The Made-in-India Maruti Suzuki Fronx is making waves overseas. In its latest achievement, the compact SUV has bagged a solid 4-star safety rating from the Japan New Car Assessment Program (JNCAP) — a significant milestone for the model and India’s automotive manufacturing prowess.
84% Overall Safety Score
Tested under JNCAP’s stringent 2024-25 protocols, the Fronx scored an impressive 163.75 out of 193.8 points, translating to 84% overall safety. These scores reflect the car’s performance across two main pillars: collision safety and preventive safety.
- Collision Safety: 76.33 / 100 (76%)
- Preventive Safety: 79.42 / 85.8 (92%)
- Automatic Emergency Call System: 8 / 8 (100%)
Let’s break down how it fared in each category.
Collision Safety
In high-impact crash scenarios, the Fronx proved its mettle. During the full-wrap frontal collision test, the vehicle maintained cabin integrity and scored a full 5 out of 5 rating.
The offset frontal crash test, where only half of the car’s front hits a moving barrier at 50 kmph, showed the Fronx’s ability to absorb and distribute crash energy. Again, it scored 21.08 out of 24 points, earning a Level 4 safety score.
However, it did lose points on the potential damage it could inflict on another vehicle in the same scenario, scoring -2.12 points, an area that may raise eyebrows among regulators.
Side-impact tests at 55 kmph were handled well, thanks to effective curtain airbag deployment, securing a Level 5 rating.
Rear-end collision tests, crucial for assessing whiplash injury prevention, saw the Fronx score 4 out of 5 for both driver and front passenger seats.
Pedestrian Safety
When protecting those outside the vehicle, the Fronx offered strong lower body protection, scoring full marks for pedestrian leg safety. However, it received a Level 3 rating in pedestrian head protection, indicating room for improvement in bonnet design or energy absorption mechanisms.
Preventive Safety
The Fronx truly shines in preventive safety, clocking in at a remarkable 92% score. That includes a full Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) score for forward collision avoidance involving pedestrians (day and night) and cyclists.
But it wasn’t perfect. The Fronx only managed a 3 out of 5 rating for AEB at intersections — a scenario where the car is expected to brake autonomously when cross traffic is detected. This is one area where rivals may have the edge.
Other highlights include:
- Lane Departure Prevention Assist: 5/5
- Pedal Misapplication Prevention: 4/5
- High-Performance Headlights: 4/5
- Passenger Seatbelt Reminder: 4/5
Additionally, the vehicle earned a perfect score for the automatic emergency call system, ensuring help is dispatched during a crash — a critical feature in today’s safety landscape.
Japan vs India: What’s Different?
The Japanese-spec Fronx has a few tricks up its sleeve that the Indian variant currently lacks. It comes equipped with Level-2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) — both of which are absent in the India-spec models.
Safety kit on the Japanese version includes:
- 6 Airbags
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- Hill-Hold Assist
- 360-Degree Camera
- ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors
Engine Options and Pricing
While India gets three powertrain options — a 1.2-litre petrol, a 1.2-litre CNG, and a 1.0-litre turbo petrol — Japan gets the premium treatment with an optional 1.5-litre mild hybrid and AWD setup. Pricing in India starts at ₹7.54 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to ₹13.04 lakh, offering stiff competition to the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, and Kia Sonet.
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