Maruti Suzuki Fronx : Sunlight danced off the Earthen Brown paint as I maneuvered Maruti Suzuki’s Fronx through a bustling Delhi marketplace.
Heads turned – not something you can say about your average affordable Maruti. “Kaunsi gaadi hai?” (What car is this?) inquired a passerby, who was obviously impressed by the coupe-like profile.
My eyebrows raised up to the roof when I told him it was the all-new Fronx, priced from ₹7.46 lakh only. “Itne mein itni dhansu?” (So stylish at this price?)
That’s a feeling that sums up what Maruti Suzuki has built with the Fronx – a car that looks much more expensive than it actually is.
This subcompact SUV is Maruti’s take on the basic and on paper at least, the car is equipped with everything it needs to be the best seller it sets out to be.
A week with it across the meandering roads of Delhi-NCR and I have a better idea of how Maruti achieved the research and development miracle that is the S-Presso without a burn out in finances.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx The Attention-Grabbing Dhansu Design
The first thing to tackle in the Fronx is the thing you’ll notice first, and that’s its outside. In a lineup crowded with boxy, upright forms, the Fronx adds a welcome bit of coupe-SUV silhouette madness heretofore reserved for much more expensive cars.
The sloped roofline and tough character lines make for a dynamic presence on the road.
The front end is based on many of design cues the more expensive Maruti cars are using, such as the Grand Vitara, so you have a large front grille and a unique split LED headlamp setup.
According to Rajesh Kumar, another discerning motoring enthusiast that I met at a fuel station in Garugram, “From the front, it looks as if it should have been at least 5 lakhs more”.
The three-element LED DRLs, the single-element tail lamps all left me impressed with the character of the Fronx even when I didn’t open the throttle – as I’d go for my evening dodder around Cyber City’s wastelands.
The 16-inch precision-cut alloy wheels of higher trim levels contribute to the premium aesthetic, and even the 15-inchers of mid-level trims have a modern design that doesn’t outright say “cost-cutter,” which is what so many economy-oriented cars convey.
The back is arguably the most unique with attached LED taillights that stretch across the width of the tailgate – an adornment typically associated with luxury models.
“Peechhe se toh ekdum premium lagti hai,” (It looks classy from behind), said a valet at a South Delhi restaurant he parked many luxury cars dailyl
Maruti Suzuki Fronx Interior: Smart Compromises That Don’t Feel Cheap
Climb into the Fronx, and it’s obvious where Maruti has made smart decisions about where to spend and where to save.
Layout of the dashboard is uncluttered and clean, while the floating 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system (on higher trims) instantly catches the eye.
“They’ve spent money where you really see it,” said my cousin, an interior designer with an eye for such things, who joined me for a drive to Noida.
Drivers will be pleased to know that the touchscreen, steering wheel and gear lever – those buttons and bits you touch all the time – are good. The hard plastics are largely in spots you seldom caress.”
And the seating is no exception. Material quality in the mid-versions is also a texture and pattern that only makes it a little less than basic materials found in many cars in this price with the park.
I found the seats had a good cushion, and the form was comfortable all day long on both short city hopping and long highway rides during the week long test including a day trip to Jaipur.
The infotainment system must be noted too, for it’s both responsive and feature rich.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay performed flawlessly during my test, and they automatically connected when I entered the car — a minor but meaningful convenience that contributed to the ownership experience.
The 6-speaker Arkamys sound system produced audio of quality well beyond the price class.
And space management is another area where the Fronx earns its compact size.
With my favourite weekender bag as well as my camera gear, the 308 litres were not only ample but also there was no need for me to play tetris with my goodies.
Rear seat space is not cavernous but fine for two adults on the drive across the city, although three across for long trips would be a snug fit.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx Performance That Surprises
Powering the Fronx are two engines under the hood – a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol (89 bhp) and a more thrilling 1.0-litre BoosterJet turbo-petrol (99 bhp). My test car had the latter, in conjunction with the 5-speed manual box.
The turbot engine is everything you would expect of a premium vehicle and you get this feeling especially from the strong mid-range torque which also makes the city driving effortless.
On my highway dash to Jaipur, there was no overtaking move too ahead of its time – a swift downshift and a jab on the gas and I was gone past all the slower traffic.
