Suzuki Fronx News

In the years since the likes of GWM and MG established a beachhead for Chinese automotive brands in the local new car market a slew of others have followed.Economics 101 says increased competition in a mature market will quickly stimulate activity, generating big winners and significant losers.And the reality of 2025’s vehicle registration data, compiled by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI VFacts) and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), has graphically validated that economic theory.More than 30 of the 60 passenger car and light commercial brands monitored by VFacts and the EVC went backwards in terms of sales volume in 2025 compared to 2024.But the winners were BIG, the top two improvers experiencing spectacular growth; the overall champ almost sending the needle off the clock.Of course, some were coming off a relatively small sales base, with increasing supply and expanding model line-ups inflating percentage figures. So, for context, we’ll also note outright volume increases and only include brands that recorded full-year sales in 2024.Here are our top five countdowns for biggest new car sales winners and losers in 2025.5) Rolls-Royce: Okay, it’s 13 extra cars for 2025 over 2024, but when each one of them retails for a minimum of $700K that’s some handy incremental profit margin. Obviously, for a select few it’s a case of ‘cost-of-living crisis be damned’, with no less than eight extra Cullinan SUVs and the same number of sedans finding a home last year. 4) Mini: A big year for Mini, including a major JCW-focused refresh across the range as well as a burst of sales for the pure-electric Aceman line-up. There were substantial boosts for the Cabrio (+100 per cent), Cooper (+45.2 per cent) and Countryman (+19 per cent).   3) Polestar: It was a case of swings and roundabouts for the Swedish EV specialist with the Polestar 2 liftback dropping sales while the larger 3 and 4 SUVs expanded total numbers by close to 40 per cent. Stand by for the performance-focused Polestar 5 GT’s impact when it arrives here mid-year.2) BYD: Market appetite for BYD’s products grew in parallel with its model range, the Chinese giant’s Aussie line-up expanding from four to eight models. Newcomers like the Atto 1, Atto 2 and Sealion 7 grew its share of the pie dramatically, but the star of the show was the Shark 6 hybrid ute, racking up more than 18,000 sales for the year.1) Chery: The sharply-priced Tiggo 4 Pro small SUV has proved a smash hit for Chery with sales building steadily over 2025, to the point where it’s nipping at the heels of the category-leading Hyundai Kona and MG ZS. Adding the large Tiggo 9 large SUV also delivered handy incremental sales.5) Suzuki: Despite the addition of the Fronx small hybrid SUV mid-year (which captured a handy 1667 sales) the evergreen Japanese brand went backwards in 2025, with stocks of the discontinued Ignis dwindling, Swift sales decreasing and even the cult-favourite Jimny in decline.   4) Jaguar: Kind of a no-brainer given the brand very publicly pulled the pin on production of everything except the F-Pace SUV for 12 months in preparation for a new, more premium range ramping up through 2026 and 2027. The big surprise is sales of the E-Pace growing four per cent year-on-year despite the manufacturing halt. Must have been a few in stock.  3) Maserati: Sales volume dropping by close to a third is rarely a good thing but with the Maserati Levante SUV falling off the radar there weren’t enough Grecale SUV buyers ready to pick up the slack. The Granturismo and Grancabrio coupe and convertible GTs were also missing in action creating a low ebb for the iconic Italian. 2) Jeep: Speaking of iconic brands, Jeep has been fighting well-publicised head winds in its US home market thanks to a seemingly ill-advised move to a more premium positioning with prices to match. Despite a slight sales uptick for the Grand Cherokee as it leaves the local stage, serious falls for the Wrangler 4WD and Gladiator ute also took the wind out of Jeep’s sales here.1) Lotus: Who would have thought a brand famous for simplifying and adding lightness in producing race-ready sports cars would be punished for heading down the pure-electric path with a heavy SUV (Eletre) and big four-door GT (Emeya). Even the internal-combustion mid-engine Emira (despite a stay of production execution) dropped by more than 50 per cent.   

