Maruti Suzuki Fronx vs Renault Captur [2017-2019]

Our long-term Maruti Suzuki Fronx has been consistently doing a 50km daily round trip between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. In the last 1,000km, we've learned more about how the car is to live with. Here's what will help you make an informed decision if you are considering this top-spec turbo-petrol crossover and your usage involves a lot of city driving.

Renault started the compact SUV segment with the Duster and it was a huge hit thanks to the butch yet compact styling. With no rivals in the compact SUV space, the Duster had it easy until the Hyundai Creta came along and changed the game. Although the Creta didn’t feel or looked as rugged as the Renault, the Korean car felt much more premium and it ate into the Duster’s sales despite costing a lot more. Now though the French manufacturer is back and is about to launch the Captur, which is essentially a more premium, feature laden and stylish version of the Duster aimed straight at the hot selling Creta. Although it is based on the same MO platform as the Duster, the Captur has no design similarities to the Duster whatsoever and it doesn’t carry over a single body panel too.

After the runaway success of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, the carmaker decided to bring in a sporty and muscular crossover based on it. Enter the Fronx. This car debuted at the Auto Expo in January this year. It's already on the list of top-10 highest-selling cars in India. But what makes it so special? We shall delve deeper and find answers as it has entered our long-term fleet now. So, it will undergo daily driving, city runabouts, and highway runs, and we will be basically living with it for the next few months.