Maruti Fronx vs ALL Subcompact SUVs: Specs And Features Compared

The subcompact (sub-four-metre) SUV segment is one of the hottest and quickest-growing segments in India right now. It’s populated by small SUVs from almost every major carmaker in India, and the upcoming Maruti Fronx, which is Maruti’s second sub-4 metre SUV offering that will be sold alongside Brezza, has highly competitive rivals to contend with. 

For now, we don’t know the SUV’s prices, but Maruti has spilled all the other details of its specs and features. We’ve compiled an on-paper comparison with all of the Fronx’s segment rivals. 

Read on to find out where it stands with the competition. 

Size Matters 

• Since all of these are sub-four-metre SUVs, their lengths are comparable and show hardly any deviation. 

• The Fronx, being a crossover, is the shortest and least wide subcompact SUV here, but its wheelbase is the second longest. The Tata Nexon has the shortest wheelbase here.

• The Mahindra XUV300 is the widest SUV here and it also has the longest wheelbase, a full 100mm more than the Hyundai, Kia and Maruti Brezza SUVs. 

• The Brezza is the tallest, while the Kia Sonet has the largest boot. 

Features 

*Only in variants with the eight-inch touchscreen

• The Sonet has the biggest touch screen, but the Fronx and Brezza are a close second with their latest nine-inch SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system. 

• Except for the XUV300 and Nexon, all get wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. But surprisingly, this feature is offered only in the Sonet’s lower variants with an eight-inch unit. 

• You don’t get a sunroof in the Fronx, Nissan Magnite, and Renault Kiger, but the feature is available in the other SUVs in this comparison. 

• The Fronx and Brezza are the only SUVs to offer a heads-up display (HUD). 

• The Fronx doesn’t get ventilated seats, but at least for now, this is a rare feature in the segment and only present on the Sonet and Nexon.

• All SUVs in the comparison get keyless entry and push-button start, connected car tech, automatic climate control and electrically adjustable and folding outer rearview mirrors. 

• The Magnite offers an optional infotainment upgrade with a nine-inch touchscreen and JBL speakers. 

• All SUVs get connected car tech, but except for the Hyundai Venue and Sonet, all others get telematics only. 

• The XUV300 is the only one in its segment to get dual-zone climate control, all others get single-zone only. 

Safety 

• All SUVs in the segment get up to six airbags, except the Nexon which only offers dual airbags on all variants, and the Kiger that gets four. 

• Six airbags remain exclusive to the top-spec variants in each of the SUVs. 

• The Sonet is the only one to offer more than the government-mandated dual airbags as standard, with four airbags present as well. 

• The Fronx and Brezza get a 360-degree camera, a unique feature in the subcompact SUV segment. 

• All SUVs get stability control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, hill start assist and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors. 

• The Fronx has a long list of safety equipment, but it isn’t backed by a safety rating yet. 

Powertrains 

Many of the SUVs in this comparison offer more than one engine option. Here’s a comparison of all the naturally aspirated (NA) petrol powertrains on offer. 

• The Brezza only offers a single engine option with the largest and most powerful NA petrol engine. In comparison, the Fronx gets a smaller heart. 

• Most base-spec engines offer similar power and torque figures, but it’s the Fronx that has the edge by a smidge. 

• The smaller NA engines in the Kiger and Magnite have the lowest output as well. 

• Except for the Venue and Sonet, all the base engine options offer a manual and automatic gearbox. However, it’s the Brezza that gets a proper torque converter, whereas others are AMTs. 

Most of the SUVs in this comparison offer a turbo-petrol engine as well. Here’s how they compare: 

• The Fronx gets Maruti’s new Boosterjet petrol engine which makes a comeback after being discontinued in the Baleno RS during the switch to BS6.

• The Mahindra XUV300 offers a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine as standard, alongside the option of a T-GDI turbo petrol engine of similar displacement that makes even more power and torque. It’s the most powerful ICE-powered subcompact SUV in the segment right now. 

• The Nexon also gets a turbo-petrol engine option, and it comes second in terms of power outputs after the XUV300 Turbosport, alongside the Venue and Sonet

• The Magnite and Kiger come third, while the Fronx is the least powerful with its conservative 100PS/148Nm turbo petrol engine output.  

• However, the Fronx’s turbo variant gets a six-speed torque converter with paddle shifters. 

• You can only have a dual-clutch automatic in the Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue for now. 

• The Renault-Nissan SUVs get a CVT option with the turbo petrol engine.

• And lastly, the Mahindra and Tata SUVs get an AMT.  

• The Venue and Sonet brings a unique edge by getting a 6-speed iMT, where the gearshifts are manual, but the clutch is automated. 

• The Fronx, Brezza, Kiger and Magnite don’t offer diesel engine options, but the Hyundai-Kia, Mahindra and Tata SUVs do. 

Price

Also read: 

• Maruti Fronx and Jimny 5-Door To Be Exported To Foreign Markets Including Africa and Latin America

• Maruti Fronx Showcased At Auto Expo Detailed In 10 Images

• Maruti Fronx And Brezza Design, Interior, Features And Rivals Compared In 12 Pictures

Finally, the verdict will come down to the Fronx’s price. Its NA variants should be priced around the base-spec Brezza’s ballpark, but the turbo petrol engine will come at a premium, especially for the fully-loaded, turbo-petrol, six-speed automatic variant. But considering its feature loaded package, we hope it gets the right sticker price to make it a value-for-money option, considering that it has the dominant Brezza from its own stable to tackle.

We’ll be driving the Maruti Fronx soon, so stick around for the first drive and comparison reviews.