India, Dec. 25 -- If you were planning to buy the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, the recent developments in New Zealand do raise a valid question. Here's how to look at it, based strictly on what is known so far.

The Fronx sold in New Zealand and Australia, which is manufactured in India, has received a poor safety outcome from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). Following these results, Suzuki has issued a recall in New Zealand and has temporarily stopped sales of the model in that market.

ANCAP's main concern was a failure of the rear seatbelt retractor during a full-width frontal crash test. In that test, the rear seatbelt released uncontrollably, leaving the rear passenger dummy unrestrained and allowing it to hit the front s...