Can Maruti Fronx knock out Tata Punch from the market?

The Indo-Japanese automaker is gearing up for its first major product launch of the year with the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, an SUV coupe based on the Baleno model, which will be available through the Nexa dealership network. 

The Maruti Fronx is already open for bookings, and it is expected to hit the market in March 2023, with five different trim options including Sigma, Delta, Delta+, Zeta and Alpha.

Price

The anticipated price range of the Maruti Fronx is between Rs 8 lakh for the entry-level variant and Rs 11 lakh for the fully-loaded variant, excluding showroom costs. 

If launched at these prices, the Fronx will compete with a variety of cars, ranging from the Tata Punch, Nissan Magnite, and Renault Kiger, to the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet. 

Currently, the Punch, Magnite, and Kiger have priced within the range of Rs 6 lakh to Rs 9.54 lakh, Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10.94 lakh, and Rs 6.50 lakh to Rs 11.23 lakh, respectively.

Engine and Power

The upcoming Maruti SUV will offer two engine options - a new 1.0L, 3-cylinder turbo petrol Boosterjet and a 1.2L, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, both of which are enhanced with mild hybrid technology. 

The turbo petrol engine generates 100bhp with 147.6Nm of torque and is available with either a 5-speed or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The naturally aspirated engine produces 90bhp with 113Nm of torque and is paired with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT gearbox.

It's important to note that the 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol engine will be offered with a standard manual gearbox in the Sigma, Delta, and Delta+ trims. The Delta and Delta+ trims will also have the option of an AMT gearbox. 

The turbo-petrol engine, on the other hand, will be available with a standard manual transmission in the Delta+, Zeta, and Alpha trims, while the Zeta and Alpha trims will come with the option of an automatic gearbox.

Features and Specifications

The top Alpha levels are the only ones to offer features like a 360-degree camera, Head-Up Display (HUD), cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and dual-tone exterior colours.

The Suzuki-connected car features, a rearview camera, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless smartphone connectivity, a 6-speaker sound system, coloured MID in the instrument cluster, height-adjustable driver's seat, rear AC vents, fast USB charging points, and many other goodies are also included with the Maruti Fronx compact crossover.