Our long term Suzuki is proving a Best Test point
A month and 3000 kilometres into our time with our medium term test of our Suzuki ‘Silver’ Fronx 1.5 GLE auto, we’re even more impressed. Sure, it had big shoes to fill. Auto’s Best Test, or in other words, our Car of the Year for 2023 is here two years later to not only prove its worth, but to also prove it was the right choice as the best of 75 off cars we tested in ’23.
Our rationale was that Fronx was not just another right Suzuki at the right time, but it was a bullseye. Now having a car to sample for a week tells us more than enough of what we need to know about it. But living with one is another matter altogether. You get to appreciate all of it. Warts and all. And yes, there are a good few warts. But to be honest, they pale into significance versus Fronx’ many more plusses.
What we really appreciate about the Fronx GLE is how it matches great old school mechanicals with just about every piece of technology that’s expected from a car today. Like its rowdy old normally aspirated 1.5 litre petrol engine. No, that’s not right. Let’s rather call it lively. Because the obliging 77 kW 138 Nm lump is precisely that. Lively.
Old school really is cool
It drives a similarly old school four speed automatic gearbox to deliver a great drive in a world filled with screaming CVTs. Even if those two 1 and 2 selections belong in the ask and can be a bit bothersome. Like when you set off in first and have to change up when you hear it screaming like a CVT.
Fronx is also most economical. A tiny bit over the claim at 6.3 litres per hundred, it should quite frankly be far higher than that because we’ve been pushing it on the road. Speaking of economy, another little gripe we have is the small tank and resultant shorter range that it could have been. Especially in the last weeks of petrol price madness.
Getting back to noise. The car is a little rattly on rougher roads, although that may be more to do with the rear number plate being loose than the car itself. We’ll wedge something in there to see if we can solve that and revert.
Fronx cabin is a bit year two thousand
The cabin is also a little old school. But that matters little. It’s still beyond smart enough. Some may say it looks a little year two thousand, but we also have a new Suzuki Across on regular test, which you will get to read soon. Judging by that, it seems the next Fronx will add a thirty to that 2000, considering Across’ major cabin style steps forward.
Still, there’s nothing at all wrong with how our Fronx looks and acts inside. Beyond spacious, Fronx defies its size with very good legroom, excellent in the back. Which is probably one of its biggest plusses. Tech is top too, with everything you’d expect from a modern car of any size or price, never mind extras from a heads up display to surround cameras and more.
Fine Silver Fronx does so little wrong
There are a few other little concerns inside. Like having to agree to the terms and conditions by touching the info screen every time you turn the car on. Suzuki is not alone in this rather annoying practice. Hondas, Isuzus and others have it too. Some of the cars’ warnings go off after a few seconds, others never bother.
Also, the charging pad does not like my iPhone or vice versa, so the handset gets hot. The boot is beyond adequate, but to close it, one must twist your hand the wrong way to grab the handle. And we smile about the overdrive button. Maybe Sport op Power would be more appropriate in 2026? That old school, you see…
Most of the negatives we’ve noted are splitting hairs. Because in general, this fine little car not only does so little wrong, but it does so much right. And that’s the take home so far. It’s difficult to find real problems in this very, very good little car. The Suzuki Fronx looks good for starters. It’s also most practical, spacious and comfy enough and is quite literally specced to the moon.
Bottom line: incredible Fronx value for money.
It’s also extremely well priced and offers incredible value for money. Compact yet spacious, Fronx drives easy and well in a lively and fun way, is lightweight, nimble and fuel efficient and gives us the feeling that it’s going be most reliable in the long run too. So yes, a month into our time with it, Silver Fronx has not just proven its worth as our Best Test of 2023. But it has fully justified our making that call, too.
Images & testing: Giordano Lupini
LONG TERM UPDATE: Suzuki Fronx 1.5 GLE auto
77 kW 138 Nm 1.5 litre petrol
4-speed automatic FWD
Odo on arrival: 11750 km
Odo now: 14650 km
Actual Fuel: 6.3 l/100 km
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 4.48 sec
0-100 km/h: 10.34 sec
0-120 km/h: 15.08 sec
400m: 17.4 sec @ 129 km/h
80-120 km/h: 7.78 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 170 km/h
Fuel: 5.7 l/100 km
CO2: 129 g/km
Range: 650 km
Warranty/Service: 5y 200K/4y 60K km
LIST PRICE: R369K
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