Maruti Suzuki Fronx Long Term Review
Car Tested: Maruti Suzuki Fronx
Kms Done: 5361 kms
Test Started at: 5071 kms
Test Concluded at: 10,432 kms
Mileage: 13.2 km/l, 18.5 km/l (best), 9 km/l (worst)
Fuel Consumed:- 410-litres
Total Fuel Cost: ₹ 43,450/-
Fuel Cost Per Km: ₹ 8.10/-
The Maruti Suzuki Fronx packs a crazy punch with its turbo-petrol BoosterJet engine which is very addictive!
In the first month, we covered only about 800-900 kms on the Fronx but once the Hyundai Venue left the long term fleet, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx became our goto vehicle. Within the next 3 months we did a little over 4000 kms which is quite good. It became our primary shoot vehicle and even though it did not have a sunroof, the spacious boot and comfortable seats made up for it. One fine weekend the Fronx did a little over 1500 kms round trip and it didn’t break a sweat. Just an amazing car with an addictive turbo-petrol motor!
The Maruti Suzuki Fronx is powered by a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol BoosterJet engine making 100 PS and 147.6 Nm of torque. For a car that weighs only 1030 kgs kerb, the numbers are quite exciting. The Fronx literally pulls through like crazy as it does over 110 km/hr in the 3rd gear itself. The turbo kicks in closer to 2500 RPM and it does redline close to 6000 RPM and yet it has more potential to go. While the same BoosterJet motor does not feel stressed even at 55 km/hr in the 5th gear managing city duties like a breeze. The motor has a balanced feel when driven sanely but goes maniac when pushed hard.
Yes it is a Maruti and it can achieve amazing mileage numbers! But then there is the brawny motor and even with the throttle happy nature we got 18.5 km/l as best. This was with a boot full of equipment and 4 passengers on board. While there has also been a time when we were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic during one of the festivals. And the mileage number had dropped to 9 km/l which was by far the worst till date. Even after having the start-stop feature we did not expect the number to go this low but the traffic was just crazy!
The Heads-Up Display showcases navigation data as well when connected to Android Auto and it works really well
The Maruti Suzuki Fronx comes equipped with 195/60/16 tyres. And they do the job of gripping the road while providing upmost comfort inside really well. It also gets 190 mm of ground clearance and tackling bad roads is a piece of cake! The air-conditioning is definitely worth mentioning as it cools the cabin quite quickly and manages very well in auto mode. It also got wireless CarPlay and Android Auto but at times it would create some issues as the map wouldn’t sync. However, the instrument cluster works flawless when connected with wire. The HUD would display the navigation data as well when connected to Android Auto and it was very useful.
Even the top model gets dual-tone fabric seats but they were not prone to getting dirty as they came in a darker shade. It always felt sporty as the interior had the same maroon and black finish overall. But not claustrophobic as the top was in beige even though the windows felt a bit small. When I say this, the windows were just enough for our cameraperson to get out and shoot. Rear AC vents also helped cool the cabin nicely while there was a direct USB port along with a type-C port for fast charging right below it and it came in quite handy. The side door pockets also could hold two 1-litre bottles adding to a lot of convenience.
Following the norm of bumper mounted headlights the Maruti Suzuki Fronx gets a triple LED unit. Out of which the bottom two work as low-beam and the top for high-beam. The LED projection is more focused than being widespread while it does not get any cornering function too. Missing out on a fog lamp setup as well the headlights are fine for city duties. However, for the highway or driving in pitch dark on mountain roads they seem a little inadequate. The cabin lights were still typical Maruti in warm yellow. The centre unit would function with the door while the one upfront would only work when pressed.
The Maruti Suzuki Fronx is by far the most enthusiastic Maruti on sale in India!
The Maruti Suzuki Fronx is one of the suitable road trip cars if you are having small company. I had to travel to Betul in Madhya Pradesh from Mumbai and the best route was via the Samruddha Expressway. We left around 4 AM from Thane and till the Ghoti exit it took us over 2 hours for just 70 kms. Once we were on the expressway the Fronx could stretch its legs and we were cruising at 119 km/hr. There was a point in time when the meter showed us over 17 km/l at this speed and it was just insane! The whole travel distance was about 800 kms and we did it within 11 hrs. On a full tank the Fronx would do best 500 kms and that was our only concern as we had to do a fuel stop on the expressway.
With a full load of passengers and luggage to driving solo, while also being a daily driver to the first pick for quick weekend trips. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx has done it all without thinking twice. It sure has a lot of room for improvement like the upholstery, wireless CarPlay and even the HUD needs a little getting used to. But as a whole package it is one of the most fun Maruti cars out there. It does come at a premium and looks the part too, it is comfortable like the elder siblings but more dynamic and quick on its feet. I would always recommend the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol BoosterJet engine for the Fronx.
What’s Cool
- Amazing lumbar support and good ride quality
- Air-conditioning is perfect for such a small cabin
- Smooth and silent ride with very less NVH
- Powerful BoosterJet turbo engine with manual gearbox
What’s Not So Cool
- Wireless Android Auto and CarPlay has some glitches at times
- LED headlamp unit isn’t suited for highway, misses cornering function too
- Priced quite high for the better performing turbo-petrol engine
Further Reading –
Maruti Fronx Long Term – First Report
Maruti Fronx BoosterJet – 10 Real-Life Test
