[Blooming Flower]

In early March 2025, I began planning to replace my decade-old Alto 800, which had been my primary commuting vehicle. After some research, I quickly shortlisted a few cars from Maruti's lineup. The decision-making process was quick, taking just a day to finalize the list, which included the Ignis Alpha AMT, Fronx Alpha AGS, Jimny Alpha AT.

Reflecting on my experience with the Alto-- it performed exceptionally well over the past decade, taking me to places where even fully loaded 4WDs would dither to venture without backup support. It handled trips flawlessly across North Bengal, Sikkim, parts of eastern, western and southern India, and the Himalayas of northern India including Kashmir, Ladakh, and Zanskar (when the roads were non-existent). The Alto also managed multiple Kolkata-Delhi and Kolkata-Pune journeys without any issues. Throughout my ownership, I was more than satisfied with its performance, reliability, and fuel efficiency. It never let us down and I was often more comfortable taking it than my Thar CRDe for certain destinations. The Alto was a star performer, offering low maintenance costs and an exceptional fuel economy. No other car in the Indian subcontinent could match its reliability and affordability (read total cost of ownership).

Quoting some earlier posts about this Alto 800.

Originally Posted by Blooming Flower

I did the Zanskar circuit via Shinkula pass and Mt. Gonbo Rangjon in 2021 with my tiny Alto 800. It performed flawlessly. Road condition was not so great back that time. So you can keep faith with your Amaze.

With the birth of my baby, I felt the need to upgrade to a safer car with the passage of time. But it had a back-story.

Frankly speaking, being accustomed to living with no-so-road worthy car like Thar CRDe, I was not much concerned about safety features immediately after the baby was born. Ridiculously, I was making up my mind to acquire a brand-new Bolero Camper 4WD with white number plate. Hilux was my preferred pick-up, yet way beyond my budget. When I discussed this appalling idea with some senior and experienced people I know (eventually some of them happened to be Bhpians such as HimadriMondal, BlackPearl and SS-Traveller) they were aghast with my thought process. Special thanks to bhpian HimadriMondal, with whom I had a prolonged conversation, for successfully beating the bug out of my brain and convincing me why not to buy a Bolero Camper 4WD.

The Alto 800, equipped only with seat belts, lacked modern safety features like airbags and ABS, which were not mandatory at that time. Although my six-month-old baby enjoyed a Kolkata-Delhi, a trip to Himachal and western Rajasthan in the Alto, I was concerned about safety and the need for a slightly better engine for highway driving. Even I couldn’t mount a child seat properly as Alto didn’t offer ISOFIX, or I-Size anchorage points.

Two factors were clear from the beginning: the new car would replace the Alto, so it needed to be a small car, and it had to be an automatic (read ‘without clutch pedal’), given the peak hour NCR traffic. Additionally, my wife will use it occasionally. This led to the aforementioned shortlist.


For the final selection, I considered the following:

Ignis Alpha AMT

Ignis alpha AMT, initially had high chance to get finalised. I always used to say if Ignis was launched when I got my Alto I would have bought it. Meanwhile, I convinced several people in my acquaintances to get Ignis and they are happy owners till date (I believe some of them will read this and smile.)

Pros:

• Compact design with excellent approach and departure angles due to shorter overhangs.

• The only MSIL car currently on the market with the K12M engine, known for its refinement and performance.

• K12N is technically advanced, with dual injector per cylinder, no tappet adjustment in every 40k km. But, compared to K12M the subjective smoothness and power delivery feel is better in K12M. It pulls way better than K12N in lower RPM range.

• Great power-to-weight ratio; It’s an Alto with a 1200cc heart!

• Excellent maneuverability in both city and hilly areas.


Cons:

• Dated compared to current-generation cars.

• Lower resale value, although I intended to keep it long-term.

• Outdated infotainment system without wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Although cheap Chinese dongles can serve the purpose of converting wired to wireless the user interface matters.

• Design preference not shared by other family members.


Jimny Alpha AT

Pros:

• The most affordable no-nonsense 4WD available today in India.

• Petrol engine, eliminating cold start issues.

• Smaller footprint, easy to maneuver in the city (Although the long turning radius is a downer)

• Reliable and time-tested K15B engine and 4AT transmission combo.

