
PODCAST: Why Suzuki Fronx stays ahead of Toyota Starlet Cross
The name Suzuki Fronx is derived from the words 'crossing' and new 'frontiers'. Little did the Japanese manufacturer know how poetic this meaning would become in the first two years since its local introduction.
A collaboration between Suzuki and Toyota sees many of their cars shares platforms. These siblings are built alongside each other by Maruti Suzuki in India.
This partnership has traditionally seen Toyota holding the upper hand in sales. Except for the seven-seater Ertiga and Rumion, which is likely because most of the former's sales lies in rental and commercial transport than in families buying it as passenger cars.
When you look at the rest, Toyota have held the aces whether it's the Vitz vs Celerio, Starlet vs Baleno or Urban Cruiser vs Grand Vitara. But the Suzuki Fronx has manged to buck that trend against the Toyota Starlet Cross.
Suzuki Fronx makes a Pitstop
On this week's episode of our Pitstop podcast, we discuss the remarkable performance of the Fronx. The Citizen Motoring recently gave back the keys of a Suzuki Fronx GLX manual after spending six months in it.
The manual Fronx is powered by the familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. It produces 77kW of power and 132Nm of torque which is sent to the front wheels via five-speed manual gearbox.
ALSO READ: Success story Suzuki Fronx departs without having made a fuss
Good looks, lots of tech
One of the reasons for its success in our opinion is its good looks. Highlights include wheel arch cladding, silver door sills and imitation satin silver skidplates underneath the front and rear bumpers. It also features 16-inch alloys.
Inside, it boasts a nine-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multi-function steering wheel and push-button start, head-up display and a 360-degree surround-view camera system as its specification headlights.

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The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
PODCAST: Why Suzuki Fronx stays ahead of Toyota Starlet Cross
This crossover has done the Suzuki badge proud by outselling its production sibling. The name Suzuki Fronx is derived from the words 'crossing' and new 'frontiers'. Little did the Japanese manufacturer know how poetic this meaning would become in the first two years since its local introduction. A collaboration between Suzuki and Toyota sees many of their cars shares platforms. These siblings are built alongside each other by Maruti Suzuki in India. This partnership has traditionally seen Toyota holding the upper hand in sales. Except for the seven-seater Ertiga and Rumion, which is likely because most of the former's sales lies in rental and commercial transport than in families buying it as passenger cars. When you look at the rest, Toyota have held the aces whether it's the Vitz vs Celerio, Starlet vs Baleno or Urban Cruiser vs Grand Vitara. But the Suzuki Fronx has manged to buck that trend against the Toyota Starlet Cross. Suzuki Fronx makes a Pitstop On this week's episode of our Pitstop podcast, we discuss the remarkable performance of the Fronx. The Citizen Motoring recently gave back the keys of a Suzuki Fronx GLX manual after spending six months in it. The manual Fronx is powered by the familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. It produces 77kW of power and 132Nm of torque which is sent to the front wheels via five-speed manual gearbox. ALSO READ: Success story Suzuki Fronx departs without having made a fuss Good looks, lots of tech One of the reasons for its success in our opinion is its good looks. Highlights include wheel arch cladding, silver door sills and imitation satin silver skidplates underneath the front and rear bumpers. It also features 16-inch alloys. Inside, it boasts a nine-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multi-function steering wheel and push-button start, head-up display and a 360-degree surround-view camera system as its specification headlights.

TimesLIVE
18 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Creecy approaches banks to seek easier debt repayment deals for taxi industry
The transport department says it has approached banks and Toyota to request easier repayment options for taxi owners on their vehicle loans to curb violence over routes. This was revealed by minister Barbara Creecy on Thursday, who said the root cause of taxi violence was indebted taxi operators who wanted to pocket more money by taking over routes illegally. She said the taxi industry was struggling to be profitable. 'An operator will make R15,000 to R16,000 a month on an average route. Of course there are more profitable routes. You are earning R16,000 but you have a liability of R28,000, so the question is how do you fill the hole. And that is where the problem begins because you would want to operate on what you regard as a more profitable route,' she said. Creecy said some operators have resorted to moonlighting as scholar transport operators to close the financial gap. Her department was working with Toyota and the banks to find a way to de-risk the loans, she said. 'I am not saying these financial practices justify irregular practices — they don't. But I am saying that what we have undertaken is to look at de-risking the loans.' The industry has been marred by violence recently, with shootings and killings in Katlehong, Soweto and Mpumalanga where even buses have been torched. In the latest incident, Sowetan sister publication TimesLIVE reported that Western Cape detectives were investigating four murders and three attempted murders after a shooting at a taxi rank in Mfuleni last month.

TimesLIVE
21 hours ago
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What's behind the rise of Chinese vehicles in South Africa?
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