Maruti S-Presso: In terms of affordable and sensible value for money city cars, Maruti Suzuki has always been the kingpin. Among their more interesting ones in the last few years is the too squat-for-the-segments S-Presso — a tall-boy hatchback that attempts to do SUV-style design in a small and budget-friendly package.
It’s not for everybody, but if you live in a city and want an attitude-rich little thing for very little money, the S-Presso comes with plenty of that.
Here’s what makes it tick — and where it might have some weaknesses.
Maruti S-Presso Design: Funky Yet Functional
The S-Presso’s design is obviously bold and a little quirky. The tall profile, square dimensions and high ground clearance make it feel like a mini-SUV. The design is not of the traditional hatchback design but rather weird, but it looks good on Indian roads.
The vertical front grille, clunky bumpers and body cladding also give it a youthful vibe. It’s not for everyone, particularly for those who prefer smooth curves, but it certainly has personality.
The high seating position is also a plus for first-time drivers and city commuters looking for good visibility of the road ahead.
Interiors: Room for More Than You Think
However, step inside, and the S-Presso’s cabin is larger than it appears from the outside. The high roofline also benefits to headroom and Maruti has made good use of the space inside in an intelligent way.
Four adults can fit in with plenty of room and the boot space (about 270 litres) is enough to do a grocery run or make a weekend trip with.
The centrally located speedo cluster may take some getting used to, but the design is striking to say the least. Hard plastics are abundant in the cabin, but that’s par for the course in this segment.
The infotainment of higher trims on the WagonR comes in the form of a 7-inch SmartPlay Studio touchscreen that provides supports for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ride and handling: Peppy for the city
The S-Presso packs a 1.0-litre K10C petrol engine which generates 66 bhp and 89 Nm of torque. On paper, those numbers don’t sound like much, but the lightweight construction gives the car a zippy feel around town.
( 5-speed manual and AMT (automatic)) The AMT is set up and tuned well for traffic-laden roads.
And here, it’s the AMT version in particular that comes to life when in stop and go conditions. The car does okay on the highways although it needs to be planned before overtaking.
Here the S-Presso scores big on fuel efficiency. It real-world saves on fuel with claimed economy ranging from 20.32 to 25.30km/l, depending on the variant and transmission.
Ride & Handling: No-Frills, but Nimble
It’s so easy to drive and park, with the car’s small footprint and light steering. Its magic is in tight urban confines.
The suspension is comfort tuned for beaten up city roads, though it can feel a little bouncy over rough patches at higher velocities.
But high-speed stability is not its forte and the tall-boy design results in some amount of body roll around tight curves.
But for its core users — urban users — it’s still composed and convenient.
Safety & Features
Now, Maruti includes dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and speed alerts as standard.
With the AMT, ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and Hill-Hold Assist are passed on in the higher trims. For a car in this category, that’s pretty good.
Other prominent features include remote keyless entry, front power windows and manual AC.
It’s basic, but there is nothing wrong with that, particularly for a first-time buyer or someone in need of a second city car.
Pros:
Small footprint, perfect for city driving
Tall seating and decent visibility
Impressive fuel efficiency
Affordable pricing
Easy-to-drive AMT option
Quirky, SUV-inspired design
Cons:
Polarizing style — not all will appreciate the looks
rigid plastics in the cabin
Average highway stability
Limited head and leg room in the rear seat for taller occupants
Things are good as far as rough road ride quality goes.
Maruti S-Presso Conclusion: A Smart City Cowhand
Featurewise and finish wise, the Maruti S-Presso is not designed to dazzle, nor does it boast of luxury touches. It’s designed for utility, economy and simplicity of use — and in those respects, it does its job quite well.
No, the S-Presso doesn’t have quite the refinement or equipment levels of those pricier alternatives, but they don’t have its value-friendly pricetag either; and for five grand less, first-time car buyers or those who prefer to keep things simple are unlikely to notice much that’s missing.
It is not perfect — but at this price point, it doesn’t need to be. It just works, and it works well.