The Jimny is the little automotive that would for Suzuki.
The three-door mannequin launched with a bang in 2019, and lengthy waits have endured since. It was joined in late 2023 by the five-door Jimny XL and, though the wait lists haven’t been fairly as wild, it’s been scorching property as effectively.
What’s all of the hype about? On paper, it’s laborious to know.
Tiny in individual, primary inside, and powered by a breathless 1.5-litre engine with no turbocharger, the one metric through which the Jimny outguns the horde of small SUVs charging up the gross sales charts is off-road capability… which isn’t a key concern for the common small SUV purchaser.
However writing the little Suzuki off as a result of it doesn’t make sense on paper is totally lacking the purpose. Regardless of its flaws, the Jimny stays a captivating antidote to the same-sameness of contemporary vehicles.
Simply be sure to know what you’re stepping into…
How does the Suzuki Jimny examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Suzuki Jimny in opposition to equally sized automobiles.
Suzuki
Jimny
How a lot does the Suzuki Jimny price?
Pricing for the Jimny vary kicks off nearly $30,000 earlier than on-road prices. The XL computerized on take a look at right here is the costliest mannequin within the lineup.
To see how the Jimny XL stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparability software.
What’s the Suzuki Jimny like on the within?
Simplicity is the secret right here.
With an upright dashboard, primary instrument binnacle, and plenty of laborious plastics, this isn’t a luxurious automotive.
Then once more, it’s not meant to be. Suzuki has chased a rugged and retro feeling behind the wheel, and the Jimny delivers on these fronts.
The view over the stubby bonnet is commanding, and every little thing you want to use often is inside simple attain.
If you happen to’re tall it’s fairly tight sliding in underneath the steering wheel, however as soon as in there’s truly a stunning quantity of room. I simply want the steering wheel adjusted for attain, slightly than merely transferring up and down.
Infotainment comes courtesy of an aftermarket-looking 9.0-inch touchscreen built-in into the highest of the dashboard. Regardless of the tuner vibes it’s truly purposeful and fast on the transfer, hooking as much as wi-fi smartphone mirroring reliably.
The reversing digicam could be very poor, however this isn’t a giant automotive. With compact dimensions and a close to vertical rear, it’s nonetheless simple sufficient to park in tight areas.
Storage up entrance is proscribed. There are two cupholders between the seats, a phone-sized slot underneath the dashboard, and slim door pockets, however in any other case you’ll want to make use of the open house in entrance of the passenger or the small glovebox.
Rear seat house is a combined bag. On the plus facet, you’ll get an grownup again there behind a small-ish grownup up entrance, and also you don’t must contort your self to squeeze previous the folded entrance seats as is the case within the two-door.
It’s not what you’d name an enormous automotive, however that is usable for karting children round or giving pals a elevate to the practice station… supplied you solely want to hold three folks atop the motive force, slightly than 4.
Rear passengers don’t get air vents or USB energy, nor a fold-down central armrest. Prime tether and ISOFIX baby seat factors function on each rear seats, and the sq. rear door opening makes it comparatively simple to load little children.
Boot house is a claimed 211 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to 1113 litres with them folded flat. The side-opening tailgate makes it simple to load awkward gadgets, but it surely’s nonetheless not an enormous house again there.
You’ll need to fold the rear seats for a weekend’s tenting package, for instance, though the numerous lip between the boot flooring and seats might make loading more durable.
To see how the Jimny XL stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparability software.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
This isn’t a rocket in a straight line, with two extra doorways and 100kg additional to lug round relative to the two-door Jimny with which it shares its engine.
To see how the Jimny XL stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparability software.
How does the Suzuki Jimny drive?
With a naturally aspirated engine and a traditional four-speed computerized, the Jimny is a little bit of a throwback.
There’s no studying curve right here, you simply put your foot down and it goes… slowly, except you actually put your foot down. In information that’ll shock no-one, becoming an engine with 130Nm and tall gear ratios doesn’t make for a rocket ship. Then once more, that’s not likely the purpose.
Though it’s a bit gutless, the Jimny is enjoyable to drive within the metropolis. It’s tiny, so slim gaps and small carparks maintain no concern, and there’s by no means any hazard of dinging a wheel or clipping your bumper except you’re being actually reckless.
It’s simple to see the corners of the bonnet, and the upright rear finish doesn’t cover automobiles in your blind spot like options with coupe-style designs and large pillars.
The steering is kind of gradual, and it doesn’t auto-centre as shortly as you would possibly anticipate. Which means you’re busier behind the wheel than in most city-sized SUVs, though even your granny may nonetheless reverse park with one hand.
