There is no doubt that the Tata Nexon is among the bestselling Tata cars in the segment and the country. The Nexon is a sub-compact crossover SUV that takes on the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Nissan Magnite, and the recently-launched Maruti Suzuki Fronx. And, as you may know, this segment is the hottest in the country and has cut-throat competition. Maruti Suzuki already had Brezza in the segment, but now there are two after the inception of the Fronx.
Both vehicles are quite similar in terms of features and specifications. That said, they are also similarly priced. That is why, we will compare these two vehicles and see how they hold up with each other.
Specifications
For starters, let’s talk about the recently-launched Maruti Suzuki Fronx. The market dominator has built the Fronx using the HEARTECT B platform, which also underpins two Maruti Suzuki cars, the Swift and the Baleno. Unlike the Tata Nexon, the Fronx is available in petrol only. It has a 1.2-litre, naturally-aspirated, Dual Jet engine, which is tuned to churn out 89 bhp at 6000 rpm and 113 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm.
Another option includes a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol Booster Jet engine that can produce 99 bhp at 5500 rpm and 147.6 Nm of torque at 2000 rpm. If you may remember, this engine was introduced in the Baleno RS in 2017.
Both engines of the Maruti Suzuki Fronx have mild hybrid technology. To know the driveability of this vehicle, check out the 2023 Fronx review, then.
As for transmission options, both engines get a standard five-speed manual gearbox, but the AMT and a torque converter are exclusive to 1.2-litre and 1.0-litre engines, respectively.
On the flip side, the Tata Nexon is built on Tata’s in-house designed Tata X1 platform which underpins the Tiago as well as the Tigor. As for the powertrain, the Nexon can be had in both petrol and diesel engines. Both have turbochargers.
The petrol version is powered by a 1.2-litre Turbocharged Revotron mill, which is tuned to generate 118 bhp at 5500 rpm and 170 Nm of peak torque at 1750 rpm. In parallel, the diesel version can be had with a 1.5-litre Turbocharged diesel mill that can produce 108 bhp at 4000 rpm and 260 Nm of peak torque at 1500 rpm. The transmission options for both versions include a six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed AMT. If you are a performance-oriented buyer, you should consider the diesel version of the Nexon. Check out the Nexon price here.
Keeping their engine outputs aside, let’s now talk about their suspension setups.
To start with, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx has a MacPherson Strut suspension at the front and a torsion beam suspension at the rear.
On the other hand, the Tata Nexon has a superior setup to the Fronx. It stands on an independent, lower wishbone McPherson Strut with coil spring suspension at the front and a semi-independent with closed profile twist beam with coil spring suspension and shock absorber at the rear. Given the Tata Nexon’s price, it has an impressive suspension setup.
Since these two are homegrown sub-compact crossover SUVs, you can expect good ride quality from them. That said, they are engineered by keeping the conditions of Indian roads in mind, as a result, they’ll be able to absorb the bumps from potholes and can sail through the undulations with ease.
Moreover, the braking duties on these two vehicles are taken care of by dual-disc brakes, which are standard.
Besides that, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx has a standard tyre profile of 195/60 R16. Only the type of rims will change with variants. Similarly, that same tyre profile can be had in the lower variants of the Tata Nexon, but its higher variants have a tyre profile of 215/60 R16.
Features
Both vehicles boast a long list of features. Please note that the features mentioned here belong to the top-most variant of these two vehicles. Let’s start with the standalone features of the Tata Nexon. It has leather upholstery with a single-tone colour scheme, front and rear cupholders, a cooled glove box, a sunglass holder, driver armrest storage, etc. Further, it has an electric tailgate release, an electrically adjustable single-pane sunroof, optional ambient lighting, and a digital instrument cluster. It also features a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Last but not least, the Nexon has a tyre pressure monitoring system, dual airbags, and a reverse camera with guidance.
On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx has fabric upholstery, a 360 camera, a heads-up display, a semi-digital instrument cluster, and a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Further, it has a wireless charger, rear reading lamp, Alexa compatibility, and tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel. It also has an electric auto-dimming IRVM, which is not there in the Nexon. The Nexon has a manually-operated anti-glare IRVM. Considering the Fronx’s price, it has a good number of new-age features.
As for safety, the Tata Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Fronx have ABS with EBD, traction control, ESP, hill hold control, brake assist, central locking, child-seat anchorages, speed sensing door lock, and engine immobiliser, to name a few. However, the Nexon has a five-star safety rating, awarded by the Global NCAP, while the Fronx is yet to be tested.
Prices and Variants
The Tata Nexon has eight broad trims: XE, XM, XM (S), XM+ (S), XZ+, XZ+ (HS), XZ+ (L) and XZ+ (P). The Dark and Red Dark editions are available from XZ+, while the Kaziranga Edition is available on the top-spec XZ+ and XZA+ trims. There are 65 variants in total. The Tata Nexon’s price starts at Rs 7.80 lakh and goes up to Rs 14.50 lakh.
On the other hand, the Fronx has five broad trims: Sigma, Delta, Delta+, Zeta and Alpha. It has a total of 12 variants. As for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx’s price, it starts at Rs 7.46 lakh and goes up to Rs 13.13 lakh.
All are ex-showroom prices in Delhi, as of June 2023. Please note that these prices are subject to change without any prior notice to the customer. You can, however, visit the autoX website to access the latest location-based price list for your dream vehicle. For more, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. So, stay tuned!
