Suzuki, both here and abroad, has made a name for itself making cheap, reliable, small cars. Their expertise in this field meant that they’re more or less been shielded by the onslaught of Chinese offerings. However, every once in a while, they’d offer something a bit leftfield. In the past few years, there has been the SX4, the Kizashi, and the Grand Vitara (which includes its 7-seater derivative, the OG XL7). The latest one to join that list is the Fronx. It’s their latest corporate experiment move upmarket, only it’s worthy of consideration.
Sadly, the Fronx’s biggest issue is something beyond its control. Despite packing a hybrid powertrain, albeit the mildest one possible, it doesn’t meet the criteria to get it classified as a hybrid electric vehicle. Because of that, it doesn’t receive any of the benefits associated with the sought after green plate such as number coding exemption. It’s a bummer for those who’re looking at it as an only car solution because it is legit efficient. Although its all-electric running is limited to just coasting or when idled during traffic stops, it sips unleaded at a remarkable rate of 14.28 km/L per liter. And even if it’s equipped with a dinky 37-liter tank, it can go past 500 kilometers between fill ups.
On the road, the Fronx provides a modest pull off the line. However, as the speeds build, that initial punch wanes quickly. This is down to the spacing of the 6-speed gearbox which has short low gears and long higher gears. Highway speeds are reachable, but it’ll take its sweet time getting there. Still, for as long as pedal inputs and expectations are kept sensible, it’s quite alright.
With a sweepy roofline, there comes a certain expectation that the Fronx’ handling would be on the sporty side. Sure, but only to a degree. Treat it within reason and it can cash those checks. Push it however, and it’ll tilt and bob. At expressway speeds, the suspension can also feel nervous at times, especially when going over uneven bumps or expansion joints. However, it’s pliant enough to keep the rear passengers comfortable. At lower speeds, the light, quick steering and small dimensions make it a joy to chuck around in the city or park in places that’ll make typical cars nervous.
As with any small car, the Fronx’s focus is largely on the front two occupants. They enjoy a habitable amount of space with good amounts of head, shoulder, and leg room. There’s even a couple of cleverly placed cubby holes, including a wireless charger located in front of the shifter. The driver enjoys the convenience of a 6-way manual adjustable seat and a tilt and telescopic steering column. Even at the lowest position, the seating position is higher than your average crossover and that’s probably down to the 12-volt lithium-ion battery being placed below the driver’s seat.
The rear occupants aren’t as blessed because the coupe-like roofline robs it of usable headroom. Even at average Filipino heights (170 cm in my case), you’ll find your hair already brushing the headliner. There’s also no center armrest too. Thankfully, each one gets their own adjustable headrest and three-point seatbelts. There are also a pair of USB charging ports and AC vents. And on that note, the AC is blizzardly good. It deserves special mention in this case, cooling down the cabin very quickly even when it’s left baking in the summer sun.
The relatively generous cabin space means Suzuki had to compromise somewhere and here it’s in the cargo hold. At 309 liters, it’s already on the small side, but loading bulky or heavy items can be extra difficult with the high load lip. There’s also no false floor here; only a space tire underneath. Thankfully, for those who need added flexibility, the rear seats do fold down in a 60/40 split. Still, it’s merely “alright” as opposed to being “good.”
Space of people and some luggage aside, the Fronx has a pleasantly modern cabin. The eclectic mix of colors and textures such as brown, black, silver, and even bronze do well to distract from the absence of soft-touch plastics. At least, the switchgear and build quality feel solid. And that’s important because Suzuki is heavily reliant on traditional buttons for everything from the climate control to the ADAS to the operation of the heads-up display. They are scattered all around the dashboard, so it takes a while to pinpoint where they are, but once they’re found, operating them becomes second nature.
Some functions are hidden in the central 9-inch infotainment screen and the gauge cluster itself. Both are legible, feature-packed, and responsive enough. The heads-up display is the only piece of love-it-or-hate-it tech. It’s not projected onto the windshield, but rather onto a piece of transparent plastic. It looks and feels archaic, but at least it’s customizable with several views. If you belong to the “hate-it” camp, it can be switched off altogether wherein the plastic piece neatly tucks away into the dashboard.