Relative to the marginally flighty two-door, the longer wheelbase on the XL makes for a extra relaxed driving expertise.
It’s higher at coping with pimply metropolis streets, and feels extra planted at freeway speeds. Fairly than being buffeted and bullied by crosswinds, continually working the wheel to remain in the midst of the lane, the XL is extra assured.
The engine is working laborious at 100km/h although, whereas the slim observe, tall physique, and upright sides imply that is nonetheless a automotive that requires fixed consideration on the open street.
At a cruise it buzzes alongside just under 3000rpm with overdrive engaged, and as quickly as you’re headed uphill the transmission kicks down from fourth to 3rd gear for extra revs, extra noise, and a bit extra punch.
It’s down a gear on the handbook, however the computerized Jimny does have a key benefit within the type of adaptive cruise management. It does a strong job sustaining a spot to the automotive in entrance, and helps reduce the load in awkward mid-speed visitors.
As for the off-road stuff? That’s the place the Jimny is happiest.
It’s simple to maneuver from 2H, to high-range four-wheel drive, or into low-range four-wheel drive utilizing the old-school lever close to the motive force’s left knee, and the extra size of the Jimny XL hasn’t undermined the underlying rugged goodness current earlier than.
Together with strong method, departure, and ramp-over angles, and a mix of mechanical and digital (within the type of hill descent management) helpers, the Jimny has a pure benefit as a result of it’s gentle and small.
Hulking, costly LandCruisers and Patrols are already near the edges of most off-road trails, leaving you only a few choices when it comes time to select a line by way of difficult obstacles. The little Jimny provides you choices.
Talking of choices, there’s additionally a booming aftermarket motion permitting house owners to take what’s already a succesful little off-roader and switch it into one thing altogether extra hardcore.
To see how the Jimny XL stacks up in opposition to the competitors, use our comparability software.
What do you get?
The Jimny XL is offered in a single grade with both a handbook or computerized transmission.
Jimny XL normal gear:
4 seatsAuto LED headlightsProjector-typeManual levellingFront fog lightsPrivacy glassHill descent control15-inch alloy wheels15-inch alloy spareLeather-wrapped steering wheel9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment systemWireless Apple CarPlayWired Android AutoDAB digital radioCruise control1 x USB outlet2 x 12V outletsFabric upholstery2 x top-tether baby seat anchor points2 x ISOFIX baby seat anchor factors
Out there colors embody:
Arctic White PearlChiffon Ivory MetallicBluish Black PearlGranite Gray MetallicSizzling Purple MetallicJungle Inexperienced
Scorching Purple and Chiffon Ivory may be had with a Bluish Black Pearl roof.
Is the Suzuki Jimny secure?
The Suzuki Jimny XL hasn’t been crash examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
The three-door mannequin has a three-star ranking based mostly on testing carried out in 2018, but it surely’s made in Japan whereas the XL is made in India.
The shortage of a five-star security ranking hasn’t been a hindrance to the two-door mannequin, with lengthy waits persisting. It’s unlikely to be a difficulty right here both.
Commonplace security gear contains:
Autonomous emergency brakingLane departure warning (at speeds of over 60km/h)Entrance, front-side and curtain airbagsReversing digicam Rear parking sensors
The automated good points adaptive cruise management, which works at speeds between 40km/h and 130km/h.
How a lot does the Suzuki Jimny price to run?
The Jimny XL has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee just like the broader Suzuki vary.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Jimny
The Jimny XL doesn’t redefine the method set out by the two-door mannequin, but it surely does make it simpler to deliver pals alongside for the journey.
It’s nonetheless a bit gutless in a straight line, and it doesn’t have the polish of its extra car-like rivals in the event you’re after no-fuss transport for the day by day grind… however that basically isn’t the purpose.
Not solely is it a gifted off-roader, the Jimny has a cool issue nothing across the identical value can replicate. It makes you cheerful in a approach a Toyota Yaris Cross or Mazda CX-30 simply received’t, and that counts for one thing.
The XL isn’t all that rather more costly than the two-door, and the additional weight doesn’t blunt its efficiency as badly as you would possibly anticipate. It was gradual earlier than, and it’s nonetheless gradual now.
If you happen to can although, we’d advocate choosing the handbook. It’s higher in a straight line, higher on the freeway, and extra enjoyable to drive in line with the Jimny’s persona.
Click on the pictures for the complete gallery
MORE: Purchase a Suzuki JimnyMORE: Every part Suzuki Jimny
