Used Maruti Suzuki Wagon R vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Which Second Hand Hatchback To Buy

The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Hyundai Grand i10 Nios are two of the most popular hatchbacks sold in India. Each of these hatchbacks comes with its unique strengths and over the years has created its own loyal fanbase. If you are looking for a hatchback but are stuck between the Wagon R and Grand i10 Nios, this guide should help you choose the right one. 

Maruti Suzuki introduced the Wagon R in 1999 and which, since then, has undergone two generational updates. The third generation model received a facelift in 2022 which is currently on sale, available with petrol and CNG engine options.

Hyundai launched the Grand i10 Nios in 2019. The hatchback was meant as a replacement for the Grand i10 but Hyundai sold both cars alongside, for two years. Hyundai sold the Grand i10 Nios with petrol, diesel and CNG bi fuel engine options. 

Current Resale Value: Maruti Suzuki Wagon R vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Owing to their popularity, both the Wagon R and Grand i10 Nios command a high resale value. The Wagon R has been around for two and a half decades and is widely recognised as a proven product which enhances its value. The Grand i10 Nios meanwhile is loved for its premium quotient which helps retain its resale value.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R: 

The Wagon R is often referred to as the practical choice when it comes to hatchbacks. Its no nonsense frugal engines, ample cabin and boot space and low running costs make it not just a new car buyer’s favourite but also sought after in the used car market. The Wagon R’s no nonsense approach to mobility helps retain its resale value. 

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: 

Like its predecessor, a second hand Grand i10 Nios holds its value well. It has earned a reputation as a premium hatchback thanks to its stylish exterior and interior design and cabin quality. It also benefits from brand value as well. Hyundai cars have created a name for themselves as quality cars which helps them command good resale value. 

Note: The used car prices shown are calculated for vehicles MY 2014 and newer, and with mileage under 1 lakh (<1,00,000) kilometres. 

If you consider used Maruti Wagon R’s from when the Grand i10 was available i.e. MY 2019 onwards, the average used selling price for the Wagon R is ₹ 4.30 lakh which is quite impressive considering the new car prices which start from ₹ 5.65 lakh. That said, a used Hyundai Grand i10 Nios holds its value better and offers better resale value in the long run. 

Yearly Rate of Depreciation: Maruti Suzuki Wagon R vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Both the Wagon R and Grand i10 Nios feature a slow rate of depreciation. Here’s a quick look at the 5 year depreciation trend for both hatchbacks. 

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R: The Wagon R holds its value well and depreciates slower than most hatchbacks. It shows a low rate of depreciation  of 26% in its first year but has a higher depreciation rate of 37% in the third year. The hatchback’s’s reliability, space and low running costs work in its favour making the Wagon R a popular used car buy. 

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: The Grand i10 Nios has a slow rate of depreciation and manages to hold its value well. Compared to the Wagon R, it has a higher rate of depreciation, at 27% in the first year, which goes down to 36.90% in the third year. The Korean hatchback has gained a reputation for its premium feel and reliability which helps enhance its resale value. 

While both hatchbacks hold their value well, in terms of depreciation the Wagon R comes on top. Except for the third year, the Wagon R depreciates significantly slower than the Grand i10 Nios. This shows the Wagon R's highlights like low buying costs, space and low running costs which helps it retain its value well over the years. 

Engine and Transmission Options: Maruti Suzuki Wagon R vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Both the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Hyundai Grand i10 Nios are currently sold with petrol and CNG bi-fuel powertrain options. Both get a 5 speed manual and 5 speed AMT gearbox options as well. 

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

• 1.1-litre, petrol - 5-speed manual
• 1.0-litre, KB10 petrol - 5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT
• 1.2-litre, petrol - 5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT
• 1.0-litre, DualJet petrol - 5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

• 1.2-litre, petrol - 5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT
• 1.0-litre turbo-petrol - 5-speed manual
• 1.2-litre, diesel - 5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT
• 1.2-litre, Petrol-CNG - 5 speed manual 

Maruti Suzuki always offered Wagon R with petrol engine options while a factory fitted CNG kit was introduced in 2010 with the second generation model. Maruti Suzuki briefly sold the Wagon R with an LPG kit in 2006. The hatchback got a 5 speed AMT gearbox option 2015 onwards. 2022 onwards, the Wagon R came with two petrol engine options, a 1.0-litre DualJet and a more powerful 1.2-litre petrol engine. 

Early Grand i10 Nios hatchback came with four powertrain options including a diesel and a turbo petrol engine. The diesel engine even came with an automatic gearbox option. By 2022, Hyundai discontinued the diesel and turbo petrol engines. In terms of powertrain, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios impresses with its diverse and refined engine and gearbox options. 

Maintenance Cost Comparison: Maruti Suzuki Wagon R vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Service costs are one of the most important buying factors for both a new and used car. Like other Maruti Suzuki cars, the Wagon R has low maintenance costs. The Grand i10 has comparatively high service costs. 

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R: Service costs for the Wagon R are quite affordable. A scheduled service will cost you between ₹ 1,100 and ₹ 2,500. Also, spare parts for the Wagon R are cheap which coupled with the reliable engine makes maintenance costs quite affordable. 

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Service interval costs for the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios are on the higher side. A scheduled service will cost you between ₹ 1,500 and ₹ 6,600. Service for the diesel Grand i10 Nios is even more expensive and will cost you between ₹ 2,500 and ₹ 8,000.

Note*- Maruti Suzuki service costs are excluding labour costs

Service costs for the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios are quite expensive, especially for the turbo petrol and diesel engine variants. Comparatively, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is cheap to run and maintain. Also, while both the Grand i10 Nios and Wagon R are reliable cars, the latter’s affordable maintenance costs make it hard to beat. 

Conclusion

Both the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Hyundai Grand i10 Nios are among the top 10 best selling used cars in India and offer a good resale value. While the Grand i10 held its value better over the years, the Wagon R exhibits a lower rate of depreciation. 

Both the Wagon R and Grand i10 Nios come with a standard 3 year / 1,00,000km manufacturer’s warranty. If you buy a pre owned car from Cars24, they come with a standard 3 month warranty which can be extended to 1 year by paying a nominal fee.

The Wagon R is one of the most popular hatchbacks in India and is loved for its reliability, frugal engines and low service and parts cost making it quite affordable to run and maintain. This besides its low buying costs and ample cabin and boot space make it quite a practical and value for money family hatchback. 

Like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai cars have gained a reputation for reliability over the years and the Grand i10 Nios is no different. It impresses with its build quality, premium fit and finish levels, refinement and premium driving experience that the Wagon R can not match. 

If you are looking for a no nonsense hatchback, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R impresses with its reliability, space, frugal engines and low running and maintenance costs. However, if you are looking for a premium driving experience, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is hard to beat.