Suzuki Fronx Sales Halted In New Zealand After 1-Star ANCAP Rating- India Market Unfazed?

Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) recently tested the Suzuki Fronx, which resulted in a one-star safety rating for the car. Following the revelation, Suzuki New Zealand has halted the sales of the SUV, as per a report by Autotalk. To further ensure the safety of occupants, the brand is advising owners not to carry passengers in the rear seat of the vehicle because of the "serious" seatbelt failure discovered during the tests.

The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has issued a warning to the owners of the 1,115 Suzuki Fronx vehicles currently on New Zealand roads. The agency advises against using the rear seats due to a failure in the rear safety belt mechanism observed during a crash test performed by the ANCAP.

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According to ANCAP, the Fronx "narrowly" met the minimum criteria for even a one-star rating. However, the testing organization highlighted a "serious and separate safety issue" when a rear seatbelt retractor malfunctioned, allowing the rear dummy to become unrestrained and collide with the back of the front seat.

The Fronx scored 48 percent for Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection received 40 percent, Vulnerable Road User Protection was rated at 65 percent, and Safety Assist garnered a score of 55 percent.

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The Fronx's Child Occupant Protection score of 40 percent was primarily due to the absence of rear seatbelt pretensioners. ANCAP noted that child dummies were not adequately secured in both frontal and side impact tests. The protection for child occupants' heads and chests was rated as poor to marginal, leading to lower scores across various test scenarios. Although there are ISOFIX anchorages and top tether points available for the rear seats, the lack of seatbelt pretensioners and a child presence detection system further reduced the score.

The Suzuki Fronx sold in New Zealand is manufactured in India and continues to be on sale in the Indian market. It is currently available at a starting price of Rs 6.85 lakh (ex-showroom). The list of safety features includes six airbags, hill hold assist, ABS, EBD, and ESP.