Suzuki’s Fronx subcompact shows small is more

SINGAPORE – In a perfect world, small cars should sell like hotcakes in a small city-state like Singapore. Alas, Singaporeans are partial to bigger vehicles, swayed by the notion that such cars make more sense in a high-taxation environment.

Undeterred, Suzuki has brought in a new small car: the Fronx. Supposedly a fusion of the words “frontier” and “next”, this made-in-India subcompact is 3,995mm long, 1,765mm wide and 1,550mm tall, with a 2,520mm wheelbase. That makes it one of the smallest cars on the island.

It weighs just over 1,000kg, or half the weight of many electric models here. Hence, despite its modest engine output of 102hp and 137Nm, it feels energetic and responsive. Its 1.5-litre normally aspirated engine piles on the revs readily, often accompanied by a gravelly exhaust note.

Its acceleration from a standstill and on the fly is sufficiently quick, so much so I never had to switch to Sport mode. Its low kerb weight and responsiveness to a light throttle result in a relatively low tested fuel consumption of 7.3 litres/100km, which is not very far from Suzuki’s stated 6.5 litres/100km.

The car’s mild hybrid electric system might have contributed more to its efficiency if I had not deactivated its stop-start function. I find this function more bane than boon, especially in a hot and humid place like Singapore, where disabling the air-conditioning compressor even for a couple of seconds can be uncomfortable.

While the Fronx is brisk enough for most chores, I find its progress to be less than smooth because of intermittently starchy gear changes. The car handles reasonably well, taking to corners more like a small hatchback than the crossover it is made out to be. After all, its ground clearance of 170mm is low when compared with most other crossovers.

Its short 4.8m turning radius makes it as agile as a mouse in a maze, although left turning visibility is partly hampered by the position of its wing mirror. The Electronic Road Pricing on-board screen impairs visibility on the right.

For a subcompact, it has an amazingly spacious second row. There is even enough width for the middle seatbelt to be anchored conventionally, and not deployed from the ceiling like in some other small cars.

Its boot is meagre, with only 304 litres of stowage. Old-school prams will fit, but those modern-day ones – with wheels rivalling those of sport utility vehicles – may not.

Styling-wise, the Fronx is distinctive enough to stand out from the crowd, with several cleverly executed lines on the front, rear and C-pillars. It has rugged-looking skid plates all round, although the one in the rear is so exaggerated, it makes the car look like it is wearing a diaper.

Inside, I find the cockpit a bit too busy for my liking. Perhaps it has to do with having so many widgets within a compact space. The engine start button is obscured by the multi-function steering wheel and there are buttons galore everywhere on the fascia. Even so, I prefer this to having controls buried in a screen.

The Fronx is chock-full of features. It has adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assist, electronic parking brake with auto-hold, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, a wireless phone charging cradle, a 360-degree reverse camera, auto-fold wing mirrors, dual-trim front seats with side bolsters and six airbags.

Heck, it even has a pop-up head-up display, which can be retracted if you find the front view too cluttered.

Strangely, for what is one of the most well-equipped subcompacts here, the driver’s floor mat is not fastened. And if you pop the bonnet, you will find an awkwardly placed slot for the supporting prop.

If you are among those who feel that cars have grown too big, the Fronx may be a good fit. Its smallness is hardly a handicap and is well compensated by a high equipment level, relatively low buying and running costs, and a user-friendliness that escapes oversized cars.

Suzuki Fronx

Price: $185,888 with certificate of entitlement (COE), before applicable discounts
Engine: 1,462cc 16-valve inline-4
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with paddle shift
Power: 102hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 137Nm at 4,400rpm
0-100kmh: 11 seconds (estimated)
Top speed: 165kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.5 litres/100km
Range: 507km
Agent: Champion Motors
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Comparable considerations

Toyota Yaris Cross ($209,888 with COE, before applicable discounts)
Powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and continuously variable transmission, the Yaris Cross has a tested and unbeatable efficiency of 3.8 litres/100km. Although a bit bigger than the Fronx, its second row is not roomier. But its boot is bigger and it is almost as well equipped as the Suzuki.

Nissan Note ($211,300 with COE, before applicable discounts)
Although a hatch and not a crossover, the Note is comparable in size to the Fronx. It is a hybrid with a twist, in that it is driven exclusively by an electric motor, while a small 1.2-litre engine acts as a power generator to keep its battery charged. Thus, it has the responsiveness of an electric car and easily outguns the Suzuki. Its tested fuel consumption is also better, at 6.6 litres/100km.

Volkswagen T-Cross (from $236,400 with COE, before applicable discounts)
Like the Toyota and Nissan, the Volkswagen T-Cross is slightly bigger than the Fronx, at 4.1m long. Powered by a 1-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, it has a tested efficiency of 7.9 litres/100km. Throttle response is not linear and its brakes are somewhat hard to modulate. It has fewer gadgets than the Fronx, but it wears bigger 17-inch alloys (16-inch for Fronx), and has LED lights and dual-zone air-conditioning. You can free up more boot space by sliding its 60:40 split rear seats forward or collapsing them. Neat.