Suzuki Fronx vs Toyota Hiace
Verdict
At RM147,888 versus RM169,000, this is less a close spec fight than a usage split. The Suzuki Fronx is the private-car choice: a 3,995 mm B-segment SUV with five seats, 308 litres of boot space, six airbags and auto emergency braking. The Toyota Hiace is much larger at 5,915 mm long and seats 10, with a 2.8-litre diesel making 175 hp and 450 Nm. The RM21,112 gap buys size, torque, tank capacity and a longer warranty, not agility.
Pick the Suzuki Fronx if you want the smaller five-seat SUV with auto emergency braking, a listed 308-litre boot and the lower purchase price.
Pick the Toyota Hiace if you need 10 seats, rear-wheel drive, 450 Nm of diesel torque and a five-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Suzuki Fronx RM147,888; Toyota Hiace RM169,000
- Seats: Suzuki Fronx 5; Toyota Hiace 10
- Power and torque: Suzuki Fronx 100 hp/138 Nm; Toyota Hiace 175 hp/450 Nm
- Size: Suzuki Fronx 3,995 mm long/1,550 mm tall; Toyota Hiace 5,915 mm long/2,280 mm tall
- Fuel tank: Suzuki Fronx 37 litres; Toyota Hiace 70 litres
- Warranty: Suzuki Fronx 3 years; Toyota Hiace 5 years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 147,888✓ | RM 169,000 |
| Body type | SUV | Commercial |
| Segment | B-Segment | Commercial |
| Seats | 5 | 10 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Diesel |
| Engine | — | 2,755 cc |
| Power | 100 hp | 175 hp✓ |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,995 mm | 5,915 mm |
| Width | 1,765 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Height | 1,550 mm | 2,280 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,520 mm | 3,860 mm |
| Boot space | 308 L | — |
| Fuel tank | 37 L | 70 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 3 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | — | RM 1,248 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Fronx
- Lower price by RM21,112
- Auto emergency braking included
- Much shorter 3,995 mm body
- Only five seats
- 100 hp and 138 Nm trail the Toyota heavily
- Shorter three-year warranty
Hiace
- Seats 10 people
- Strong 450 Nm diesel torque
- Longer five-year warranty
- Costs RM21,112 more
- Far larger 5,915 mm length
- RM1,248 annual road tax listed
Fronx vs Hiace FAQ
Is the Suzuki Fronx or Toyota Hiace better?
The Suzuki Fronx is better for normal five-seat SUV use. The Toyota Hiace is better if passenger capacity matters, because it has 10 seats, much more torque and a longer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Hiace costs RM21,112 more than the Suzuki Fronx. That extra spend mainly gets you 10 seats, a much larger body, a 70-litre fuel tank and a five-year warranty.
Which one is easier to live with in town?
On size alone, the Suzuki Fronx is easier to place. It is 3,995 mm long and 1,765 mm wide, while the Toyota Hiace is 5,915 mm long and 1,950 mm wide.