Suzuki Fronx goes to Bataan

Sporty style, high efficiency

- By NEIL PAGULAYAN

Just before its official launch last week, Suzuki Philippines invited us to get behind the wheel of their all-new Fronx for a long drive. We were invited to take it on a quick drive out of town, with a little fuel economy challenge to see how economical their latest mild hybrid offering would be through some rush hour traffic, the expressway and winding country roads.

The Suzuki Fronx is a subcompact crossover SUV, which actually looks more like a coupe. It boasts of a "double fender design" where the top part of it is comprised of the DRLs, grille, and hood, while the lower part follows the lines of the head light cluster, creating a wide muscular stance. In the top-of-the-line model, the roof is painted in black, highlighting its coupe-like form. A shark's fin antenna, a rear-hatch spoiler, and 16-inch alloy wheels only add to its sporty appeal.

The Fronx comfortably seats five adults. Its interior is upholstered in a combination of black and burgundy, with a mix of synthetic leather and a cloth like material. It was refreshing to get behind a speedometer, tachometer, temperature and fuels gauges which were all analog. You still get a colored 4.2-inch Multi-Function Information Display (MFID) set between the tach and speedo.