• Extensive modification options with world-class third-party manufacturers.

Actually, the list can be never ending and I already articulated that in Jimny review thread long back. Link

Cons:

• Owning another 4WD for regular commuting, given I already have a reliable, devoid of much electronics-- Thar CRDe, seemed redundant. Although, my Thar roughly has 3.5 yrs of life to ply on NCR roads, Jimny may be replacement for Thar, but Alto.

• Poor fuel efficiency from the automatic transmission unit.

• Several unresolved issues, many of which are highlighted and documented here by current owners. Some of them are minor, some of them are major with higher degree of severity.

• Limited seating capacity for long trips, similar to the Thar CRDe.

• The 4-speed automatic transmission, while reliable, has limitations in power delivery. I was discussing this with a Jimny owner and avid off-road enthusiast a few days back, and he has put up a nicely compiled reply in his ownership review thread post-discussion. (Link (Maruti Jimny Alpha MT Review | An owner's point of view))

• Limited time for frequent visits to the service center to sort out minor or major issues or for personal tinkering with the car due to my current job and relocation.

• I think, most tourist destinations in India can be reached with a high ground clearance car without needing AWD/4WD, and for the few exceptions, I have the Thar. Although with my recent exploration habit, I have been a strong believer of the fact that the places which can be reached by foot only have the best natural beauty.

Given these considerations, the cons outweighed the pros for the Jimny. Having said all these, I should admit, I still wish to own a first-hand Jimny before it is discontinued in the Indian market.


Choosing the Fronx

After evaluating the strong points of the Ignis and Jimny against my requirements, I decided to consider the Fronx.

I chose the newly launched Fronx Delta Plus (O) variant, which comes with six airbags and no spare wheel. Let's first discuss why I preferred the K12N engine over the K10C DITC.

Maruti Suzuki has cleverly launched variants of Fronx with multiple engine options. While the global market offers the K15C and AWD, in India, we only have the K12N and K10C DITC. My preference is always for the top variant (Alpha for the three shortlisted Nexa models) because some features cannot be retrofitted seamlessly or are sometimes next to impossible to add to the lower variants. Unfortunately, the Alpha variant only comes with the K10C DITC engine. This variant segmentation, I think, is to push the BoosterJet in the market.


Reasons for Not Choosing the Suzuki BoosterJet AT

• Performance: Although it's fun to drive and appeals to driving enthusiasts, the fun and peppiness are nowhere close to the German turbocharged 1.0L with DSG/DCT transmission.

• Transmission: No doubt, the 6AT with paddle shifter is better than the AMT, but the combination with the 3-cylinder 1.0 engine, somehow, I didn’t like. The same 6AT with the 1.5L Brezza or Grand Vitara provides better feedback. While the Fronx 1.0 MT is better to drive than the 6AT, I had already decided on a replacement with the absence of a clutch pedal.

• NVH: The 4-pot K12N is much refined in NVH aspects. For a crude subjective test, start a K12N Fronx and a Turbo K10C Fronx; at 1m distance from the car one can hardly confirm whether the K12N car is idling, whereas one can definitely hear the clatter of the 3-cyl mill from the same distance. Also, the in-cabin noise and vibration at tactile points are superior in K12N.

• Cost: The price difference between the 6AT Alpha and the latest K12N top variant with six airbags is significant.

• Target Audience: Many argue that it's better to get a Brezza in a similar price bracket. However, I believe the Fronx 1.0 targets a different customer base than the Brezza, and I do not belong to the intersection of these two groups.

• Maintenance: The K10C DITC engine requires more maintenance (e.g., water pump belt replacement every 30,000 km, shorter injector life) compared to the K12N.

• Technical Complexity: The 48V SHVS system uses a small 6Ah Li battery, which costs over ₹50,000 to replace if discharged. The DITC engine also has a GPF (gasoline particulate filter) built into the exhaust system to meet emission norms, requiring more or less similar maintenance of a DPF.

• Transmission Reliability: The Aisin 6AT transmission is reliable but has higher service costs compared to the Magneti-Marelli make AMT unit. Also, unlike earlier generation AMT unit, Maruti offers many child parts for the latest AMT unit, a boon for serviceability.

