Crossing Over

Maruti Suzuki has taken the biological reference here and applied it to create its newest car. It’s based on the outgoing Baleno hatchback, inspired by the Grand Vitara but how is it as a standalone product? We drove the all-new Fronx in Goa to find out just that

- Abhik Das

The unusual name, Fronx, almost seems like Maruti Suzuki ran out of imagination while conceptualising it. The name I presume, is a derivative from its classification as a front-wheeldrive crossover but once past the name though, a quick glance at the car makes it easy to see where all the imagination went. A truly handsome looking compact-SUV that makes its purpose very evident.

You see, the Grand Vitara right now, sits atop the Nexa portfolio as the brand’s flagship SUV debuting a strong-hybrid powertrain and focusing on meeting the increasing demands of the form factor as well as high fuel efficiency needs. Focusing on the former requirement, the SUV form factor is what far supersedes demand for any other type of car, especially in a segment of cars that caps off under the Rs 15 lakh mark. Relatively smaller footprint, champions the urban jungle, is fuel efficient, feature-rich and adds a dash of premium to complete the recipe for a compact-SUV that the Fronx is. For Maruti, this meant retaining a family face from its premium SUV thus explaining the easily recognisable styling of the Fronx.

Bold front fascia with the three-dot signature DRLs, low-mounted LED headlamp, stylish grille and skid plate give the car a dominant front-end. It’s the sides that reveal the Baleno hidden cleverly in the design, with the ORVMs and doors identifiable from the hatchback. While the rear, again, continues with the Grand Vitara-inspired styling cues made prominent by the LED tail-lamps and a smart-looking illuminated light-bar running across the width of the rear hatch. The square wheel arches, rear skid plate and cladding on the sides complete this easily likeable design that looks very handsome.