Suzuki Wagon R+ Estate 2000-2007

The Suzuki Wagon R+ is a typically Japanese kei car (super-mini) designed for a busy life in a metropolis. The index R is derived from "Recreation" and the "plus" suggests that it’s ready to serve more purposes than just recreation. Although the majority of the Wagons are sold in Japan or India, it’s a very popular car in Europe - in total more than 5 million units have been sold worldwide so far.

Pros and Cons:

• Very cheap for the quality it provides
  A good practical value from the spacious interior

• Won’t feel happy on a highway
  Just one engine version available

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Exterior and Interior

The Argus-eyed readers will have noticed that the Wagon R+ looks very similar to the Vauxhall Agila. In fact it’s the other way round - it’s the Agila that looks similar to the Wagon because in essence it’s nothing more than a re-badged Wagon with European engines and slightly different trim packages. Thanks to the lower price and the good 1.3-litre petrol engine, the Wagon is the preferred choice for many buyers.

It solves the space issues in a very clever way. Instead of increasing its wheel base or growing in size, it simply stretches upwards and offers 5 doors instead of 3. Such a layout provides easy access to the rear seats and maximises the footprint. Normally, a car with 95-inch wheel base and minimal overhangs couldn’t provide liveable conditions for 4 full-size adults. The Suzuki features upright seating position and 5 doors its rear seats are usable.

With the rear seats occupied, the car offers 258 litres of boot space. With folding seats it simultaneously justifies all the words used to name it - "Wagon", "Recreation" and "plus" with 1250 litres of useable space - what more can you want?

The interior design is simple but pleasing to the eye. The Basic trim is appropriately named, however, the GL trim offers everything that a city car might need - air bags, electric windows, central locking, quirky alloy wheels and a decent sound system. Better yet if you can find a post-2002 Wagon - it features a sympathetically executed face-lift and improved kit levels.

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Engines

The Wagon R+ comes with a single 1.3-litre petrol engine, but you can choose between a basic engine and one with variable timing valve management. The latter adds 17bhp on top of the basic 74bhp.

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Performance and Economy

For a small city car that rarely needs to show off, a 1.3-litre engine might be even consider a step too far. After all, the basic Vauxhall Agila is available with a 1.0-litre engine. However, if you consider that the Suzuki’s engines are very reliable and efficient, you might as well enjoy the 91bhp. It delivers 45mpg, still a very decent result. Despite its high power rating, the engine makes a lot of noise when revved high; and you will need to rev it high you must if you want to get any decent acceleration out of it. Many Wagons never make it out of the city borders, so if you’re buying the R+ for all the right reasons, you shouldn’t be too concerned about the performance - it’s not brilliant and it’s by no means bad.

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What it's like to Drive

It’s comfortable only if your body configuration fits the car, don’t expect it to be the other way round - the car is reluctant to adjust to its driver... simply because it cannot. The seating adjustment is very limited and the steering column is fixed. However, due to the upright position and decent space at the front, many medium to tall people will find the driver’s seat ok, or at worst bearable.

The Japanese engineers are good at making kei cars. In fact Tokyo would fail in just a few days if there were no kei cars. Usually, when people do something long enough and consistently enough, they become good at it. The Wagon has been built by people who know what they’re doing, so the handling ability in a city is perfect. It’s easy to drive and easy to park. The height of the car is not a problem, it won’t shake or rattle too much.

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Faults and Repairs

This car is simple and reliable. The engine is hard to kill but as the Wagons are predominantly run around cities, they normally come with low mileage. The body features a good anti-rust protection, but it only lasts as long as the car doesn’t get involved in an accident. When buying a used Suzuki Wagon R+, check if any of the body panels have seen repair work. Another thing to look for is brake faults (including the hand-brake, so always test it before buying) and suspension faults. Problematic clutches are not that uncommon either, being a city car. Try to hold the car on a semi-released clutch on a sloped surface and see if it vibrates or judders. If it does, the clutch should be replaced.

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