Suzuki Wagon R Smile

The Suzuki Spacia is a kei minivan that boasts the best fuel efficiency of its class, edging the likes of the Honda N BOX, Mitsubishi eK Space, and its main rival, the Daihatsu Tanto. Sadly, there's a new kid in the family that will overthrow the Spacia's title with its fuel efficiency and pricing. It's weirdly called the Smile.

2022 Suzuki Wagon R Smile

So, what's to smile about the first-ever Suzuki Wagon R Smile? Priced at 1,296,900 Yen, it's slightly cheaper to own than the Spacia but sadly, the Smile is not built to go after the ones mentioned so it's best to leave the competition mentioned above to the Spacia because the Smile is made to compete against the Daihatsu Move Canbus, which is surprisingly more expensive to own than this newcomer.

That's something this new tiny minivan can smile about but let's have a quick dive with this newcomer from Suzuki, starting with the design.

2022 Suzuki Wagon R Smile

Wider than the Hustler, the Smile features a much simpler design that is quintessentially Suzuki indeed. The round lamps look vaguely similar to the Alto Lapin, while the rear-view design looks like the Hustler. Overall, it really is a Suzuki kei car from every angle.

2022 Suzuki Wagon R Smile interior

2022 Suzuki Wagon R Smile interior

Checking the interior, the Wagon R Smile, despite being narrower and shorter than the Spacia, is still a spacious kei minivan that is as cozy as a simple one-story house you've rented from Airbnb.

On the driver's side, you can really tell just how driver-focused the cockpit is and with the HUD present, it's surprisingly high-tech for a tiny car like this. Looking at its side mirror, you'll be surprised that there's a side under mirror equipped on the Smile so not only you can look for objects on both sides but also the undersides as well. Thoughtful thinking.

Because the interior's longer than the Spacia, you'll have some space to stretch your legs. Sure, it can fit up to four people inside, but the boot is a different story. It can fit some groceries with the rear seats present but with them folded, you'll have plenty of ways to store. It's a small kei minivan but it sure packs some decent luggage for some simple jobs or from a small to-do list.

2022 Suzuki Wagon R Smile

Behind the wheel, the Wagon R Smile truly fits on Japanese roads like a coin in the piggy bank.

Running on the Suzuki HEARTECT platform, the Wagon R Smile features front MacPherson Struts with coil springs, a choice of rear torsion beam for FF models and an Isolated Treading Link for 4WD models, torsion bar stabilizers, rack and pinion steering,  and a choice of disc brakes for FF models and ventilated disc brakes for 4WD models. Such dynamics underneath made the Wagon R Smile as nicer to drive as a, let's say, a baby stroller with a baby sounded asleep.

Under the hood, the Smile is powered by the RO6D 660cc three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 49PS of power and 58Nm of torque. Mated to a CVT, it has a fuel economy of 23.9kmpl on the WLTC scale.

The hybrid variants feature the same engine but it's been bolted to a 1.9kW electric motor, li-ion battery, Idling Stop, and Eco-Cool, resulting in a fuel economy of 25.1kmpl on the WLTC scale. That's more than the Spacia's, of course.

As always, the Suzuki Smile features the Suzuki Safety Support suite of driver aids that will keep this kei minivan safe on all grounds.

Fit for Japanese roads like a true Japanese car, the Suzuki Smile is proof that kei cars are still in the game even in the age of electrification and because it's more fuel-efficient and cheaper to own than the Spacia, this is Suzuki's bargain car of the year, but don't get too jumpy on because like I said, the Smile is made to compete against the Daihatsu Move Canbus and because it's better to own than the Canbus, consider this another win for Japan's no.1 kei car maker.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation