Suzuki Fronx. Picture: Suzuki.

Suzuki Fronx drive: Subcontinental sublime

Sloping-roof crossover, tall-riding hatchback, coupe-style crossover; however you define the new Suzuki Fronx, it’s here to impress.

by Ray Leathern

19-08-2023 11:45

in Motoring

Suzuki Fronx. Picture: Suzuki.

A flurry of slope-roofed compact crossovers – of which the Suzuki Fronx is the latest – have arrived in the country in the last 24 months. And it’s no surprise that the majority of them hail from India.

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The Indian Government gives tax breaks to car manufacturers that adhere to a four-metre, nose-to-tail length restriction. This explains why Suzuki has become rather skilled at creating compact crossovers on the subcontinent within these parameters.

SUZUKI FRONX: WHAT IS IT?

Priced from R279 900 to R355 900, essentially, the new Suzuki Fronx replaces the brand’s popular Vitara Brezza. But more than that, with 170 mm ground clearance, it’s effectively a tall-riding Suzuki Baleno. A Baleno Cross, if you will, although they opted for the Fronx name. Which is a portmanteau of ‘Frontier’ and ‘Crossover’ just by the way.

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As a result, the Suzuki Fronx is based on Baleno underpinnings. It measures 3 995 mm long, as mentioned, to adhere to the government restriction. It is 1 765 mm wide and stands 1 550 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2 520 mm. That may not sound very big but climbing in the front or rear seats, there’s little issue with passenger space. The luggage compartment of just 304 litres is on the small side but at least the rear seats can fold flat for extra utility space.

WHAT’S POWERING IT?

Like the Baleno, there’s only one engine available in the Suzuki Fronx. The naturally aspirated 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine is good for 77 kW and 138 Nm of torque. On the launch we mostly drove the four-speed automatic GL (price at R299 900), although there is a five-speed manual available, too.

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The former is good in that it’s not as noisy as a CVT, but one extra ratio would have been welcome on the motorway. Likewise, the manual gearbox could do with a sixth gear, too. Consumption wise, both the automatic and manual are pleasingly economical. Suzuki claims 5.7 l/100 km on the auto and 5.5 l/100 km on the manual.

SUZUKI FRONX: HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

This was the surprising bit: it drives really well. Despite the extra ride height and body-cladding to make it look butch and off-roady, the drive is not dissimilar to that of a Baleno. The steering is light and easy – if a little numb around the centre point – and the ride quality is comfy and compliant. The Suzuki Fronx doesn’t weigh much more than 1 000 kg, so it feels light on its feet and eager to get from A to B, just likes its hatchback donor.

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The 170 mm ground clearance is a boon for everyday usability. Where a Baleno might touch on a sleeping policeman, the Fronx simply zips over without incident. There was one nasty approach off the road that in a regular hatchback would have required a careful maneuver to not touch both the front and rear bumpers, but the Fronx navigated it no problem.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

The GL is your starting point and this includes black 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlamps, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay, a reverse camera, automatic climate control, cruise control, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and roof rails.

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The marginally more expensive GLX adds polished 16-inch alloys, a 9-inch infotainment system, a 4.2-inch LCD information display, wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree camera system, a head-up display and keyless entry with push-button start. You can add a dual-tone cabin featuring black and burgundy trim when you’re ordering (pictured above).

DRIVE SUMMARY

Featuring ABS with EBD, electronic stability control and hill-hold control, dual front airbags comes standard on the GL. However, it’s the GLX that upgrades to six airbags in total. As far as peace of mind goes, the Suzuki Fronz comes with a 5-year/200 000 km warranty and 4-year/60 000 km service plan.

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On evidence from our launch drive – and because the pricing is so keen – we recommend spending that little bit extra for the GLX-spec vehicle. The upgraded 9-inch infotainment is worth it alone. We were really impressed with the compact crossover from India. Build-quality wise it’s taken a big step forward and far exceeds what’s currently available in that segment.