2003 SUZUKI Wagon R 1.0L 5MT FWD (60 HP)

Vehicle Overview

On the Japanese market, the vehicles with a cubic design proved to be successful. Still, on the European market, the result was lower than expected.

Suzuki and Opel joined their forces to produce and sell a car in Europe based on Japanese ideas. The result was the Wagon R/Agila duo, built at Suzuki’s plant from Hungary. On paper, the car was great: it offered a good fuel-efficiency, room for five, and a big trunk.

The biggest problem was with the design. With a short length and a tall construction, the Wagon R was far to be considered handsome by the European customers. A flat and tall fascia with an almost non-existent front overhang was very useful in tight parking spots. In the back, a well-placed mirror could help the driver see the rear bumper.

The interior was minimalist, with a two-level dashboard, which featured a lower shelf for both front passengers. To help the dealers most of the stereo units were dealer installed from aftermarket suppliers. On the base trim level, there were four wind-up side windows and no air-conditioning. These two features were available only on the top trim level.

Under the hood, the last generation of the Suzuki offered the Wagon R with a choice of gasoline and diesel engine. The base trim-level was powered by a Japanese three-cylinder, while Opel provided the four-pot. The diesel version was a joint project between GM and Fiat. All versions were paired to a five-speed manual.