• Driving Style & FE: Turbocharged engines are meant to be driven hard, and redlining can result in single-digit fuel efficiency. OTOH, it's challenging to redline with an AMT, and even if done, achieving single-digit fuel efficiency is difficult.

• Simplicity: The K12N has fewer electronics and complexities. I prefer fewer electronics and gadgets, although I acknowledge that modern cars inevitably include some electronics. One cannot but accept it and float with the trend.

Given the absence of a proper AT with K12N engine, the Fronx AMT was the only clutch-(pedal)-less option available. The earlier K12M Baleno AT came with a CVT unit, which performed well but was costly and complex. Maruti Suzuki switched to AMT (now termed AGS) for cost-effectiveness. Over the past decade, AMT technology has matured, and Maruti Suzuki has fine-tuned it for better driving experience by including and optimizing many parameters that were lacking in the initial units. Drive a 1st gen Celerio AMT and current generation Baleno or Fronx AGS, you will instantly feel the difference. While AMT is not everyone’s cup of tea, those who understand and can visualize the mechanism of gear shifting in a conventional manual transmission can master the art of driving an AMT, achieving a driving experience comparable to an AT with a gentle foot on the pedal. Maruti Suzuki has tuned it so well that the AGS version boasts a better ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency figure (close to +1 km) than its MT counterpart.

Moreover, with the current fad of punching the same displacement with 3-cylinder engines with some serious trade off across the manufacturers seems to hike the value and significance of the currently available 4-cylinders in forthcoming years.

Before justifying my choice, it's also important to explain why I didn't opt for Baleno. Despite the Baleno Alpha variant offering all the features (including the missing ones of Delta plus (O)) at a similar price, I chose the Fronx K12N solely for two main reasons: higher ground clearance and better styling (seems to be inspired by Porsche Macan design language). Period.

While styling and design preferences are subjective, I believe that 90% of car enthusiasts would prefer the design of the Fronx as a small crossover or hatchback. I absolutely dislike calling every car an SUV.

Thus, the Fronx was selected.


Homecoming

I contacted DBhpian Samba, based in Kolkata, who provided me with the on-road pricing for the three shortlisted cars from his preferred dealer. Previously, all my vehicles were registered in West Bengal, and selling a WB registered vehicle outside of WB was a real challenge, at least in the NCR. However, Cars24 accepted it in lieu of a minimal price (hardly crossing six digit) and held ₹10,000 as a party peshi amount, which they promised to release after 120 days if no buyer is found for the pre-owned Alto. Fingers crossed for the outcome of this promised ₹10,000. They assured me that until the name is transferred, all legalities lie with them during the interim period. Given the increasing reports of non-transferred cars involved in illegal activities, the previous owner must be anxious; but I trust Cars24, especially since the Team-BHP forum, close to our hearts, is now an integral part of it!

I am eligible for BH series registration with my current employment, so I decided it would be better to get the car delivered from NCR instead of Bengal, as I reside here now. I preferred the BH series as I intend to keep the car for a long time. Selling BH cars is more challenging than selling out-of-state cars due to the RTO mess across the states and ambiguity in BH series allocation. I obtained quotes from a prominent Nexa dealer in NCR and booked the car, as the specific variant and colour was not in stock. While I chose the variant my better half and mother selected the colour. I was inclined towards midnight black, a special edition shade launched by MSIL for their 40th anniversary. Unfortunately, Fronx and Jimny do not come in midnight black, but in Bluish-black. At night, it appears black, but in daylight, it lacks the appeal of a midnight black Grand Vitara or even a Baleno if looked at side by side. Thus, we unanimously chose Celestial Nexa Blue, a common color for Nexa car owners. Despite being a darker shade and harder to maintain, no question on choice and preference!

Cars24 was adamant of closing the deal ASAP, while I was trying to release my Alto after a week or two. By that time, the Fronx would have reached the dealer’s stockyard. But as they insisted and I had to sell it after all, I let it go. For a few days, my commute was with Ola, Uber, and Rapido, often paying exorbitant fares with peak hour surcharges. Occasionally, the Thar CRDe did the job. Fronx is manufactured at Suzuki Motors' Gujarat plant, so I knew it would take a minimum of 7-10 days in transit. I followed up with the dealership regularly and conducted the PDI at the stockyard two days before delivery. They requested a day or two for accessory fitment, as many cars were queued for weekend delivery. It was the last weekend of March 2025, the end of the fiscal year, and some new year/ auspicious day for few states (which I got to know after reaching the showroom on the delivery-day, and finding a rush of customers there). So the situation was understandable. I complied.

