (ex-showroom), and now that it packs all the basic safety features, those who’re tight on budget can go for it too. The entry-level variant is, however, powered by a 1.0-litre engine, which is less powerful, but more fuel efficient than the 1.2-litre unit.
Why buy the Maruti Suzuki Ignis?
Nexa experience: The Ignis is retailed through Nexa showrooms and if you go for one, expect a premium experience over regular Maruti Suzuki showrooms. Even Suzuki’s telematics system, Suzuki Connect, which helps in various functions like tracking your car, driving behaviour analysis and a lot more is only available for Nexa cars.
Design: The Ignis’ styling is subjective - some may like it, some may not. It is quirky, but striking too. And out on the road, it’s sure to turn more heads than the WagonR. So, if you’re looking for a hatchback that stands out, Ignis is the one to pick.
| Maruti Suzuki WagonR Variant | Price | Maruti Suzuki Ignis Variant | Price |
| WagonR 1.0 LXi | Rs 4.19 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.0 LXi Opt. | Rs 4.25 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.0 VXi | Rs 4.69 lakh | Ignis 1.2 Sigma | Rs 4.67 lakh |
| WagonR 1.0 VXi Opt. | Rs 4.75 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.2 VXi | Rs 4.89 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.2 VXi Opt. | Rs 4.96 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.0 VXi AMT | Rs 5.16 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.2 ZXi | Rs 5.22 lakh | Ignis 1.2 Delta | Rs 5.28 lakh |
| WagonR 1.0 VXi AMT Opt. | Rs 5.22 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.2 VXi AMT | Rs 5.36 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.2 VXi AMT Opt. | Rs 5.43 lakh | ||
| WagonR 1.2 ZXi AMT | Rs 5.69 lakh | Ignis 1.2 AMT Delta | Rs 5.83 lakh |
| Ignis 1.2 Zeta | Rs 5.70 lakh | ||
| Ignis 1.2 AMT Zeta | Rs 6.26 lakh | ||
| Ignis 1.2 Alpha | Rs Rs 6.51 lakh | ||
| Ignis 1.2 AMT Alpha | Rs 7.05 lakh |
All prices are (ex-showroom New Delhi)
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