2025 Suzuki Fronx Launch Review

When it comes to delivering cars that are genuinely affordable yet fun to own, Suzuki has long been one of the standouts. From the loveable Swift to the ever-popular off-road warrior Jimny, Suzuki’s vehicles have built a loyal following by being simple, dependable, and good value. With demand for small SUVs in Australia showing no signs of slowing, Suzuki has entered the sub-$30K hybrid SUV segment with its latest model, the 2025 Suzuki Fronx.

The quirky name might raise a few eyebrows, but the Fronx packs a lot of promise. Competition is fierce in the budget-friendly SUV space, with the Fronx joining rivals like the Chery Tiggo 4, MG ZS, and Mahindra XUV 3XO in targeting value-focused city drivers.

2025 Suzuki Fronx Hybrid Features

Starting at $28,990 before on-road costs, the Fronx name combines “Frontier” and “Crossover” while also tipping its hat to the Suzuki Fronte, a small hatchback once sold locally as the Alto. It’s a noticeable step up in price compared to the old Baleno, but Suzuki has also packed in a lot more standard kit this time around.

Suzuki isn’t skimping on features with the Fronx, and with a confirmed drive-away price of around $29,990, Suzuki has priced its new small-SUV very keenly.

At that price, equipment levels are generous. Alongside now-expected tech like wireless phone charging plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Fronx adds heated synthetic leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It’s also the first Suzuki in Australia to offer a head-up display, and it comes standard with a 360-degree surround-view camera for easier parking.

The cabin features a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch driver display between physical speedo and tacho dials. Outside, you get dusk-sensing automatic LED headlights and tail-lights, and manual beam levelling.

The only paid options are for “premium” paint finishes. Arctic White Pearl is free, single-tone colours cost $745, and two-tone combinations are $1345, making them pricier than many competitors’ paint upgrades.

Price-wise, the Fronx lines up against mid to high-spec versions of the Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic, and Chery Tiggo 4. That said, when rivals like the Chery Tiggo 4 and Mahindra XUV 3XO can be had for under $24,000 drive-away with much of the same equipment, it’s clear Suzuki is betting buyers will pay a little extra for the reassurance of a familiar, trusted badge. How that will go is anyone’s guess however, with the small-SUV segment heating up more and more, seemingly every day.

2025 Suzuki Fronx Feature List

• 1.5-litre DualJet four-cylinder petrol engine with SHVS mild-hybrid system
• 6-speed automatic transmission
• 16-inch polished alloy wheels
• Coupe-style exterior with LED headlamps and roof-integrated spoiler
• Heads-Up Display (HUD) with navigation and safety info
• 360-degree view camera
• Black and Bordeaux interior with leather-accented seats
• Heated front seats
• Electric parking brake
• Wireless phone charger
• 9-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4 speakers and 2 tweeters
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• Leather steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment
• Climate control automatic air-conditioning
• Sports driving mode

2025 Suzuki Fronx Standard Safety Features

• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• High-Beam Assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Weaving Alert

2025 Suzuki Fronx Colour Options

• Splendid Sliver Pearl Metallic + Bluish Black Pearl (two-tone)
• Opulent Red Pearl Metallic + Bluish Black Pearl (two-tone)
• Lucent Orange Pearl Metallic + Bluish Black Pearl (two-tone)
• Celestial Blue Pearl Metallic
• Bluish Black Pearl
• Grandeur Grey Pearl Metallic
• Arctic White Pearl

What’s under the bonnet?

The 2025 Suzuki Fronx is offered with just one engine option: a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol paired with a mild-hybrid system. Unfortunately, we miss out on the torquier 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder available in some overseas markets.

The engine in question is Suzuki’s K15C unit, closely related to, but not identical to, the K15B found in the ever-popular Jimny 4×4. In the Fronx, it produces 75.8kW at 6000rpm and 136.8Nm at 4400rpm. Yes, Suzuki has been unusually precise with the figures here.

Power is supported by a 12V mild-hybrid setup. This uses a small lithium-ion battery (under 1kWh) mounted beneath the front passenger seat, paired with a belt-driven alternator-starter motor connected to the engine’s crankshaft. The system captures energy during braking and coasting, smooths out the stop/start function, and can give the engine a small assist for short bursts. It replaces the traditional alternator, though the Fronx still retains a conventional starter motor for cold starts.

It’s worth noting that despite Suzuki’s “hybrid” branding, this is very much a mild-hybrid system. Unlike the full hybrid drivetrains in models such as the Toyota Yaris Cross, Chery Tiggo 4, or MG ZS, the Fronx’s electric motor cannot drive the wheels on its own and only provides limited assistance.

Don’t expect the mild-hybrid system to transform the way the Fronx drives. Aside from delivering a smoother stop/start at the lights, it doesn’t noticeably boost performance, though it does help shave fuel use slightly.

Suzuki claims an impressive 4.9L/100km, but on our short launch drive through rural Victoria, we recorded 6.5L/100km on the trip computer. With different conditions—and more city driving—there’s a chance that number could edge closer to the official figure.

Without a turbocharger, the Fronx also lags behind some key rivals on outright performance. For context:

• MG ZS – 125kW / 275Nm (turbocharged)
• Chery Tiggo 4 – 108kW / 210Nm (turbocharged)
• Mahindra XUV 3XO – 82kW / 200Nm (turbocharged)
• Hyundai Venue – 90kW / 151Nm (naturally aspirated)

In this company, the 2025 Suzuki Fronx’s outputs are modest, and while it may not win many drag races, its focus is clearly on efficiency and simplicity rather than outright punch, with an estimated 0-100km/h time of around 10 seconds.