The car was delivered on March 30th with a temporary registration. There was nothing special or exciting about the delivery, and we were not interested to perform any rituals. It was late in the evening after completing all paperwork, and we drove straight home.

And thus, the Fronx came home! I am yet to christen it with a personalized name. Suggestions are most welcome.

Due to a tight schedule at work nowadays, the Fronx is primarily being used for commuting between home and office, a mere 10 km city drive with B2B traffic. I am yet to take it on road trips to the hills. I have driven various AMTs on hill roads, and with my driving style, I find no inconvenience as some users opine. As I drove all three shortlisted cars extensively in different terrains before owning this car, I have some predictable ideas of how it will perform in the hills too.


As I mentioned, I prefer top variants, but I had to opt for the K12N engine, which meant downgrading slightly. Here are the accessories I added to this car and some features I miss compared to the Alpha variant.

Showroom Accessories

- Mud flaps
- Body side molding
- OEM reverse camera (although it’s pricey the wiring harness, camera calibration and integration with the HU are seamless)
- Boot applique
- Non-illuminated door sill guard
- Connected tail lamp. (Recently Maruti has changed the part number increased the price by ₹ 1K. High demand??)

No variant of Fronx comes with a factory fitted fog lamp; also, there was no provision for the same. When I was waiting for the car after booking, on 22nd March, I got the news of MSIL launching an official fog lamp kit for Fronx. There are two different kit for sigma, delta and delta plus onwards variants. The one for the upper variants differs only in wiring harness as DRL gets dimmed when the FOG lamp is switched on (according to CMVR norms). Lower variants don’t have DRL. When my car was delivered, this was not in stock with the dealership. So, just a week ago I got it installed by the dealership. It needs cutting of the bumper in proper shape for the bezel and frame fitment. Link to my Fronx fog lamp related post in the official review thread. I went for this OEM unit after scavenging the YT and Insta with umpteen number of aftermarket options. None of them fits and looks as perfect as this OEM one. (Maruti Fronx Review)Link1. Link2 (Maruti Fronx Review)

From outside, I got a 16x6J steel wheel (OE part) and 195/60R16 tire for the stepney. I removed polystyrene housing and Continental tire repair kit (I always carry basic repair tools and an inflator).


After-Market Accessories

- Door visor
- GFX floor and boot mats (better fit and finish than OEM)
- Front and rear armrests

I also have done a few small yet useful mods on my own.

- Boot lamp
- Glovebox light
- OEM auto-dimming IRVM
- Hardwired triple-channel dashcam
- MGA footwell lamp
- Blaupunkt active subwoofer with quick-disconnect connector. All proper coupler-to-coupler fitment, and Clarion head unit male-female extender coupler was used to tap the low-pass filter feed for the woofer.

Originally Posted by Blooming Flower

I did few DIYs few weeks back. The auto-dimming IRVM is also one of them. This is taken while WIP.



BTW, did you connect the red colored cable with reverse gear signal? This is a safety feature to disable auto-dimming while reversing the car.

Other few simple mods are shown below. No caption and in random order as these are self-explanatory.

I wish this variant also had AIS UV cut green tinted glass! While I can easily replace these for the four windows, I don't want to do this for the front and rear glass now. I also miss the rear wiper and cruise control in my variant. Apart from these three, it meets most of my criteria. Although these modifications can be done, I prefer not to tinker with factory fittings unless absolutely necessary, and these after-market jobs cannot match the neat factory-finish even if done with an impeccable craftmanship. This also deters me from getting a PPF coating, as removing and refitting handles and panels manually can lead to onset of irritating buzz, squeaks, and rattles in the future.


OTOH, I also don’t like a particular feature of the Alpha variant. i.e. auto-folding mirror. Many owners just plug in an after-market relay to enable the same functionality. But I really didn’t want this. The reason is hard-learnt. We have some tricky parking places where a negligible gap is maintained between two cars or often from the adjacent wall. Imagine what unlocking the car can do with the ORVMs in these situations!