“Is mein kitna power hai!” (This has so much power!) yelled my uncle -usually seen in a non-turbo hatchback- as we made a brief run out on the expressway.
And it’s all the more impressive when you consider that the lightweight, low-priced Crossover’s 148 Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm comes across as an ease of power you don’t come to expect at this price.
Fuel mileage, a source of worry with turbo-powered rides, was also okay in my experience.
The computer reported 15.8 km/l on the mixed 600 odd kilometers of driving – a far cry from being class leading, but the performance comes with a penalty we are ready to pay.
Ride quality was another place the Fronx really impressed me. Speed bumps and potholes that would shake most affordable vehicles were received with a surprising amount of poise.
On the turnpike, the car was steady in the triple digits, a plus in a country where roads can lose their quality with no warning.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx ‘No-Brainer’ Tech That Won’t Break the Bank
Maruti has also been shrewd about which features to pack in, targeting the ones that make for a premium experience without adding much to the costs.
The wireless charger in higher-spec models lets you do away with cable clutter and automatic climate control makes life easier through the wild temperature swings that we see in Delhi.
12:31AM The 360-degree camera system, which is available on the Alpha trim, was great for maneuvering tight congestion in crowded markets.
The image quality isn’t up to the standard of premium cars with screens that cost three times as much, but it’s enough for the job.
An array of safety features are available, notably six airbags on the high-grade (the base model’s two airbags limit its appeal), electronic stability control, hill-hold assist and a tyre pressure monitor.
These artifacts of luxury that used to announce only the premium status of a car have now landed on the equipment list of the Fronx without painting it into a more expensive corner.
“You couldn’t get these safety features at this price point five years ago,” said Vikram Sharma, a safety advocate I met at a highway dhaba during my trip to Jaipur. “It’s great that they’re becoming more available.”
The Price The Value Proposition: High-End Style on a Budget
At the price range of ₹7.46 lakh to ₹13.13 lakh (ex-showroom), the Fronx is among the sweet spots in the market.
It’s cheaper than compact SUV rivals such as the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet, and has a more distinctive design and stronger features than the hatchbacks you can buy at a similar price.
Fronx for buyers who want to stand out without having to spend extra for premium thrust: the Fronx is excellent value.
Especially since the Alpha turbo edition packs a quite the visual punch combined with some good performance and features for about ₹12 lakh – a price at which most rivals will dole out only their mid-level trims.
Running costs too shall stay within budget, thanks to Maruti Suzuki’s sprawling service network and decent spare parts pricing.
This point should never to be underrated – a sexy car that requires high dollar maintenance can bring financial pain in a hurry.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx Ownership Experience In The Ground
Its thoughtful design and quality construction made the Fronx feel special, but it was never so special that the Fronx was precious.
What stood out most during my week with the Fronx was the way it manages to sidestep preciousness while still feeling special.
Ground clearance (190mm) was ample for traversing potholed roads and nasty speed breakers.
The turning radius during u-turns on narrow streets was manageable, with visibility being acceptable despite the stylish roofline.
Its fuel efficiency wasn’t all that brilliant with the turbo engine, but it was still decent even in Delhi’s infamous traffic.
The engine stop-start, which is more irksome in some vehicles in this day and age, functioned unobtrusively and could be readily turned off if and when desired.
Goodies abounded throughout the daily living experience, with the boot being able to open wide enough to stow away bulkier items, the door pockets swallowing 1-liter water bottles and the smartphone shelf actually being large enough to house modern smartphones with their protective covers on.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx The Final Verdict
After a week with the Fronx, I had a pang of regret when I had to give it back. In a world where good value often equates with Dorito-like corners being cut, the Fronx proves that its still possible to buy into a premium experience in the areas that many will be most grateful for – style, features and driving.
Is it perfect? Certainly not. Some of the interior plastics suggest the price range, the rear seat won’t impress belt out the usual three adult passengers, and the best features are optional extras for those willing to spend more on a higher trim.
But for design- and feature-focused buyers on a budget, the Fronx serves up a “dhansu” package that punches way above its weight.
(Sheen de neighbour had a comment as well when he saw the Fronx parked outside my house: “Ab style sirf ameer logon ke liye nahin rahi.” (Style is no longer the province of the prosperous.
“Maruti Suzuki has done it again – And that is be in tune with what Indians want and deliver it to them at a price that is workable for the Indian consumer – and their cousins south of the border.”