Suzuki unveils budget-friendly Fronx

SUZUKI has launched its latest cut-price crossover locally, revealing the mild-hybrid Fronx to media in Brisbane as it gears up to begin electrifying its SUV range – with the all-electric eVitara to follow early next year.

The Fronx – which combines the words ‘frontier’ and ‘crossover’ – replaces the Ignis but features a mild-hybrid system that puts it head-to-head with popular models like the more advanced (series hybrid) Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid ($30,900) – albeit from a compelling $28,990 before on-road costs.

That is only marginally more than the smaller Swift Hybrid ($26,990) and the far more basic Ignis ($24,490) that it replaces, so it’s clearly priced to sell and Suzuki sees the model competing across various segments.

“I have conversations with dealers where whilst in the industry we like to think that people are looking at cars within a category, but quite often a customer is going ‘well I've got this much money, what can I get?’” said Suzuki Queensland General Manager Paul Dillon.

“We see our (Fronx) customers as anyone within that price bracket, being a potential buyer – and it doesn’t have to be an SUV, it might be someone looking at passenger cars.”

Aside from the myriad Chinese brands offering sub-$30k driveaway price tags, the Fronx undercuts Japanese competitors despite being a well-appointed, well-warrantied hybrid model, and the team at Suzuki Australia hope brand heritage is enough to win over buyers.

“We think the customers who like Suzuki, or anybody that has owned a Suzuki or knows someone who does, I'd like to hope they move towards this instead of those other options,” added Mr Dillon when discussing brands newer to the Australian market.

The Fronx uses a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 75kW/136Nm, featuring 12-volt mild-hybrid technology that uses an integrated starter-generator and a lithium-ion battery, driving the front wheels via a six-speed automatic.

According to Suzuki, the Fronx sips a claimed 4.9 litres per 100km (combined) and, at just over a tonne, its light weight likely plays a large role in achieving such frugal fuel use.

Visually, the Fronx represents a bold new design for Suzuki, with pumped guards that run the length of the vehicle, front and rear-end LED lights and a sloping crossover profile that looks suitably dominant. 

Inside, the new model features a nine-inch infotainment display with wireless phone mirroring and a 360-degree camera, while a Qi wireless charger and plenty of USB ports handle device charging.

A first for Suzuki is a new head-up display that shows information like vehicle speed, adaptive cruise status, fuel consumption, intersection data and more, reducing the need to glance at the dash.

It’s also spacious despite measuring up at just 3995mm length – around 200mm shorter than a Yaris Cross – with 308 litres of rear luggage capacity and decent second-row legroom.

The Fronx also gets Suzuki’s latest active safety suite with features like forward collision warning and brake assist, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist and rear cross traffic alert.

Suzuki has outlined that the Fronx will land at dealerships from September, offered with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Capped-price servicing, however, has been scrapped for Australian models.

2025 Suzuki Fronx pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.