Before I conclude, I must mention a feature I dislike: the auto start-stop. This issue is not specific to my variant but for all variants. My concern is not at all related to premature wear and tear of engine components but rather the implementation. I have already tested a piggyback microcontroller to reverse the default action of the auto start button and getting it imported to India for my use.

Let me quote my another post regarding this from another thread.

Originally Posted by Blooming Flower

While I am not at all worried about the wear and tear or other damages to various components as these all are nothing but myth, I really find this feature annoying in B2B peak hour Gurgaon traffic. Reason: Every time the engine wakes up after an auto-stop, the hill hold function also gets activated. That's how the programming is done in the controller. So no easy creep due to the 2 seconds hold up by the hill hold function, and the car leaps ahead after a short delay with gentle operation of the gas pedal. Yes, it's irritating in slow moving B2B traffic, and sometimes unnerving too for AT/AMTs.

P.S. I am getting a custom micro-controller in few days, which will reverse the default action, i.e. with every fresh start ISS will be disabled by default, and by pressing the switch it will be enabled. The microcontroller works in piggyback mechanism, thus no MIL triggered through BCM CAN-bus. Afterall, no need to develop the muscle-memory of pressing the switch every time the car is started.

Needless to say, Fronx AGS is not an enthusiast’s or petrolhead’s car. But for traveling from point A to point B, the Fronx AGS is a no-nonsense choice for me with my current requirement.

I will try to update the thread with the observations from my ownership experience time to time.

Till then, signing off with few pictures.

[Samba]

Quite an insightful review.

I was confused why you chose the 1.2L AMT over the 1.0L TC. But your point-wise explanation clears the doubt. From an enthusiast's perspective, the 1.0L turbo will always have our heart over the 1.2L engine. But when it's brain over mind or practicality over fun, the 1.2L makes full sense for a long-term, hassle-free ownership experience.
& yes, when we consider a fun car with a 1000cc engine, then the German 1.0L TSI is hard to ignore.

Wishing you 1000s of happy miles ahead.

[Xpresstrainfast]

Excellent review. Congrats on the new car. Wish you a happy ownership ahead.

:

#1 What is the category of eligibility for BH registration in your place of residence?

#2 Does the Fronx 'feel' more well built and modern than the Alto w.r.t Refinement, Build Quality, Fit and Finish, etc

#3 From where did you source the armrest and are the compatible for any other car?

#4 Any comment on stock tires + rims combo of this particular variant?

[Utopian]

5 stars to your detailed and honest review, I think the decision between 1.2 and 1 has been detailed very well. I agree that for city dwellers, 1.2 is a better, more practical choice. The Fronx looks smashing in this Nexa Blue shade with those black alloys. Wishing you many happy and safe miles ahead.

[sumeethaldankar]

Congrats. That is one good looking car. The only thing they take away from the Fronx is the cruise control which they offer on the Baleno AMT. Safe to say many buyers would be opting for this crossover over the Baleno hatchback.

[Blooming Flower]

Originally Posted by Xpresstrainfast

Excellent review. Congrats on the new car. Wish you a happy ownership ahead.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Xpresstrainfast

#1 What is the category of eligibility for BH registration in your place of residence?

It's more or less similar across the states offering BH series registration. Tbhp is already a great repository of information related to Indian automotive scene. So, quoting an old post from a relevant thread in answer to your question. You can go through the entire thread to get some wholesome ideas on BH registration and its latest & related developments pan-India.

Originally Posted by 007maverick

As far as your question - from my experience of recent car purchase with BH registration at Pune .. docs required are scanned colour copy of your Company badge/id, Working certificate from the employer on Form 60 (needs to have clear mention of your employee no, period of employment, designation, residential address, PAN no, UAN number Office mail id) and Address of Company offices in 4 or more states with GSTIN.
Just follow the form 60 format prescribed and get it on Company's letter head with signature. Submit original copy.

Originally Posted by Xpresstrainfast

#2 Does the Fronx 'feel' more well built and modern than the Alto w.r.t Refinement, Build Quality, Fit and Finish, etc

I am really running short of words how to write the reply.

