Day to day with our big little long term Suzuki
Two months and now 4000 kilometres into medium term test on our faithful Suzuki ‘Silver’ Fronx 1.5 GLE auto, we really have very little untoward to mention. OK, you could say that it’s a bit tinny. The charging pad makes my iPhone hot and the car reminding you that you are driving every time you fire it up can be monotonous. But for the rest, this little car with the heart of something far bigger, is proving a pleasurable companion.
Every time we drive it, which is daily, the more we appreciate what Suzuki has packed in for the price. Its understated cabin tech is probably one of Fronx’s biggest plusses. It has 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. The Fronx is quite literally specced to the moon.
All that in a most practical, spacious and comfy enough space, while the deep boot is hungry enough to gobble up a fortnight’s shopping. If you need more it’s quite simple to open up by folding down the backrest.
Great old school engine, proper auto box
Yer while it packs all the necessary goodies in, Fronx still makes do with a pretty basic drivetrain. Now this is a crux, because in truth, there is actually nothing at all wrong with its god old school normally aspirated 1.5 litre petrol engine. Yes, it may become a tad wheezy on the highveld, but than those tiny turbo rivals beget launch failure traits that start to make those cars a bit dangerous to drive.
Those great old school mechanicals however make Fronx GLE what it is. Suzuki has built millions of this lively 77 kW 138 Nm lump, so while it’s certainly good enough, it keeps the price keen too. As does the rest of the package from the proven 4-speed automatic ‘box to tried and trusted suspension, brakes and all. It ain’t broke. Why fix it?
Active on the road, that engine lets you know when it’s being made to work. It buzzes along. We like that. It handles well too, brakes well and holds the road with aplomb too. Make it scream and it will chase 160 on the clock without much ado.
Fronx stars where it matters, skimps where it doesn’t
With the petrol price however, it’s become more of an economy run right now and our average has slipped back to 6.1 per hundred. Driven that way, Fronx is a pleasure, quiet, well-mannered and pleasant to live with. Wieldy around town and easy to park makes the urban commute a synch.
Speaking of which, that reverse camera is among the best in the business. Its lens gives it a degree of lateral vision that even the most expensive systems with the cleverest names wish they had. And that in our humble little Fronx.
Which leads us to deduce that our extremely well priced, compact yet spacious Fronx stars brightest on value for money. Lively and fun, it also drives easy and well, it’s fuel efficient, and we have little doubt that its well proven mechanicals will ensure that you can rely on it in the long run too.
Fronx is right everywhere that counts
All in all, we are really enjoying this little car. Modern in all the areas that really count, from looks, to a shockingly spacious cabin stacked full of everything you want in a car, it skimps in areas that make no difference at all to deliver a package that still has us scratching our heads how that get it right.
But get it right they certainly do. Just count how many Fronx you see next time you’re out and about. As an acid test, that answers more questions than any of us can ask. Bravo, Suzuki. – Michele Lupini
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: 15900 km
Actual Fuel Consumption: 6.1l/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: R372K
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