Suzuki Australia is urging customers to not use the rear seats of its new Fronx small SUV until a fix can be identified.The Japanese carmaker is now officially recalling certain examples of the Fronx following a major safety defect that was uncovered during crash testing by independent Australian safety authority ANCAP.A total of 324 examples of the Fronx are being recalled due to a manufacturing defect that may cause the rear left seat belt retractor mechanism to not work as intended.As a result, excessive seat belt lengths may be released in the event of crash or hard braking.A total of 324 vehicles are affectedVehicles were produced during 2025VIN lists are attached here and hereIf you own an affected vehicle, Suzuki Australia advises customers to “immediately cease” using the rear seats.The Japanese carmaker is still undertaking “urgent investigations of this phenomenon”. It will detail any further actions required from affected customers at a later date.This follows the Fronx receiving a one-star safety rating from ANCAP.It received 48 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 40 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 65 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 55 per cent for Safety Assist.Due to a number of issues noted in the frontal offset physical crash test, the Fronx received zero points in the test.Protection for the driver’s chest was weak and adequate for lower legs, rearward displacement of the pedals was excessive and protection of the driver’s feet marginal, plus structures in the instrument panel and dashboard were found to be potential sources of injury to occupants.Additionally, rear passenger chest protection was poor, with high chest deflection and high seatbelt load.“What concerns us is that this particular vehicle could have been purchased by an ordinary consumer, and in an on-road crash this failure could have had serious consequences for the person sitting in the back seat,” ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said.“ANCAP’s view is that adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats of the Suzuki Fronx until the reason for the failure has been determined and relevant rectifications have been carried out.”Suzuki, at least at surface level, has been struggling to achieve high ANCAP safety ratings over the past few years.Before the Fronx’s one-star rating, the Swift had a one-star rating that was then revised in 2025 to a three-star rating following additional front-end reinforcement to align it with the European-specification model.The Jimny and Vitara are now unrated as it has been over seven years since they were last crash-tested.Earlier this year Suzuki Australia Managing Director Michael Pachota weighed in on the company’s relationship with ANCAP and whether the scores are affecting sales.“Obviously, ANCAP exists, and it's an independent body that does crash testing for Australian consumer knowledge,” Pachota told CarsGuide in August 2025.“But with that said, our safety features, the safety suite, are constantly advancing, and accident avoidance or prevention technology is getting better and better.“Our, for example, Swift is a much safer car than the previous car, but with the goal posts moving so quickly on the ANCAP ruling, the previous car outgoing was a five-star safety rating, and all of a sudden the new one was a one-star. So tell me how that works.“Look, safety is a high priority, absolutely,” added Pachota.“But with that said, we believe our vehicles are definitely safe and fit for purpose. Otherwise they wouldn't be allowed into the country. ADR, strictly has requirements to make sure the vehicle is safe. “So the vehicles allowed in the country, and ADRs in Australia, as you know, are quite, quite strict in terms of comparison to other countries.“Then tell me that car’s not safe.”When asked about the differences in specifications between Australia and the rest of the world, and whether our cars were up to scratch in the global context, Pachota pointed to the average age of cars on Australian roads.“Absolutely. It's funny, you know, like you can get a car that a decade ago got a five-star safety rating, five years ago got a five-star safety rating and wouldn't even be eligible for a one star or even a zero at this stage. “ majority of the Australian car park is nowhere near ANCAP’s ratings now. Nowhere near. So tell me, is everyone not safe now? Should we be scared?”According to the most recent Australian Motor Vehicle Census released in 2021 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average age of vehicles registered at the time was 10.6 years, a figure unlikely to have changed dramatically in the time since, given previous similar figures.Pachota added, “I think it's not about if it's important to Suzuki or not, it's whether or not it's important to the customer, and if the customer can see the safety features and understand what's in the vehicle, and if they need to go to a third party source to get an evaluation, that is entirely up to the customer, and we respect that in the customer's journey.”

A budget small SUV's active and passive safety performance has been put under the microscope by Australia's independent crash testing authority, ANCAP, ultimately receiving a one-star safety rating.

Suzuki came under a brief volley of fire for its use of the ‘hybrid’ badge when it launched the current Suzuki Swift, a car with only mild-hybrid capability.