Will there be non-mild-hybrid variants of Suzuki Fronx in PH?

A few days ago, Suzuki Philippines wowed the Philippine automotive market when it previewed the Fronx. It’s set to take on the likes of the Toyota Raize, Kia Sonet, and possibly the Nissan Magnite in the A-SUV segment and will be available with a 1.5L mild-hybrid powertrain.

Other details regarding the Suzuki Fronx have yet to be revealed by the automaker, although they did mention that it will be launched later this year at a very competitive price. Based on the vehicle they previewed, the top-of-the-line Suzuki Fronx could be equipped with leather-fabric upholstery, a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a wireless charging pad, and intelligent driver assistance systems via ADAS.

But since the automaker only previewed the top-of-the-line version, we were curious if Suzuki Philippines Inc. (SPH) plans to bring lesser variants without a non-hybrid powertrain. To find out, we asked an executive who wished to remain anonymous whether the Suzuki Fronx will be offered with a non-hybrid powertrain.

According to the executive we spoke to, the automaker is still finalizing the variants and the equipment list the Suzuki Fronx will have in the Philippines. However, Suzuki has yet to decide if it will offer variants that do not come with the SHVS mild-hybrid tech.

As a refresher, the mild-hybrid version of the Suzuki Fronx is powered by a 1.5L K15C four-cylinder engine that produces 103 PS and 137 Nm of torque, and can be paired with either a six-speed automatic gearbox or a five-speed manual transmission. Thanks to the 48V mild-hybrid system, the Fronx is capable of gathering lost energy while braking or coasting, providing additional acceleration while under load, and an automatic engine start/stop system when idling.

There’s also a regular, non-hybrid powertrain in the form of the 1.5L K15B inline-four. This one makes a little more power with 105 PS and 138 Nm of torque. Available transmissions with this engine include a four-speed automatic and a five-speed manual gearbox.

But why offer two engine options in the first place? If you take a look at the Toyota Raize, it’s available with a 1.2L naturally aspirated inline-three and a 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder. The former is more affordable, while the latter serves as the range-topping version. Since Suzuki Philippines received regulatory approval for a passenger vehicle with different engine variants, it’s highly likely the automaker is making the final checks before it launches the new crossover.

Do you think Suzuki should launch a non-hybrid variant of the Fronx? Let us know what you think in the comments section.