ANCAP testing has found the Suzuki Fronx barely meets the threshold for a one-star safety rating, after the small SUV showed poor crash performance and low levels of protection for adult and child occupants.
During a full-width frontal crash test, ANCAP identified a separate and serious safety issue — the rear passenger seatbelt retractor failed, releasing the seatbelt and leaving the rear dummy unrestrained. This failure caused the dummy to strike the front seat and has been reported to Australian and New Zealand vehicle safety regulators.
ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said the findings underscore the importance of independent vehicle safety testing. “The seatbelt component failure is rare and serious. Consumers need to know when a vehicle may place occupants at risk, and we will act in their best interest by communicating these findings promptly,” she said.
Poor crash performance drives rating
The Fronx’s one-star rating primarily reflects its overall crash performance, including structural weaknesses and restraint system performance. Excessive chest loads were recorded for the rear passenger, and key body regions of both child dummies were capped at zero points due to high head acceleration and neck tension.
Approximately 1,300 Fronx vehicles have been sold in Australia, with a further 1,000 sold in New Zealand. ANCAP advises that adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats of the Suzuki Fronx until the cause of the seatbelt failure has been identified and rectified.
“This is the third component failure revealed through independent safety testing in recent months,” Hoorweg said. “We encourage all manufacturers to submit vehicles for testing before market release, so issues can be identified and addressed before they reach consumers.”
Full details on the Suzuki Fronx’s safety performance are available here.
