India-Made Suzuki Fronx Scores 1-Star ANCAP, Sales Halted Down Under

The Suzuki Fronx B-SUV is the latest car to earn a surprisingly poor result from crash-testing recently.

More specifically, it’s the made-in-India units imported to the Australia and New Zealand markets that have earned a paltry 1-Star score from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) organisation.

We say this is a ‘surprise’ considering that the same model, albeit the ones produced in neighbouring Indonesia and marketed locally here in Malaysia, had recently garnered a full 5-Star score from the ASEAN NCAP body – ANCAP’s regional counterpart.

ANCAP cites that the poor scores charted by the Suzuki Fronx largely stems from a "rare and serious" seatbelt failure in the rear passenger quarter.

Back to the India-made units for Down Under noted, ANCAP reported that the compact crossover’s poor scores stemmed from a “rare and serious” seatbelt failure. 

“During the full-width front test, the rear passenger seatbelt retractor of the Suzuki Fronx failed, resulting in an uncontrolled seatbelt release where the rear dummy became unrestrained, allowing it to strike the rear of the front seat,” read ANCAP’s detailed report.

The organisation also stressed its view that “adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats of the Suzuki Fronx until the reason for the failure has been determined and relevant rectifications have been carried out.”

Furthermore, ANCAP also noted the Suzuki Fronx scored poorly in terms of child occupant protection and rear passenger protection.

This prompted ANCAP to notify regulators in both Australia and New Zealand, subsequently leading to the model’s sales being temporarily halted too.

Besides the rare seatbelt failure, ANCAP’s detailed assessment further indicates that the Fronx also scored poorly in terms of rear passenger protection, as well as poor child occupant protection. You can read and assess ANCAP’s findings in full by clicking here.

Suzuki Australia have responsed to the matter, promising a "thorough and disciplined" investigation to rectify the matter.

In response, Suzuki Australia said that it has “elevated the review of the assessment” with its parent firm Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan, and that a “thorough and disciplined investigation” in being conducted ahead of any actions to uphold safety standards.

To date, Australian media reports that around 1,300 units of the Fronx have been sold in the country since it launched back in July this year. Positioned as an affordable compact urban SUV offering, the model is priced from AUS28,990 (approx. RM78,630), onwards in said market.

Malaysia-spec Suzuki Fronx 1.5 (Mild) Hybrid pictured. Launched last month, this model is produced in Indonesia and has earned a full 5-star rating from the ASEAN NCAP body - ANCAP's regional counterpart.

Whilst this is indeed concerning, local Malaysian buyers – and prospecting buyers – of the Suzuki Fronx shouldn’t worry just yet. As noted prior, Malaysia-bound units produced by the Japanese marque in Indonesia have earned full 5-star ASEAN NCAP ratings.

As a refresher, local brand importers and distributors Naza Eastern Motors (Suzuki Cars Malaysia) launched the Suzuki Fronx locally last month (Nov) solely in 1.5 (Mild) Hybrid guise priced at RM147,888.