From the basic Alto it's much better in every aspects. K12N is refined, build quality of current gen Maruti cars have improved a lot compared to the previous ones, fit and finish okayish w.r.t. the price. No question even to think of premium German cars for comparison. They are way ahead!

Originally Posted by Xpresstrainfast

#3 From where did you source the armrest and are the compatible for any other car?

I sourced both front and rear armrests from a Delhi based vendor named Carigiri. It's compatible with any car as it anchors with the existing seatbelt points and absolutely removable anytime at your wish.

Originally Posted by Xpresstrainfast

#4 Any comment on stock tires + rims combo of this particular variant?

1. Aesthetics: I find the black painted alloy wheels looking better than the machined cut ones found in Alpha model. It blends better with the darker shade (my personal opinion). Even the black painted ones cost more than the machined cut by a 4-digit margin!! Check the official price in Maruti website.

2. Functionality: I think, MSIL onboarded multiple suppliers for the tyres of Fronx. My variant came with MRF Wanderer, while the Alpha is shod with Goodyear Assurance. Both are quite good tyres with this 16" size. I chose an aftermarket Ceat SecuraDrive for the separately purchased spare wheel though. With 29-30 psi inflation they do wonderful job along with the superbly tuned suspension.

[PaddleShifter]

Congratulations and wishing you a happy ownership experience!!

I see that you have also added seat ventilation accessory to the front seats. Do share their experience w.r.t. comfort and functionality. Any pressure on the back etc?

Lastly, though you have mentioned the Ignis cons etc., why exactly did you choose fronx over ignis? Did you find the tuning of AGS in Ignis to be slightly better or different than that of fronx?

[Blooming Flower]

Originally Posted by PaddleShifter

Congratulations and wishing you a happy ownership experience!!

Thanks.

Originally Posted by PaddleShifter

I see that you have also added seat ventilation accessory to the front seats. Do share their experience w.r.t. comfort and functionality. Any pressure on the back etc?

Oh. I forgot to mention this and the TPMS as these are common for all of my cars and it's a direct carry forward from my Alto. I am so used to these now I didn't even consider to mention as new accessories.

I got it long ago from AliExpress (when they were functional in India) and it's still running fine. This has one big fan at the bottom to suck air in, and the seat + back rest area have 12 more smaller fans to evenly distribute the cooled air. It has 3 speed controls and manual and automatic mode (when you sit it will switch on automatically) Later, I bought one from Amazon India, which costed north of 5K and was of absolutely shoddy build quality with single fan and no speed control or automatic mode, and lasted only for few weeks before the fans stopped working and the material started to peel off!

The old one you see here is quite comfortable and I find no extra abnormal pressure even in long drive. It doesn't also get displaced easily from its place being secured by elastic hooks at the bottom of the car seat and at the neck-restraint area on the top.

The only downside is if you turn on the full speed mode you can hear the prominent fan operating sound in idle/ or unless any music is on! That's where the OEM ventilated seat excels.

Originally Posted by PaddleShifter

Lastly, though you have mentioned the Ignis cons etc., why exactly did you choose fronx over ignis? Did you find the tuning of AGS in Ignis to be slightly better or different than that of fronx?

Tuning of AGS is similar, but I like the drivability of the K12M engine better in Ignis. It pulls much better. Lesser weight is also a factor.

The strong points to discard it were (a) dated model (almost a decade old by now), (b)less in-cabin space (c) older gen. infotainment system, (d) stiffer ride quality, and last but not the least (d) styling. Although I had no reservation with the look of Ignis my family members were not on the same page, but for Fronx!

Hope, this clarifies.

[Phantom 510]

Congratulations for your purchase!! I have to say that you have picked the right variant for your intended usage. The 1.2L Ags is a great package considering the amount of convenience it offers. Being an NA there are no gpf issues, no premium fuel required, no fear of valves getting caked up in soot and lastly better off the idle torque delivery. The 1.0L boosterjet is a great engine but it's quite vanilla for a direct injection turbocharged petrol, only makes sense when one does more highway runs with full load.

[SS-Traveller]

Congratulations once again, publicly and in writing this time!

My variant came with MRF Wanderer

I think MSIL understands your inclination to wander all over the country, hence this set of tyres!

The fog lights on your car add a touch of class. And I agree, these wheels look much better than the machined-face wheels.