The Suzuki Fronx mild-hybrid is "expected" to launch in September, while a facelifted Vitara with a mild-hybrid system is due in the first quarter of 2026.
The launch of electrified Suzuki SUVs in Australia has been delayed again – while the future of one model remains under a cloud.
Suzuki Australia has confirmed its Fronx city SUV is "expected" to arrive in local showrooms in September, after it was previously announced to launch earlier this year, and then mid-2025.
Pricing and specifications for the Fronx are yet to be confirmed, but the Chery Tiggo 4, GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZS rival will replace the current Ignis, which was last offered between $21,490 and $25,990 before on-road costs.
The Indian-built Suzuki Fronx debuted in January 2023, and it is based on the Baleno hatchback discontinued in Australia three years ago.
While Suzuki Australia is marketing the new model as 'Fronx Hybrid', its electric motor and small battery are unable to directly drive the wheels – unlike full-hybrid rivals such as the Toyota Yaris Cross, MG ZS and Chery Tiggo 4.
Government approval documents confirm the Fronx will offer a 76kW/137Nm 1.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine matched to a 12-volt mild-hybrid system, with an integrated starter generator allowing the electric motor to start the engine and assist it during acceleration.
A six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission will be standard in Australia.
Meanwhile, Suzuki Australia has confirmed a facelift for its 10-year-old Vitara small SUV is now due in local showrooms between January and March 2026, missing its expected late 2025 launch date.
The Vitara update will introduce a hybrid system, which is likely to be the Toyota-style 'full-hybrid' system available in Europe, allowing its 24kW electric motor to power the wheels.
Other revisions are expected to include refreshed exterior styling, a new infotainment touchscreen with updated software, and enhanced safety features such as lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition.
It will be joined by the unrelated e-Vitara SUV, also due between January and March 2026 as the brand's first battery-electric vehicle in Australia.
Current versions of the Suzuki Vitara do not meet new AEB rules introduced in Australia on March 1, 2025, but the update will receive updates to meet the requirements.
Also impacted are the S-Cross and three-door Jimny, while the Ignis did not offer AEB.
The future of the S-Cross in Australia is unclear, with hybrid versions previously expected in Australia around the same time as the Vitara.
Suzuki Australia has not mentioned the S-Cross mild-hybrid or full-hybrid in its media release, but it says any updates "if applicable" would be confirmed in "future communications" from the brand.
"S-Cross, in its current product specification, [will] continue to be on sale in Australia. Updates to these specifications, if applicable, will be the subject of future communications," a Suzuki Australia spokesperson said.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
