Maruti Suzuki Fronx vs Brezza: Key differences explained

Maruti Suzuki stole the show on the second day of the Auto Expo 2023 with the debut of two new SUVs side by side - the Jimny 5-door, as well as the Fronx. Both SUVs can now be booked at the company's Nexa dealerships, with a launch expected by April-May.
While the Jimny distinguishes itself from all other Maruti Suzuki SUVs, the Fronx coincides with the Brezza in the sub-compact SUV segment. Choosing between the two could be confusing, hence, here is a detailed comparison between the upcoming Fronx crossover and the Brezza SUV to help you decide which one suits your requirements better -

Dimensions and styling
Being a crossover, the Fronx (1550 mm) is obviously shorter in height than the Brezza (1685 mm), while both the Maruti Suzuki cars have the same length i.e. 3995 mm. The Brezza is 25 mm wider than the Fronx, while the latter has a 20 mm longer wheelbase as compared to the sub-compact SUV.

Styling is a huge differentiating factor between the two offerings. While the Brezza has more of an upright and boxy appeal, the Fronx takes a different route. The crossover's styling is inspired by the Grand Vitara, and while it does get plastic cladding all around as well as skid plates on both ends, its sloping roofline and overall curvy nature set it miles apart from the Brezza.
Platform

The Brezza is based on the Suzuki Global C platform, which also underpins the Grand Vitara, as well as the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. In contrast, the upcoming Frox is built on the company's Heartect platform which is also made use of by the Baleno and the XL6, amongst other Maruti Suzuki cars.
Features and safety tech
Both the Fronx and the Brezza are loaded up to the brim with the latest features, including the same 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless smartphone connectivity, OTA updates, Arkamys sound system, 360-degree camera, a heads-up display, a TFT display for the instrument cluster, Suzuki Connect connected-car tech, 6 airbags, ESP, Hill Hold Assist, cruise control, paddle shifters and so on. However, the Brezza one ups the Fronx with an electric sunroof and ambient lighting.
Engine & Transmission
The Fronx carries over Baleno's 1.2-litre mild-hybrid NA petrol engine that makes 90 PS power and 113 Nm torque, while it also gets a new 1.0-litre turbo petrol motor that belts out 100 PS of max power and 148 Nm of peak torque. Both engines can be had with either a 5-speed manual transmission as standard. Additionally, the former gets an optional 5-speed AMT, while the latter can also be had with a 6-speed AT.

As of now, the Fronx is the only car in the Maruti Suzuki line-up to make use of the new 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, which also gets idle start-stop, regenerative braking, and electric torque assist during acceleration.

The Brezza is offered with a sole 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that generates 105 PS power and 137 Nm torque, mated to a 5-speed MT along with an optional 6-speed AT. Both the cars are offered with a front-wheel drive configuration as standard.
Pricing & Positioning
Pricing for the Fronx is yet to be announced, but we do know that it will go on to become the most affordable crossover/SUV to be retailed through the premium Nexa dealerships. We expect it to undercut the Breza, given the fact that the Fronx will be positioned below the sub-4m SUV and above the Baleno in Maruti Suzuki's portfolio. Do note that the Brezza is retailed through Maruti Suzuki's Arena chain of dealerships, but as mentioned earlier, the Fronx will be sold at the premium Nexa outlets exclusively.

A base price of around Rs 7 lakh (ex-showroom) can be expected from the new crossover as per our estimation. In contrast, the Brezza is priced from Rs 7.99 lakh for the entry-level LXI MT trim, going all the way up to Rs 13.96 lakh (both prices, ex-showroom) for the range-topping ZXI+ AT dual-tone variant. Despite a somewhat similar price range, the Fronx is not expected to eat up into the sales of its sibling, and instead, give competition to more affordable SUVs like the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.
Would you choose the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Fronx over the Brezza, or the other way around? Let us know in the comments down below.