SUZUKI FRONX GLX AT

Was the Suzuki Fronx GLX AT the ideal road trip companion for a Cape Town to Namibia adventure?

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Cape Town and its magnificent Table Mountain behind for the open road is a profoundly liberating experience. It’s 06:00 am when we begin what would be our 1900 km journey in a Suzuki Fronx GLX AT, with windows slightly open to allow the fresh morning breeze to fill the cabin, a playlist on shuffle, and the GPS on the 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The open road unwinding ahead, cruise control engaged, and luggage neatly packed into the surprisingly spacious 304 litre boot. That’s exactly how our adventure began, steering the Suzuki Fronx GLX AT north, bound for the rugged beauty of Fish River Canyon and the surreal silhouettes of quiver trees at the Gondwana Nature Park.

What made me think the Suzuki Fronx GLX AT was the ideal companion for a road trip? I did not. The Suzuki Fronx just seemed like the perfect option for a compact or crossover car that I could put through the difficult test to see if it could handle Namibia’s rugged terrains. My mission was to test its capabilities, ground clearance, reliability, comfort, space, handling, safety features, and fuel efficiency on a long road trip. Even though the Suzuki Jimny is the popular choice for many travellers visiting Namibia because of its 4×4 capabilities, I had a feeling that the Fronx would also be capable because they both use the same 1.5L 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 75–77 kW and 130–138 Nm of torque, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. I chose the Suzuki Fronx not just for its city-friendly size, but because the manufacturer promises a blend of everyday comfort and long-distance liveability that few compact crossovers deliver.

A Cape Town to southern Namibia round trip is not a casual weekend drive. Our return journey would cover 1900 km, spanning vast landscapes, border crossings, desert plains, and isolated roads where you could drive for an hour or two without seeing a town or other vehicles. So, you want a fuel-efficient vehicle, so petrol stops are infrequent and budgets stay sane, comfortable, because the kilometres add up, capable enough for changing road conditions, adequate ground clearance for handling both smooth tar and gravel roads, and the occasional dirt detours out to viewpoints without complaint, and be practical, with space for luggage and snacks. Some journeys are about destinations. But the ones I love are about the moments in between, the silence, the horizon, and the feeling that the road is carrying you somewhere deeper than just a pin on a map. Our road trip from Cape Town to southern Namibia was very much the latter, and the Suzuki Fronx GLX AT became both our transport and our sanctuary.

This compact crossover felt planted and relaxed, its seats supportive enough for the long road, a detail you only truly appreciate once the kilometres start stacking up. The Fronx’s fuel efficiency quickly became a highlight. Long stretches between towns in the Northern Cape meant planning fuel stops carefully, and averaging 5.7 L/100 km gave us confidence to keep going without range anxiety. Still, though, I never let the 37-litre fuel tank reach half full by always filling up whenever we saw a petrol station. Heading north through the Northern Cape, the landscape shifted from orchards and vineyards to ochre scrub and immense skies.

The border process was a breeze because the Suzuki SA team had prepared all the necessary cross-border documents for my convenience. Crossing into Namibia felt like crossing into another pace of life. The roads stretched wider, straighter, and quieter. Exceptionally well maintained Namibian roads, both tar and gravel, rolled endlessly through open plains, interrupted only by the occasional kudu or distant farmhouse. I learned from the last time I visited Namibia that driving here is not stressful, it’s meditative. You watch mirages shimmer on the horizon, mountains rise slowly out of the earth, and colours shift with the light. The Suzuki Fronx GLX AT felt perfectly suited to this environment, stable at speed, light on fuel, and agile enough when tar gave way to gravel roads and dirt detours.

On gravel sections leading to viewpoints and lodges, the Fronx’s 170 mm ground clearance and composed suspension soaked up corrugations comfortably. I deflated the tyres to 1.8 bar, and that added extra comfort when driving on corrugated roads. The Fronx never pretended to be a hardcore off-roader and didn’t need to be. It simply got us there, calmly and confidently.

Across the Border into Namibia

Fish River Canyon, Gondwana Nature Park, and Kolmanskop

By the end of the second day, we rolled into the Fish River Canyon park, the second largest canyon in the world and one of Africa’s grandest geological spectacles. The scale is difficult to comprehend until you are standing at the edge, watching shadows carve deep into the rock. Its serpentine gorges plunge deep into the desert floor, and standing at the edge with the Suzuki Fronx GLX AT next to me, I felt both insignificant and awe-struck, and I felt proud that I had ticked off one of my long-time bucket list attractions. Just getting there was part of the experience and a dream I had for many years. Our next stop the following day was at the Gondwana Nature Park to see the iconic quiver trees with their spiky crowns and thick trunks and their sculptural forms rising like ancient sentinels from the red earth, where the landscape feels almost lunar. The remaining days were spent around the accommodation enjoying all the experiences offered by Gondwana Collections.

REFLECTIONS ON THE LONG DRIVE

The long sweep back south gave us time to reflect on just how much ground we had covered, both physically and in terms of memories made. On this journey, the Suzuki Fronx GLX AT delivered on all counts except the rattling sound of the retractable Head-Up Display (HUD) glass panel whenever we drove on gravel roads. Fortunately, the rattling goes away when you press and hold the HUD button to retract the panel. The Fronx was our reliable companion, proof that grand adventures don’t always require giant SUVs or massive budgets. Sometimes all you need is a reliable little crossover, good company, and an open road.

Long-distance road trips reveal a vehicle’s true character, and the Fronx quickly settled into its role. Compact yet confident, it cruised effortlessly along open tar and gravel roads, its cabin offering a calm, comfortable refuge from the outside world. Supportive seats, intuitive infotainment, and cruise control turned hours behind the multi-functional wheel into something surprisingly restful. Packing for a multi-day adventure was refreshingly uncomplicated. The Fronx’s well-designed boot swallowed luggage, camera gear, and supplies with ease, while clever cabin storage kept essentials close at hand. Just as reassuring was its fuel efficiency, averaging 5.7 L/100 km, which allowed us to focus on the journey rather than constantly worrying about how far the next fuel station is.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A road trip through any region around Namibia changes you. The roads teach patience, the sunsets teach humility, and the silence teaches presence. And when you have the right vehicle beneath you, one that lets you focus on the journey rather than the logistics, the experience becomes something you will carry long after the dust has settled. Sometimes, the best way to explore the world is simply to drive into it. By the time we returned to Cape Town, the Fronx felt less like a test vehicle and more like a trusted companion. It proved that adventure doesn’t require excess, just balance. Comfort without compromise, efficiency without sacrifice, and capability where it matters.

SERVICE PLAN AND WARRANTY

The Suzuki Fronx 1.5 GLX AT (automatic) comes with a standard 4-year/60 000 km service plan and a 5-year/200 000 km promotional warranty. Service intervals are every 15 000 km.

GLX EXTERIOR FEATURES

Other: Functional roof rails
Wheels: 16-inch polished alloy wheels
Mirrors: Electric folding and adjustable mirrors
Lights: LED multi-reflector headlamps, LED daytime running lights, and automatic headlights

GLX INTERIOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Charging: Wireless and USB ports
Climate: Automatic digital climate control
Display: 4.2-inch colour LCD multi-information display
Infotainment: 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Convenience: Head-up display, cruise control, push-button start/keyless entry, and auto-dimming rearview mirror

GLX SAFETY FEATURES

Camera: 360-view camera
Parking: Rear Park Distance Control
Airbags: Six airbags (dual front, side, and curtain)
Systems: ABS with EBD, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), and Hill Hold Control