The Fronx is the first Suzuki in the Philippines to get ADAS marketed under the Suzuki Safety Support umbrella. For a first try, it gets good marks for being well-tuned to local road conditions. The steering corrections during lane keep maneuvers is smooth enough. There’s even a blind spot monitoring system with rear cross traffic alert. This is on top of a full complement of airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera.
Priced at P 1,299,000, the Fronx, especially in this SGX trim, finds itself at the more expensive end of the small (sub-B-segment) crossover segment. Given its non-hybrid classification, this is most certainly a hinderance when you have cheaper traditional offerings and Chinese crossovers all knocking at its heels. Choices such as the Sealion 5 DM-i and the Jaecoo J5 are available in the market and they’re both hybrids sporting green plates. This is Suzuki’s biggest threat since its latest offering is quite decent with excellent fuel economy, usable interior space, and high levels of spec.
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2026 Suzuki Fronx Hybrid SGX |
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| Bottom Line | |
| Pros | Real world fuel economy, manueverability, cold AC. |
| Cons | Not classified as a hybrid, expensive, doesn't feel as modern inside. |
| TL;DR | If you can swallow its price tag, it's a decent crossover. |
| Ownership | |
| Year Introduced | 2025 |
| Warranty | 3 years / 100,000 kilometers |
| The Basics | |
| Body Type | Sub-compact SUV |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 1.5 |
| Aspiration | Normally Aspirated |
| Fuel Delivery | EFI |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | I4 |
| Maximum Output (PS @ rpm) |
100 @ 6,000 3 (Electric) 101 (Combined) |
| Maximum Torque (Nm @ rpm) | 135 @ 4,400 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / ~91 |
| Transmission | 6 AT |
| Cruise Control | Yes, Adaptive |
| Fuel Economy (km/L) @ Ave. Speed (km/h) | 14.28 @ 20 |
| Fuel Tank Size (L) | 37 |
| Dimensions and Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 3,995 |
| Width (mm) | 1,765 |
| Height (mm) | 1,550 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,520 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,060 |
| Suspension and Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam Axle |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Drum |
| Parking Brake | Hand-Type |
| Tires |
Goodyear Assurance
TripleMax 2 195/60R16 H (f & r) |
| Recommended Tire Pressure (PSI) | 29 all |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 6 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes, with EBD |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Yes, Rear |
| Parking Camera | Yes, 360-degree |
| Front Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR w/ pre-tensioners x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes |
| Advanced Driver Assist System |
Dual Sensor Brake Support
II Lane Departure Warning Lane Departure Prevention Weaving Alert |
| Other Safety Features |
Blind Spot Monitoring Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | LED, Auto High Beam |
| Fog Lamps | None |
| Light Operation | Automatic |
| Wiper Operation | Variable Intermittent |
| Tailgate | Manual |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | Manual, 6-way |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | Manual, 4-way |
| Seating Surface | Synthetic Leather |
| 2nd Row | 60/40 Split Folding |
| 3rd Row | None |
| Sunroof | None |
| Multi-Information Display / Size | Yes, 4.2-inch |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes, w/ Fold |
| Rear View Mirror | Day/Night |
| Proximity Key | Yes |
| Climate Control | Automatic, w/ Rear Vents |
| Audio System |
Stereo USB Type A Bluetooth |
| Wireless Charger | Yes, Front |
| Infotainment Display / Size | 9-inch |
| Smartphone Connectivity |
Apple CarPlay Android Auto |
| # of Speakers | 6 |
| Steering Controls | Yes |
Is our unit made in India or Indonesia?
ReplyDeleteIndonesia.
DeleteShould not be in the market. Fronx had a 1 star NCAP rating and had to be withdrawn from sales in Australia.
ReplyDeleteToo pricey for its own good.
ReplyDeleteBummer for Suzuki Philippines because of the hybrid declassification. But it's interesting to see if they will be able to sell this given the price and competition.
ReplyDeleteSayang ganda pa naman itsura nya.
ReplyDeleteInstead of the Fronx, if they really want a Suzuki, most buyers will just buy an Ertiga or an XL7 for the 7 seats (same price range).
ReplyDeleteSuzuki should be displaced already by Chinese brands. Indian quality inferior to the Chinese.
ReplyDeleteSuzuki should just import the Grand Vitara like in India which is a classy looking car.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing wrong about this car, is the pricing. or maybe they opted in the 1.2 K12N engine, that is also used with Eeco, the model that is still not released here in PH despite being introduced already here in PH.
ReplyDelete