- Ten Suzukis driven on a 120km Pretoria route.
- Event held from 29 to 30 September.
- Fronx manual recorded 5.14L/100km.
- Baleno manual within 0.14L/100km of claim.
- Swift manual achieved 5.03L/100km.
Twenty media participants took five Suzuki models through the streets of Pretoria on 29 and 30 September for the 2026 Suzuki Fuel Economy Challenge. Two examples each of the Fronx, Across, Swift, Dzire and Baleno covered a predetermined 120km route, with the aim of recording the lowest possible fuel consumption.
The event comes as 95-octane petrol costs R30.25 a litre at inland service stations in South Africa. To keep results consistent, every vehicle was refuelled at the same pump, with the nozzle inserted to the same depth and filling stopped at the first automatic shut-off click. Consumption was calculated at the end of the route. The drivers, all non-professionals, were briefed on economical driving techniques, but conditions included rain, reduced visibility, power outages and increased traffic congestion.
Suzuki Fronx manual sets the best result
A Fronx manual driven by Ryno Fourie (AutoTrader) and Julian Steyn (CAR Magazine) recorded 5.14L/100km, against Suzuki’s claimed figure of 5.5L/100km. From its 37-litre tank, that equates to a theoretical range of approximately 720km and a fuel cost of roughly R1.55/km at the current 95-octane price.
Second place went to a Baleno manual crewed by Avon Middleton (Top Gear South Africa) and Rati Mofokeng (Cars.co.za). It returned 5.54L/100km against an official 5.4L/100km, a gap of just 0.14L/100km, giving a theoretical range of about 668km and a cost of around R1.68/km. Both cars use the 1.5-litre four-cylinder K15B petrol engine, rated at 77kW at 6,000rpm and 138Nm at 4,400rpm.
Swift and the rest of the field
Content creators Gift Makoti and Siya Ndamase took third in a Swift manual, recording 5.03L/100km against a claimed 4.4L/100km. That translates to roughly 736km from the 37-litre tank and around R1.52/km. This hatchback runs the Z12E 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 60kW at 5,700rpm and 112Nm at 4,300rpm.
Further down the order, the two Across manuals recorded 6.15L/100km and 6.67L/100km, while the Fronx automatic returned 6.81L/100km and the Swift CVT 5.83L/100km. The Dzire manual and CVT managed 5.55L/100km and 6.10L/100km respectively, and the second Baleno manual finished on 6.67L/100km.
What Suzuki says about the results
Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto South Africa, said several vehicles came close to their official claimed consumption figures despite the route challenges. “While consumption will always vary depending on driving style, traffic and weather, the challenge showed the potential of our vehicles to deliver more kilometres from every litre,” he said.
Supplied by MotorPress (Eileen Gengan, Assistant Manager: PR & Events, Suzuki Auto South Africa)
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