What is it like to drive?

Suzuki’s smallest SUV isn’t built for thrills, and it shows. Put your foot flat and the Fronx offers a decent burst of initial response, but with modest outputs, it quickly runs out of breath. It’s perfectly fine for everyday commuting and errands, but if you’re chasing excitement, there’s more grunt to be found elsewhere for similar money.

Even within Suzuki’s own stable, the 1.4-litre turbocharged BoosterJet engine in the Vitara and S-Cross feels far livelier, delivering stronger acceleration and more urgency with each press of the throttle.

Where the Fronx redeems itself is in its transmission. The six-speed automatic is smooth, predictable, and refreshingly free of the low-speed hesitation and jerkiness common in rivals with dual-clutch gearboxes. It’s an easy, fuss-free partner in traffic and stop–start city driving, and that counts for a lot in the real world. Unfortunately, there’s an annoying ‘M’ position on the shifter which you are guaranteed to accidentally select when looking for Drive. Once you hear the engine revving itself out in first gear, you’ll probably mutter and expletive and move the shifter back to D.

Our launch drive through the roads surrounding Nagambie, Victoria gave us a chance to see how the Fronx gets along with country driving. On typical country back roads, the 1064kg Suzuki felt planted and confident enough to cruise at 100km/h without fuss.

Rougher, more uneven surfaces didn’t trouble it too much, though a string of bumps mid-corner could unsettle the car slightly, as did some harder braking, which felt at odds with the four-wheel disc brakes as standard. The steering and suspension provide enough feedback to place the car accurately, but ultimately driver’s will be able to tell that this is a light weight, no frills car that is best suited to urban driving.

The relatively simple driver-assist tech worked really well and swiftly, with the lance centring driver assist tech in particular worth of mention, doing its job without putting a foot (or wheel, rather) wrong.

From what we experienced, the Fronx is best suited to suburban streets and urban commutes rather than long highway runs. It’s not the kind of small SUV you’d pick for cross-country road trips, but it’s a solid, easy-going city car.

One gripe is the thick C-pillar, which helps give the Fronx its coupe-style profile but noticeably restricts over-the-shoulder vision during lane changes. The standard 360-degree camera helps, though its image quality is a little grainy.

What is it like inside?

Within Suzuki’s own lineup, the Fronx neatly slots between the soon-to-depart Ignis and the S-Cross, which itself is also nearing the end of its life. Measuring 3995mm long, and on the same 2520mm wheelbase as the old Baleno, it’s slightly more compact than rivals like the Chery Tiggo 4 and MG ZS, and closer in size to the Mahindra XUV 3XO.

Step inside and the 2025 Suzuki Fronx actually feels roomy. There’s no sense of being cramped up front, and rear passengers enjoy generous leg- and headroom for the class. At 178cm tall, and with my seat set in a decent driving position, I could still sit behind myself comfortably, without knees grazing the front seatback.

Material quality is what you’d expect from a budget-friendly SUV: plenty of hard, scratchy plastics, but with enough variation in textures and colours to avoid a bare-bones feel. It’s not aiming for Lexus-level tactility, yet the build feels solid and there are useful touches throughout.

Storage is thoughtful, if not abundant. Door bins take bottles, the lidded centre console will hold a wallet and keys, and there’s space for odds and ends on the wireless charging pad. Two small cupholders sit between the seats. In the rear, you get bottle holders in the doors but no air vents, fold-down armrest, or dedicated cupholders.

The single-zone climate control uses physical buttons and its own small LCD screen, keeping the 9.0-inch infotainment display focused on media and navigation. The wireless Android Auto worked well for us, which was welcome, considering how dated Suzuki’s infotainment interface feels. We do also wish that the screen were a little brighter, with colours appearing washed out in bright sunlight. Up front, you’ll find a 12V outlet and a USB-A port for smartphone mirroring, while the back row gets both USB-A and USB-C points.

The boot offers 304 litres which isn’t particularly large, but fine for most daily needs. There’s a side storage nook, a luggage blind, and a false floor with extra space underneath. Unfortunately, there’s no spare wheel provision: Australian models make do with a tyre repair kit instead.

The Fronx’s cabin is honest, functional, and well-assembled. It doesn’t chase cut-price luxury, but some buyers may be tempted by the flashier finishes of other small SUVs at this price point.

What’s the warranty and servicing like?

Suzuki offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty on its new cars, but this falls a bit short compared to the longer coverage some budget brands now provide.

On the servicing front, Suzuki schedules maintenance every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, over a five-year period. The total expected cost comes to around $2005, averaging about $401 per service, which is almost double what buyers would expect to pay when servicing a Toyota Yaris Cross.

2025 Suzuki Fronx Rating: 7.5/10

Suzuki is all about straightforward, dependable motoring. Just look at its best-seller, the diminutive 4×4 Jimny. The 2025 Suzuki Fronx may not reinvent the wheel, but it delivers a compelling blend of value and equipment. Its cute styling, comfort, and user-friendly nature make it a standout in the small-car arena, and its rating here hardly captures its genuine appeal. Add in Suzuki’s brand perception in a world of new car manufacturers hitting our shores, and we think Suzuki is onto a winner.

While the Fronx isn’t the smoothest over rough surfaces and can feel a touch out of its depth in the country, it should thrive in urban environments. For anyone seeking an affordable, feature-rich SUV that’s easy to drive and undeniably likable, the Fronx deserves a closer look.