B FOR BOOSTERJET

The three-cylinder turbo petrol from Maruti Suzuki makes an impressive comeback

- Tirth Pandya

Back in 2017, when NEXA was relatively new, Maruti Suzuki launched an RS variant of their much-loved hatchback, the Baleno, which was powered by the 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine. I had a brief go at it, and boy, I was left impressed with the amount of punch it offered. This was at a time when the concept of a three-cylinder turbo petrol mill was relatively new. However, it faced setbacks during the BS6 emission norms phase, only to make a triumphant comeback last year with the Maruti Suzuki Fronx.

Anyway, back then, I missed out on the opportunity to experience the Fronx firsthand. But fate seemed determined to rectify that oversight when, unexpectedly, a Fronx appeared at our office doorstep. To my excitement, it was the turbo MT variant, the one I had been eager to test. Without a blink, I seized the keys, before any of my colleagues could beat me to it.

Aimed with the motive to test this compact SUV, I left my living quarters on a rather early Wednesday morning and reached the Lavasa ghats to push the Fronx at the corners and it put a nice wide grin on my face. It's remarkable to think that just a year ago, the Fronx made its debut, and since then, it has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity, surpassing the milestone of a lakh units sold. What exactly is responsible for its success-its pleasing performance, its undeniable charm? Who knows.