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09 July 2025
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The newcomer with big ambitions
With a history of creating exciting names for its cars, such as Swift, Kizashi, and Vitara, it's interesting how Suzuki arrived at the name for its new subcompact SUV, the Fronx (pronounced as it's spelt). The name reportedly combines the words "Frontier" and "Crossover," and Suzuki claims it will be a game-changer in the subcompact segment.
With "crossover" in the name, it targets multiple car segments, and Suzuki is confident that it can compete with the mighty Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi ASX, due to its rugged appearance and SUV-like practicality. In fact, Suzuki hinted that the Fronx could even surpass the Swift as their best-selling model.
Automobile Sales Manager for Suzuki New Zealand, Aaron Wales says “as a compact SUV, the top-grade Fronx is set to make a significant impression in the New Zealand market." It's already become a hit overseas, with over 300,000 units sold in India, and sales in the Japanese market exceeding three times the targeted monthly volume.
Recently, the AA was invited on a drive day to explore the new Fronx and discover what makes it popular. Immediately, we noticed that the Fronx is packed with features and offers plenty of interior space, all at a very competitive price point.
The Fronx is priced between the lowest-spec Mitsubishi ASX and Kia Seltos. Unlike these examples however, the Fronx is only available in one highly equipped GLX variant, with the option of either the standard painted roof for $31,990 plus on-road costs or the two-tone paint scheme with black roof, which is available for $32,990.
In terms of specifications, the vehicle comes standard with features such as heated front seats with two-tone leather-like upholstery, a 360-degree camera, a heads-up display, and wireless phone charging. While it is impressive to have many of these features included as standard, we noted that some are quite basic. For example, the heated seats have only two settings (either on or off) with no in-between. However, during our test, we found the temperature to be very comfortable when on.
The interior of the car feels more spacious than its exterior might suggest and offers ample legroom in the back for an average-sized adult to sit comfortably. The two-tone black and burgundy interior accented with silver trim, complements the vehicle nicely and gives it a premium feel. While some materials, particularly the harder plastic components, did not feel high-quality, this likely helps to keep the price down while still including a wide range of standard features.
Our day began in Albany before heading along the Upper Harbour Motorway and through the scenic backgrounds of Kumeū, where we had the opportunity to test the car's performance on the open road. The 1.5-litre mild hybrid engine delivers a modest 76kW of power, emphasising efficiency over performance. When merging onto the motorway, we had to step on the accelerator quite hard, resulting in a lot of noise from the engine bay and not a lot of oomph.
The six-speed automatic transmission is a proper gearbox (no boring and wet CVT), and the addition of paddle shifters on the steering wheel gives it a sporty feel. The gear changes were snappy, and we enjoyed testing the paddle shifters on the winding roads above Auckland.
The car is designed with a strong emphasis on fuel efficiency. Boasting a WLTP figure of 5.4L/100km and a stated range of 700 kilometres on a single tank, the Fronx also takes 91 octane fuel. The hybrid system features a 12V lithium-ion battery that quickly recharges during braking, allowing the stored energy to be utilised during acceleration.
The slightly elevated profile offers good visibility without feeling oversized, providing an excellent driving position. The heads-up display is well-angled and bright enough to be easily visible even on glary days.
The Fronx boasts a bold, athletic stance with sculpted lines and a wide, aggressive front grille that reflects sporty confidence. The coupe-like sloping roofline and muscular wheel arches add a dynamic edge, giving the impression of a performance-inspired crossover.
The Fronx comes equipped with several driver-assist technologies, including brake hold, lane keep assist, lane departure assist, blind spot monitoring, and automatic high beams, among others. The best part is that if you find any of these features overly intrusive, you can easily deactivate most of them with the push of a button on the dashboard.
Overall, the new Fronx is a well-equipped crossover with stylish features and an impressive price tag that sets it apart from the competition. Although it may not excel in all driving conditions, it still handles most situations with ease and has a rugged, dependable feel.
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