SUZUKI is not known for making large dimension vehicles and the biggest model we have come across is the five-door Vitara in days gone by.
Maintaining a compact body profile endears the Suzuki range to those who don’t want the hassle of manoeuvring their way through urban centres with its tighter confines, not to forget tight and narrow ramps in shopping complexes and condominiums.
That is what gives the Suzuki Fronx its strong appeal being an urban right-sized sports utility vehicle (SUV) that rubs shoulders with the similarly compact Toyota CH-R and Subaru XV.
Suzuki also has a compact SX4 Crossover that it introduced in 2007 and was sold here in its second generation (SX4 S-Cross) before the distributor then called it a day.
The Fronx was probably developed along a similar design premise although it is smaller dimensionally, including a shorter wheelbase of 2,520mm.
It is however made in Indonesia and styling-wise, has smart and attractive body lines to give it a contemporary standing, with distinct Suzuki features and badges to stamp its individual charm.
The sleek daytime running light emitting diode (LED) lights that sit atop the LED headlamp clusters give the Fronz a distinctive face to stand it out from the crowd.
In any case, the name Fronx is an unusual one and that drew a fair share of curious looks from other vehicle owners.
Adding a rugged touch to its urbane design are the front and rear under-spoilers as well as the skid plates located front, rear and at the sides.
Its rounded profile follows more of the SX4 Crossover than the squarish outline of older SUVs, the Vitara in particular, although that boxy design aspect is still retained for the Jimny.
As an imported vehicle brought in from Indonesia, the Fronx boasts an upmarket stance that is reflected in its price (on the road without insurance) of RM147,888.
Given this price scenario, we were rather bemused when we got into the Fronx; getting comfortable in the driver’s seat is a manual affair, no electric assistance here but we are fine with that.
Then we saw something that we wouldn’t expect in a car at this price level; a manually activated handbrake, something we haven’t seen in a while given the range of vehicles we had driven over the past two years.
Such a feature would normally be expected in vehicles of a lower price category while electronic activated parking brakes are increasingly being used in more modern-day premium cars.
The upholstery was a mix of fabric and brown leather while the steering wheel is a leather-wrapped unit.
The important thing is that the comfort from the seat cushions felt good and we believed it should hold up well over long distance runs too.
A measure of its current standing comes in the 9-inch HD resolution display located centrally on the dashboard and a head-up display (HUD), something not common in many cars at this price point.
This is not the usual HUD system where the meter graphics are projected onto a display panel and not onto the windscreen.
The definition on the HUD is good and you get to choose five display options via a button on the dashboard, although we found the display panel somewhat distracting at times.
Nevertheless, the HUD remains our favourite item and we chose the display that provided the road speed, engine revs, gear position, time and lane discipline; all easily noted at a glance.
The dual tone format for the dashboard complements that for the seats and lend a premium touch to the interior.
Storage space is somewhat limited, which is understandable given its compact body dimensions, especially with the wireless charging tray being part of the narrow centre console.
The luggage space with a deep well doesn’t seem capable of accommodating much with probably around 300 litres in volume.
However, the 60:40 split rear seat rests could be folded almost flat to extend luggage more than twofold on days when you need that extra room to carry sizeable items.
The Fronx has a 1.5-litre engine that comes equipped with an integrated starter generator (ISG) that is backed by a 12V lithium-ion battery.
This ISG functions like an electric motor that delivers some power to assist the engine in acceleration, making the Fronx a mild hybrid.
There is no mention of how much the ISG delivers in output while Suzuki gives the engine output as 77kW/104PS and 138Nm of torque; power drives the front wheels via a six-speed automatic with manual shift option.
The Fronx comes with an automatic engine cut-off when you come to a stop as a means to achieve good fuel mileage; no engine running while idling means no fuel burnt.
On the move, the Fronx won’t give you that exciting burst of speed as its power-to-weight ratio is less impressive, given that it is quite a heavy vehicle at 1,480kg gross.
The Fronx is best driven at a nice easy pace in the urban scenario while it remains right at home cruising the highway at legal speeds.
We like its surefooted stance when taken through our favourite winding stretches as Suzuki’s earlier involvement in world car rallies probably gave the carmaker the expertise in setting up the suspension system for good handling performance.
Being an SUV that’s not much taller than your average car, there was very little body roll during the few times we pushed the Fronx through our favourite corners.
The 195/60 R16 Goodyear Assurance tyres complemented the front MacPherson struts and rear torsion beam suspension well for some fast driving through windy roads.
Ride was a bit on the thumpy side if we tried to drive a bit too fast over the bumps, potholes and badly patched road surfaces that we drive over daily.
Generally, it would meet most needs in absorbing road impacts for a comfortable ride when driven sensibly.
Good body insulation is appreciated via the quiet highway drives with mild road noise coming through over the varying tarmac surfaces.
The Fronx ticks all the right boxes as a compact SUV although its price limits its appeal to staunch Suzuki fans and those who want something different to stand out from the crowd.
SPECIFICATIONS
Suzuki Fronx
Engine: 1,462cc, 16-valve, DOHC, 4-cylinder engine with ISG (integrated starter generator) and 12V lithium-ion hybrid battery
Maximum power: 77kW/104PS at 6,000rpm
Maximum torque: 138Nm at 4,400rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Features: Six airbags, roof rail garnish, wheel arch extensions, front and rear underspoiler, front, rear and side skidplates, head-up display, dual sensor brake support, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Vehicle Swaying Warning, Lane Change Assist (LCA), 360-degree View Camera, High Beam Assist (HBA), Rear Parking Sensor, Hill Hold Control, Pedestrian Protection, Side Impact Beam
Suspension: Front MacPherson struts; rear torsion beam
Price: RM147,888 (OTR without insurance)
