Quick look
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1-star safety rating for Fronx due to poor occupant protection and a mechanical seatbelt failure.
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Australian model is imported from India, whereas the model sold in Malaysia, which has an ASEAN NCAP 5-star rating, is manufactured in Indonesia.
With many new models being rated four or five stars (maximum) in NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) testing, a very low score stands out. This is the case with the Suzuki Fronx Hybrid which scored just one star in ANCAP’s report. ANCAP is the New Car Assessment Program for Australia and New Zealand, the equivalent of ASEAN NCAP.
The SUV, which went on sale in Australia in August, narrowly reached the threshold for a 1-star safety rating after assessment following crash tests found poor performance and low levels of occupant protection for both adults and children.
Crash testing showed the Fronx delivered poor levels of occupant protection for both adults and children. In the full-width frontal test, excessive chest loads were recorded for the rear passenger, exceeding ANCAP performance thresholds and resulting in the score being capped under ANCAP assessment protocols.
During the full width frontal test, the rear passenger seatbelt retractor of the Fronx failed, resulting in an uncontrolled seatbelt release where the rear dummy became unrestrained, allowing it to strike the rear of the front seat.
Rear seatbelt failure
In addition to its poor overall crash performance, ANCAP testing identified a serious and separate safety concern, with a rear seatbelt failure occurring during the full width frontal crash test. While the component failure is serious, the vehicle had already received zero points in the full-width frontal test before the failure occurred, due to the high chest load recorded.
Importantly, the 1-star rating reflects the Fronx’s overall crash performance – particularly the performance of its structure and restraint systems – and is not a consequence of the separate seatbelt component failure.
Read the full ANCAP report here
In an immediate response, Suzuki Australia said it has elevated the review of this assessment to a matter of immediate focus. “Customer safety is non-negotiable and remains Suzuki’s highest priority across Australia and New Zealand. This review is being progressed with urgency and at the highest levels of the organisation. A thorough and disciplined investigation is underway, and Suzuki will take any actions required to uphold our safety standards and the trust our customers place in our brand,” the company said.
“Suzuki firmly believes in learning from local testing and regulatory feedback as part of our continuous improvement philosophy. These assessments are treated seriously and play an important role in strengthening vehicle safety, performance, and reliability across our markets,” it added.
ASEAN NCAP rating is 5 stars
The ANCAP rating differs greatly from ASEAN NCAP’s assessment of the same model conducted in Malaysia in September 2025. ASEAN NCAP gave the Fronx, launched in Malaysia in November 2025, a maximum 5-star rating, as well as 5 stars in the key categories. Incidentally, Japan NCAP also awarded the model (imported from India) 4 stars.
However, it should be noted that the Fronx sold in Australia/New Zealand is imported from Suzuki’s factory in India whereas the one sold in Malaysia comes from a Suzuki factory in Indonesia. As vehicles made in ASEAN need to have a minimum of 40% ASEAN-sourced content to qualify for the AFTA duty-free privileges when exported to other markets in the region, it is possible that the model sold in Malaysia may have components from different suppliers. The performance of the components may therefore be different and give better results.
Full ASEAN NCAP report for Suzuki Fronx
