Maruti Suzuki Fronx ANCAP Safety Rating Explained

The Maruti Suzuki Fronx (sold as Suzuki Fronx in Australia/New Zealand) has received a 1-star ANCAP safety rating—and the story behind that rating is far more serious than just a low score. According to ANCAP, the Fronx performed poorly in key crash tests and suffered a rare but alarming rear seatbelt retractor failure during testing. ancap.com.au+1

This article breaks down what ANCAP tested, what went wrong, category-wise scores, and what it means for buyers.

What is ANCAP and why this rating matters

ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) is the independent crash-test and safety assessment body for Australia and New Zealand. Its star ratings combine:

Crash protection for adults and children
Protection for pedestrians/cyclists (vulnerable road users)
Active safety tech like AEB and lane assistance

A low rating in Maruti Suzuki Fronx ANCAP Safety Rating here can influence consumer trust, resale value, and even regulator attention—especially when a component failure is involved. ancap.com.au

Maruti Suzuki Fronx ANCAP Safety Rating

ANCAP says the Fronx “narrowly reached the threshold for a one-star rating” after poor performance in key crash tests and low occupant protection for both adults and children.

Category scores reported

From the published performance breakdown (as reported in media summaries):

Adult Occupant Protection (AOP): 48%
Child Occupant Protection (COP): 40%
Vulnerable Road User Protection: 65%
Safety Assist: 55%

The big shock: rear seatbelt failure during the crash test

ANCAP flagged a serious and separate safety concern: during the full-width frontal crash test, the rear passenger seatbelt retractor failed, causing an uncontrolled release. That meant the rear dummy became unrestrained and moved forward into the front seat.

ANCAP describes this kind of seatbelt component failure as “rare and serious”, and states it has been reported to Australian and New Zealand regulators.

ANCAP’s warning to owners (very important)

ANCAP’s view was blunt: adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats of the Fronx until the cause is identified and rectified.

ANCAP also disclosed that approximately 1,300 vehicles had already been sold in Australia and about 1,000 in New Zealand at the time of the alert.

Crash performance details: where the Fronx fell short

Maruti Suzuki Fronx ANCAP Safety Rating release and detailed summaries point to weak results in structural/restraint performance and child protection in particular.

1) Full-width frontal crash: rear passenger loads were excessive

ANCAP recorded excessive chest loads for the rear passenger, exceeding thresholds. Under ANCAP protocols, that leads to score penalties/caps.

2) Child occupant protection: head/neck concerns

ANCAP said key body regions of both child dummies were capped at zero points in that test scenario due to high head acceleration and excessive neck tension.

3) Mixed results in side impacts

Media summaries note the Fronx performed better in some side impact measures, but chest protection and pole-impact performance still attracted lower ratings in parts.

Important clarification: the 1-star rating isn’t “because of” the seatbelt failure

ANCAP explicitly states the one-star rating reflects overall crash performance—especially structure and restraint systems—and is not a consequence of the seatbelt component failure.

In other words: even without the component failure, the crash performance was weak enough to remain a major concern.

What safety tech does the Fronx offer (and why it didn’t save the score)?

ANCAP assessments reward active safety, but they cannot compensate for weak occupant protection in critical crash modes.

Reported safety assist features (Aus/NZ spec) include:

AEB (car-to-car + pedestrian/cyclist/motorcyclist detection)
Lane keep / emergency lane keeping
Blind spot monitoring (variant dependent)
Other driver aids depending on trim

India-spec Fronx safety equipment highlighted by media includes:

6 airbags (on certain variants)
ESC, hill hold, ABS/EBD, ISOFIX
360 camera (variant dependent)

Key point: Ratings apply to the tested vehicle spec. A different market’s variant may have differences in ADAS or restraint hardware—so don’t assume ratings transfer 1:1 across countries.

“But Fronx scored 4 stars in Japan NCAP earlier”—how can both be true?

Yes, the made-in-India Fronx was reported to have scored 4 stars in JNCAP earlier in 2025.

Different NCAP bodies:

Use different test protocols
May test different trims/specs
Apply different scoring and weighting
Update rules frequently

So, it’s possible for the same model family to score differently across regions.

What should Fronx buyers do now?

If you already own a Fronx in Australia/NZ

Follow local regulator/Suzuki guidance and any recall/inspection instructions.
Take ANCAP’s warning seriously regarding rear-seat occupancy until rectified.

If you’re considering buying one (especially imported/overseas variants)

Ask the dealer:
- Whether your VIN is affected
- Whether the seatbelt component issue is fixed
- Which ADAS/airbag/seatbelt hardware your variant includes

FAQs

1) What is the ANCAP rating of the Suzuki/Maruti Fronx?

The Suzuki Fronx received a 1-star ANCAP safety rating based on ANCAP’s independent testing results.

2) Why did the Fronx score only 1 star in ANCAP?

ANCAP cited poor occupant protection for adults and children in key crash tests and weak overall crash performance.

3) What was the seatbelt failure ANCAP mentioned?

During the full-width frontal test, the rear seatbelt retractor failed, causing an uncontrolled belt release that left the rear dummy unrestrained.

4) Did ANCAP say not to use the rear seat?

ANCAP’s position was that adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats until the failure is investigated and rectified.

5) How can Fronx get 1 star in ANCAP but 4 stars in JNCAP?

Because ANCAP and JNCAP can differ in protocols, tested variants, scoring rules, and weightings, ratings can vary by region.

Sources: ancap.com.au

Also Read: 7 Reasons Why Citroen C3 Aircross 5-Star Safety Rating Makes It a Smart Buy in 2025

Maruti Suzuki Fronx ANCAP Safety Rating

Maruti Suzuki Fronx ANCAP Safety Rating Gets 1-Star