Suzuki Fronx

After 36 years, the Suzuki Escudo is officially dead and its place was filled by its replacement transferred from India. Meet the first-ever Suzuki Fronx.

2025 Suzuki Fronx

Priced at 2,541,000 Yen plus additional costs, the first-ever Fronx fills the void left by the recently deceased Escudo and is ready to compete with the Toyota Raize and the Honda WR-V. The Fronx marks the second time Suzuki imported a vehicle from India's Maruti Suzuki manufacturing line since the Baleno in 2016.

2025 Suzuki Fronx

Beginning with the styling, the Fronx looks well-sculpted and macho compared to the Escudo it replaces. From its NEXwave grille, striking front fascia, NEXTre' LED lights, new-age aerodynamic design, LED sweeping taillights heavily mistaken for a Mercedes SUV, and geometric alloy wheels, rest assured that the Fronx is starting to take shape like an earnest Indian student who got transferred to a Japanese school.

2025 Suzuki Fronx interior

Now, let's get to know the interior and by surprise, the Fronx is shockingly premium in its class. The driver's side is packed with goodies such as a heads-up display, wireless charger, heated seats, and a 9-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity and Suzuki Connect service. Although regularly comfortable by compact crossover standards, you can carry up to 290L of goodies with the rear seats present, which is more than the Escudo and can be folded down for more.

2025 Suzuki Fronx

The only powertrain offered in the Fronx is the 1.5L Dual Jet mild-hybrid powertrain mated to a 6-speed AT with paddle shifters. The engine produces 100PS of power and it's connected to a 2.3kW electric motor with a lithium-ion battery. In its FF configuration, it has 19km/L of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards while the 4WD variant gets 17.8km/L.

Being a fully imported crossover from India that can travel across Japan, the Fronx is packed with Rack & Pinion steering, front MacPherson Struts, rear torsion beam, and front ventilated disc brakes. As a front-wheel-drive crossover, the Fronx feels slightly regular to drive daily but with 4WD equipped, it has slightly improved its capabilities. Not great but it will do. Greatness can somewhat be a cruel and unpredictable mistress if you catch my drift.

The Fronx features Suzuki Safety Support, a suite of ADAS that can tackle everyday driving by streets, highways, parking, and at night. Along with ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child fix anchorages, six airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners with force limiters, impact compliance, and Pedestrian Protection compliance, it's about as safe as every Japanese crossover should be.

Although this is the most expensive crossover in its class, more than the Raize and the WR-V, it's cheaper to own than the now-defunct Escudo, the fully-imported Suzuki Fronx tries to make a name for itself as a world standard in Suzuki's right. Let's hope it won't repeat the same mistake as the Baleno because this is the second chance Suzuki is selling an Indian import on its home turf. Best of luck.

Available Colors: Artic White Pearl, Artic White Pearl/Black Roof, Splendid Silver Metallic, Splendid Silver Metallic/Black Roof, Bluish Black Pearl 4, Opulent Red Pearl Metallic/Black Roof, Lucent Orange Pearl Metallic/Black Roof, Earthen Brown Pearl Metallic/Black Roof, and Celestial Blue Pearl Metallic.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation