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The Suzuki Fronx city SUV – the replacement for the defunct Baleno city hatch – has been unveiled in India, but it is yet to be locked in for Australia.
The 2023 Suzuki Fronx SUV has been revealed in India – and it may be offered in Australia as the successor to the top-selling Suzuki Baleno city hatch.
The Suzuki Baleno – the Japanese small-car specialist’s top seller in Australia – departed local showrooms late last year after the updated model revealed in India would not meet local safety regulations.
Suzuki Australia is yet to confirm whether the vehicle will be introduced in local showrooms. However Drive understands there is strong interest in the vehicle, and it could be here next year.
The new Fronx – revealed today at a motor show in India – is twinned under the skin with the Baleno, but carries a taller and broader SUV body, and optional turbo power.
High-quality images are not yet available – Drive will update this story with better photos when they come to hand.
The Fronx’s styling blends cues from the recently-revealed Grand Vitara SUV, with the facelifted version of the regular Baleno hatchback, and a sloping rear roofline.
Inside, the Fronx’s dashboard has largely been carried over from the Baleno hatch, with a 9.0-inch touchscreen on top of the dashboard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an Arkamys sound system, and analogue instruments for the driver.
Technology on offer includes a 360-degree camera, automatic climate-control air-conditioning, satellite navigation, and a colour head-up display.
Suzuki in India is yet to confirm if the Fronx will be available with advanced safety technology such as autonomous emergency braking or lane-keep assist, which the outgoing Baleno lacked.
However, if the Fronx comes to Australia, it would likely launch after autonomous emergency braking becomes mandatory for newly-introduced passenger cars in Australia this March – meaning this technology would need to be standard on local models.
Inside, a subtly-restyled dashboard incorporates a new 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with a voice assistant – joining an available, new-for-2022 colour head-up display in front of the driver, and 360-degree cameras.
Other interior updates include a new steering wheel borrowed from the Swift city car, an optional blue and black colour scheme, upgraded Arkamys sound system, rear USB-A and USB-C ports, rear air vents, and reshaped seats for improved comfort.
The Fronx measures 3995mm long, 1550mm high and 1765mm wide – similar to a Toyota Yaris Cross or Ford Puma.
Power in top-of-the-range Fronx models in India comes from a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine available in Australia’s Swift – and offered in the Baleno until 2019 – which is now assisted by mild-hybrid technology.
Outputs are rated at 74kW and 148Nm, and the engine powers the front wheels through a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. No all-wheel-drive version is available.
Also available is a 1.2-litre non-turbo four-cylinder engine from the Baleno hatch, developing 66kW and 130Nm, with a five-speed manual or ‘automated manual’ transmission.
It is yet to be confirmed which of these engines would make the journey to Australia, if the model is offered locally.
The 2023 Suzuki Fronx is due in Indian showrooms in the coming months – with pricing yet to be announced. Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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