MAJOR SAFETY ALERT: Suzuki Fronx Receives One-Star ANCAP Rating Following Poor Crash Performance and Rear Seatbelt Failure

UPDATE (22/12/2025): Suzuki Australia has issued an official response to the ANCAP findings. The company has launched an investigation in coordination with its global headquarters in Japan.

The Suzuki Fronx has been issued a one-star safety rating by the independent safety authority ANCAP following recent crash testing.

The rating reflects poor performance in structural integrity and restraint system effectiveness during key impact assessments.

This result comes after the vehicle narrowly reached the point threshold required for a single star.

CarSauce reached out to Suzuki Australia for comment, and the manufacturer has now provided an official statement:

"Suzuki Australia acknowledges the recent ANCAP assessment of the 2025 FRONX Hybrid and is taking decisive action, including a thorough investigation, as customer safety is non-negotiable and remains Suzuki’s highest priority across Australia and New Zealand.

"Suzuki Australia has elevated the review of this assessment to a matter of immediate focus and is working directly with Suzuki Motor Corporation in Hamamatsu, Japan, and Suzuki New Zealand to fully understand the ANCAP testing outcomes. This review is being progressed with urgency and at the highest levels of the organisation. A thorough and disciplined investigation is underway, and Suzuki will take any actions required to uphold our safety standards and the trust our customers place in our brand.

"Suzuki firmly believes in learning from local testing and regulatory feedback as part of our continuous improvement philosophy. These assessments are treated seriously and play an important role in strengthening vehicle safety, performance, and reliability across our markets."

During the full-width frontal crash test, a critical component failure occurred in the rear passenger seatbelt.

The seatbelt retractor failed, causing the rear dummy to become unrestrained and strike the back of the front seat.

ANCAP has formally reported this mechanical failure to vehicle safety regulators in both Australia and New Zealand.

Despite the severity of this failure, the vehicle had already earned zero points in this test category due to excessive chest loads recorded prior to the retractor issue.

Occupant protection for children was also identified as a significant concern during the evaluation.

Both 10-year-old and 6-year-old child dummies recorded high levels of head acceleration and neck tension.

These results led to scores for child occupant protection being capped at zero points under ANCAP protocols.

The safety body noted that the one-star rating is a result of the vehicle's overall crash performance rather than the isolated seatbelt failure.

The current safety performance of the Fronx follows a similar historical pattern observed with the Suzuki Swift.

In late 2024, the Suzuki Swift also received a one-star ANCAP rating after testing revealed that Australian models lacked structural reinforcements present in European versions.

Following that result, Suzuki implemented structural upgrades and safety reinforcements for the Swift, eventually raising its rating to three stars by September 2025.

Suzuki Australia maintains that the Fronx remains a safe product that provides "peace of mind" through its driver assistance systems.

ANCAP has previously noted that discrepancies in structural robustness between regions can lead to significantly different crash outcomes for the same model nameplate.

More than 1,600 Suzuki Fronx units have been sold in Australia since its introduction in August 2025.

ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg stated that adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats until the cause of the failure is determined.

The organisation is calling on Suzuki to move quickly to identify affected vehicles and carry out necessary rectifications.

Suzuki Australia has pledged to provide further updates to owners and regulators as the investigation progresses.

You can view the comprehensive breakdown of the test results and technical data here: Full Suzuki Fronx ANCAP Safety Report