Suzuki Fronx vs Nissan NP300 Hardbody

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Suzuki Fronx in South Africa

Suzuki Fronx

1.5 GLX AT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 372,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 138 Nm ⛽ 17.5 km/l
VS
Nissan NP300 Hardbody in South Africa

Nissan NP300 Hardbody

2.5 TDi Double Cab Hi-Rider 4x4 Automatic Diesel Automatic
ZAR 529,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 98 kW 🔧 304 Nm ⛽ 11.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance NP300 Hardbody
Fuel Economy NP300 Hardbody
🛡 Safety Fronx
📦 Practicality Fronx
🔑 Ownership Fronx
Fronx starts ZAR 349900 cheaper Fronx from ZAR 303,900 · NP300 Hardbody from ZAR 349,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Fronx NP300 Hardbody
Engine Power 77 98
Torque 138 304
Engine Size 1462 2488
Claimed Mileage 17.5 11.4
Ground Clearance 170 215
Boot Space 304 Not Applicable
Airbags 6 4
Kerb Weight 970 1395
Seating Capacity Available Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Fronx

54
/ 100
+5
pts
#2

NP300 Hardbody

49
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Fronx and NP300 Hardbody are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance NP300 Hardbody +4 pts
Efficiency NP300 Hardbody +7 pts
Safety Fronx +6 pts
Practicality Fronx +2 pts
Ownership Fronx +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Fronx

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 20/20

NP300 Hardbody

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 12/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Fronx

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

NP300 Hardbody

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Fronx

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

NP300 Hardbody

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Fronx NP300 Hardbody
Engine 1.5L K15B 4-Cylinder Petrol 2.5L Turbocharged Diesel
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged
Engine Code K15B Standard
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Naturally Aspirated Turbocharged
Displacement 1462 2488
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Cylinder Bore 74.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 85.1 92.0
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 17.5:1
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted Front Longitudinal
Variable Valve Timing VVT on Intake Camshaft Available
Fuel System Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI) Common Rail Direct Injection
Turbocharger Not Applicable Single Turbo
Power 77 98
Power @ RPM 6,000 rpm 3600 rpm
Power 103 150
Torque 138 304
Torque @ RPM 4,400 rpm 1750-2500 rpm
Maximum Engine RPM 6800 Available
Engine Oil Capacity 3.7 Available
Fuel Grade Required 93 RON Unleaded Petrol Petrol
Top Speed 175 168
0-100 km/h 13.0 12.5
Engine Type Config Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available
Spec Fronx NP300 Hardbody
Transmission 4-Speed Automatic 7-Speed Automatic
Transmission Type 4-Speed Automatic Automatic
Number of Gears 4 6
Drive Type FWD 4WD
Drivetrain Layout Front Wheel Drive Part-Time 4WD
Final Drive Ratio 4.388:1 Available
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 2.8 Available
Clutch Type Single Dry Plate Diaphragm Available
LSD Available Not Available Not Available
Differential Lock Not Available Rear Lock
Transfer Case Not Applicable Standard
Paddle Shifters Not Available Not Available
Drivetrain Available Available
Transmission Available Automatic CVT

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Suzuki Fronx wins with 54 pts vs 49 pts for NP300 Hardbody

In structured scoring, Fronx emerges as the stronger overall package. However, NP300 Hardbody may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Fronx edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Fronx 0 vs NP300 Hardbody 7. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Fronx 18, NP300 Hardbody 12. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Fronx 20, NP300 Hardbody 12. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Fronx 10, NP300 Hardbody 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Fronx 6, NP300 Hardbody 10. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Fronx edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Fronx scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Fronx and NP300 Hardbody in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Fronx scores 6 vs 10.

Efficiency: Fronx scores 0 vs 7.

Safety: Fronx scores 18 vs 12.

Practicality: Fronx scores 10 vs 8.

Ownership: Fronx scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Fronx the advantage in this comparison.