Maruti Suzuki WagonR Gets A BIG Safety Booster Shot!
Maruti Suzuki WagonR is an extremely popular car in the Indian market. According to the latest sales data, it has topped the passenger vehicles (PV) sales chart for the fourth time in a row. Now, the manufacturer has strengthened it further by giving the safety a booster shot. The latest update makes six airbags a standard offering on the WagonR. The car now fully complies with the current safety regulations in India.
The manufacturer has given the updated vehicle a soft launch. At the time of writing this article, even the official Maruti Suzuki website doesn't show details of the six airbags version, nor the revised prices. However, an Instagram post by 'MS Arena Official' has confirmed the update, and we expect the website to be updated soon.
In addition to the six airbags, the WagonR's safety suite consists of features like Electronic Stability Program (ESP), ABS, EBD, Seat Belt Pre-tensioner & Force Limiters, Seat Belt Reminder with Buzzer, Speed Alert System, Speed Sensitive Auto Door Lock, Rear Parking Sensors, Child Proof Rear Door Lock and Hill Hold Assist.
Maruti Suzuki offers two engine options on the WagonR- 1.0L petrol and 1.2L four-cylinder petrol. The 1.2L engine produces 90 PS and 113 Nm, while the 1.0L 3-cylinder unit makes 66.62 PS and 89 Nm. There is also a CNG dual-fuel version based on the 1.0L engine on sale. Both a manual and an automated manual transmission (AMT) are available on the hatchback.
The Six Airbags Rule In India
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), in 2022, issued a draft notification mandating all vehicles belonging to the M1 category (with seating capacity of up to eight) and manufactured after October 1, 2022, to be fitted with six airbags (two side curtain/tube airbags, two side/side torso airbags and driver/ co-driver airbags). The ministry, however, extended the deadline to October 2023. Manufacturers have since been upgrading the safety equipment on their products, in a phased manner.
In 2023, Union minister for road transport & highways Nitin Gadkari stated that the government wouldn't make it mandatory for automakers to offer six airbags across variants. The customers will be able to do their own comparative assessment of crashworthiness and make purchase decisions based on the same.
“Most automakers have already started offering six airbags as a standard. Only one company has reservations. But people today are cautious and can decide (which car they want to buy) basis star ratings. Those (companies) not making six airbags (standard) will face problems as far as sales are concerned,” the minister said in a statement.
India's New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP)
India introduced the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP/ BNCAP) as its safety assessment benchmark with tests and criteria tailored for the Indian standards (and use cases). People are now becoming increasingly aware of the need to have good crash test scores. For this, six airbags are necessary. According to Gadkari, “Bharat NCAP gives a good message to the industry” and the program aims to improve the overall safety standards of the passenger vehicles sold here.
Increasing Number Of Takers For Six-Airbag Vehicles
According to data released by JATO Dynamics in 2023, the number of people who opted for the six-airbag versions of automotive models amounted to just 12-13%. However, in more recent times, we have been witnessing a steep climb in their market share.
More recent data from JATO Dynamics reveal that Indian customers prioritize safety in the decisive phase of their purchase journey. More people are now willing to spend on safety features and advanced technology like ADAS.