New Maruti Stingray vs Wagon R – All the differences explained

We reported in detail when Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, nation’s largest selling automaker, launched the new Stingray tall boy hatchback in Indian car market. The Stingray is highly based on the Wagon R and the two cars share a lot more than just the mechanicals. It may be noted that the Wagon R has been one of the bread and butter models for Maruti Suzuki and several facelifts and complete model updates later, has come to be known as one of the most successful small cars in the history of Indian car market.

However, there are some who have always found the Wagon R to look a tad too boring and uninspiring and this has ensued that tha Wagon R, which is otherwise a well sorted out city car, has failed to impress some of the A segment hatchback buyers out there. This is exactly where the Stingray comes in! Suzuki, Maruti’s parent brand, sells a sportier variant of the Wagon R, which is known as the Wagon R Stingray, in Japanese Domestic Market. Inspired by the JDM model, Maruti has come up with its own version of the Stingray in a bid to attract young buyers who have been so far put off by the Wagon R’s dull styling.

The new Stingray, apart from a stylish exterior, also comes with some new “first in the class” features to further impress the car buyers.

Here, we will be talking about all the major differences between the two Marutis:

The major differences between the exterior styling of the two cars lie at the front-end. The Stingray comes with a bolder and more aggressive front fascia, which consists of a sleeker grille, revised hood, stylish headlamps (with projector setups) and a new bumper whose air dam reminds me of the one on the Alto 800.

The car also gets side skirts, blacked out B-pillars and a roof mounted rear spoiler, all of which help in lending the car some much-needed sportiness quotient.

Other exterior features include the new gunmetal-grey alloy-wheels, chrome plated tail lamps and chrome back-door garnish with ‘Stingray’ embossing.

On the inside, the Stingray comes with all-black interior which also boast of a new “premium’ upholstery. Materials with a piano black finish try to lend some premium appeal to the cabin with their glossy look. To add to the premium feel, Maruti have used chrome on door handles and AC louvers.

The Stingray also gets a new blue backlit instrument cluster which benefits from a multi information display. The display provides instant and average fuel economy, distance to empty and other read-outs.

The steering wheel is now a multifunction unit with mounted audio controls, and is wrapped in leather for the top variant.

Powering the Stingray is the same 998cc three-cylinder K-series engine, which propels the Wagon R, the Alto K10, the Estilo and the A Star. Which means that the Stingray has a peak power of 68PS @ 6200rpm and peak torque of 90Nm @ 3500 rpm. Maruti Suzuki claims that the car has a fuel efficiency of 20.51 kmpl.

The car has been launched with introductory price tags and these may soon be revised.

Maruti Stingray Prices are as follows:

• Stingray Lxi 409,999
• Stingray Vxi 437,999
• Stingray Vxi (O) 466,999

As can be seen, the Stingray is almost 40 grand costlier than the Wagon R and expect this difference to widen once the post-introductory prices are out.

What do you feel about the Stingray? Will you choose it over the tried and tested Wagon R? Do let us know by commenting below.