The Suzuki Fronx city SUV has been unveiled in India, but it is yet to be locked in for Australia – where it would serve as the indirect replacement for the defunct Baleno city hatch.
The 2023 Suzuki Fronx SUV has been revealed in India – and it may be offered in Australia as the indirect successor to the top-selling Suzuki Baleno city hatch.
The Suzuki Baleno – the Japanese small-car specialist’s top seller in Australia – departed local showrooms late last year after the updated model revealed in India would not meet local safety regulations.
Suzuki Australia is yet to confirm whether the vehicle will be introduced in local showrooms. However Drive understands there is strong interest in the vehicle, and it could be here next year.
The new Fronx – revealed today at a motor show in India – is twinned under the skin with the Baleno, but carries a taller and broader SUV body, and optional turbo power.
It will be sold alongside the Baleno in India – but it would serve as its indirect replacement in Australia, if it is to be sold locally.
The Fronx’s styling blends cues from the recently-revealed Grand Vitara SUV, with the facelifted version of the regular Baleno hatchback, and a sloping rear roofline.
LED headlights and tail-lights features – including a Hyundai Tucson-like rear light bar – plus 17-inch alloy wheels on top models, and available two-tone paint.
Inside, the Fronx’s dashboard has largely been carried over from the updated Baleno hatch in India – and revised S-Cross SUV in Australia – with a 9.0-inch touchscreen on top of the dashboard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The instrument cluster is analogue – as per the Baleno hatch – while a six-speaker Arkamys stereo is available on some models.
Technology on offer includes a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, keyless entry and start, automatic climate-control air-conditioning, satellite navigation, and a colour head-up display.
Suzuki in India is yet to confirm if the Fronx will be available with advanced safety technology such as autonomous emergency braking or lane-keep assist, which the outgoing Baleno lacked.
However, if the Fronx comes to Australia, it would likely launch after autonomous emergency braking becomes mandatory for newly-introduced passenger cars in Australia this March – meaning this technology would need to be standard on local models.
Safety features listed by Suzuki India include six airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera.
The Fronx measures 3995mm long, 1550mm high and 1765mm wide – similar to a Toyota Yaris Cross or Ford Puma.
Power in top-of-the-range Fronx models in India comes from a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine available in Australia’s Swift – and offered in the Baleno until 2019 – which is now assisted by mild-hybrid technology.
Outputs are rated at 74kW and 148Nm, and the engine powers the front wheels through a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. No all-wheel-drive version is available.
Also available is a 1.2-litre non-turbo four-cylinder engine from the Baleno hatch, developing 66kW and 113Nm, with a five-speed manual or ‘automated manual’ transmission. The brakes on all models are discs up front, and drums at the rear.
It is yet to be confirmed which of these engines would make the journey to Australia, if the model is offered locally.
The 2023 Suzuki Fronx is due in Indian showrooms in the coming months – with pricing yet to be announced. Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
