CARS OF THE WORLD

Suzuki Fronx 2023.

Inexpensive «premium»: global crossover Suzuki Fronx presented.

«The five-door is positioned as a separate coupe-like parkette, but it is not created from scratch: they took Baleno hatchback as a basis.

Anyway, the «coupe» has its own design of the exterior, and it is made in style of last Grand Vitara.

Company Suzuki — more precisely, its affiliate Maruti Suzuki became the real driver of the Auto Expo that is passing now in India.

World premiere of conceptual electrocross eVX took place there the day before, and today parketnik Fronx and five-door off-road Jimny have been presented there, and these are already serial automobiles.

There will be a separate news item about Jimny, but for now we tell you about the fresh crossover.

Suzuki Fronx is declared as absolutely new coupe-like crossover (earlier it was known under internal index YTB).

In fact, before us is the «off-road» version of a hatchback Suzuki Baleno that underwent full-fledged restyling last year.

By the way, both cars are considered as «premium» in India: as well as a standard hatchback, there «cross-coupe» will be sold through separate dealer network Nexa (parkettes S-Cross/SX4 and Ignis, crossover XL6 and sedan Ciaz also belong to «premium» Suzuki models).

Though, to honor Maruti Suzuki, its creators did not stop only with hanging unpainted plastic dodger and installation of roof railing — almost all body panels were replaced, besides Fronx has its own design of exterior.

Thus, front and stern are decorated in style of Suzuki Grand Vitara (yes, Grand Vitara has turned into a parkette) debuted in 2022: junior «five-door» also received double-deck headlights and made as one piece rear lamps.

Besides, Suzuki Fronx has original 16-inch wheels by default, whereas the initial versions Baleno are offered with 15-inch.

The length of the new crossover is 3,995 mm, which is only 5 mm more than the original Indian hatchback.

Fronx width is 1765 mm (+20 mm compared to Baleno), height is 1550 mm (+50 mm). Wheelbase is the same 2520 mm. The trunk space is 308 liters instead of 318 liters in a standard hatchback.

Inside, Suzuki Fronx in general has repeated the original, the difference is in details. For example, the side air deflectors are made in another way, and there are new moldings on the front panel and door cards.

The list of equipment is the same, as at Baleno, unless the «simple» kitting is a little richer.

Top versions have a multimedia system with a 9-inch touchscreen (the simpler versions have 7-inch screen), projection screen, cruise control, 360-degree camera, six airbags and wireless charging for smartphone.

Base engine is transferred from hatch — it is petrol four-cylinder «atmospheric» Dual Jet K12N 1.2 with start-stop system, it produces 90 hp and works with five-step «manual» or robotized transmission.

Moreover, Suzuki Fronx will be offered with petrol «turbo» 1.0 Boosterjet producing 100 hp, which is combined with 5 MKP or classical 6-in steps «automatic transmission».

Note that a turbo has been at Baleno pre-reformed hatchback in «speculative» version RS, but they did not expand the range restyling «five-door» (performance «for sports» in hatch is no longer). The crossover has only front-wheel drive.

Like Baleno, Suzuki Fronx produces at Indian factory, but the novelty will not be exclusive: it also plans to deliver in Latin America and Africa (the original hatchback is also sold there).

In India, orders for the «cross-coupe» are already accepted, although prices have not been named yet. The Suzuki Baleno hatchback will cost local buyers at least $8,800.