The Suzuki Fronx is a budget-friendly crossover coupé
Prashirwin Naidu
Suzuki is eyeing the buyer with affordability, reliability, and practicality in their latest offerings with the all-new compact crossover coupé, the Fronx. Design-wise, the Japanese firm has adopted a different style approach with the Suzuki Fronx. It's pretty fantastic; however, the peculiar name may be the odd elephant in the room.
Delving into its handsome looks, it's essentially a raised Suzuki Baleno incorporating the same Heartect platform with a sleek crosser coupé styling. It is trendy and embodies some elements from the Grand Vitara in the front fascia; it has a boxy and squared-off look. LED daytime running headlights are also included in the GLX guise, giving it extra zest and smartness.
The matte black body plastic cladding towards the sides created a sense of toughness and ruggedness, and the raised stance at 170mm meant plentiful ground clearance.
The 16-inch alloy wheels were coated in a black finish, coupled with high-profile tyres. The raised suspension and knobbly tyres make a sturdy commute, especially on our pothole-ridden roads.
Towards the rear, you have a sloping rear end, which brings in the coupé-like design. I like the modern elongated brake light; it gives a futuristic twist that I suspect will age well in time.
Now, boot space is not the biggest; it measures about 304l and is quite deep. With all the rear seats down, one can achieve 604l.
The cabin feels well-built, although the side panels are a little tinny. However, I liked the cocooned feel inside the Fronx; the seats are plush and comfortable, and the front seats are manually operated. The colours inside were broken up with brown on the door, seat upholstery, and a mixture of black and grey finishings on the dashboard, contrasting excellently.
This being the high-grade GLX guise, you have electric windows front and back, keyless entry, push-button start, climate control, wireless charging, a head-up display, a nine-inch infotainment system which is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, along with a reverse camera that has a 360-degree surround view of the vehicle, which I failed to see the point off however the front camera was perfect for driving into tight parking spaces, it proved to be helpful.
The space is sufficient in the rear, and you also have dual rear-mounted USB charging points. One is a type A, and next to it is a type C, along with two rear ISOFIX mounting points for the little ones.
You also have stability control, ABS braking, and cruise control. If you opt for the top-spec GLX model, you also have six airbags. I was very impressed with the safety aspects of the Suzki Fronx.
The Fronx is powered by a 1.5l four-cylinder naturally aspirated motor paired with a 4-speed auto transmission. Power is just enough. Fastness is where it lacks; it may need a little more kick and gets noisy occasionally at higher speeds. Power output is 77kW and 138Nm; perhaps due to it not being a turbocharged motor, the engine's longevity will last well in time as less pressure is applied to strain the motor unnecessarily, and frugality will make up for it, too.
Day-to-day driving in the fuel consumption department Suzuki says claimed consumption is 5.5l per 100km through a 37-litre tank. I achieved a frugal 6.1l per 100km from simple highway cruising to work and back home.
Pricing starts at R279,900 for the GL model. The fancier GLX costs R315,900. Add R20,000 to both if you want a four-speed automatic over the five-speed manual.
The Suzuki Fronx might be a strong contender to its rivals, including the Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonnet, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and the VW T-Cross. It also comes with an inclusive five-year/ 200,000km warranty plan.
Save for one or two qualms in the power stakes and a modest interior, the Suzuki Fronx is excellent for the price and might be a compelling pick for the conscious budget-driven buyer.
But certainly, one gets more for your money with the Suzuki Fronx.
