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 sizzling property as nicely.
What’s all of the hype about? On paper, it’s onerous to grasp.
Tiny in particular person, fundamental inside, and powered by a breathless 1.5-litre engine with no turbocharger, the one metric wherein the Jimny outguns the horde of small SUVs charging up the gross sales charts is off-road capacity… which isn’t a key concern for the typical 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 you know what you’re moving into…
How does the Suzuki Jimny examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Suzuki Jimny towards equally sized autos.
Suzuki
Jimny
How a lot does the Suzuki Jimny value?
Pricing for the Jimny vary kicks off nearly $30,000 earlier than on-road prices. The XL computerized on check right here is the costliest mannequin within the lineup.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-roads |
|---|---|
| Suzuki Jimny Lite guide | $30,490 |
| Suzuki Jimny GLX guide | $31,990 |
| Suzuki Jimny GLX computerized | $33,490 |
| Suzuki Jimny XL guide | $34,990 |
| Suzuki Jimny XL computerized | $36,490 |
To see how the Jimny XL stacks up towards the competitors, use our comparability device.
What’s the Suzuki Jimny like on the within?
Simplicity is the secret right here.
With an upright dashboard, fundamental instrument binnacle, and plenty of onerous 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 part you want to use repeatedly is inside straightforward attain.
Should you’re tall it’s fairly tight sliding in underneath the steering wheel, however as soon as in there’s truly a shocking quantity of room. I simply want the steering wheel adjusted for attain, relatively 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 digital camera may be very poor, however this isn’t a giant automotive. With compact dimensions and a close to vertical rear, it’s nonetheless straightforward 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 youngsters round or giving mates a carry to the prepare station… supplied you solely want to hold three folks atop the motive force, relatively than 4.
Rear passengers don’t get air vents or USB energy, nor a fold-down central armrest. High tether and ISOFIX baby seat factors characteristic on each rear seats, and the sq. rear door opening makes it comparatively straightforward to load little youngsters.
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 straightforward to load awkward objects, however it’s nonetheless not an enormous house again there.
You’ll wish to fold the rear seats for a weekend’s tenting package, for instance, though the numerous lip between the boot ground and seats could make loading tougher.
| Dimensions | Suzuki Jimny XL |
|---|---|
| Size | 3820mm |
| Width | 1645mm |
| Top | 1720mm |
| Wheelbase | 2590mm |
| Cargo capability | 211 litres (5 seats) 1113 litres (2 seats) |
To see how the Jimny XL stacks up towards the competitors, use our comparability device.
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.
| Specs | Suzuki Jimny XL computerized |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L 4cyl petrol |
| Engine outputs | 75kW + 130Nm |
| Transmission | 4-speed auto (with overdrive) |
| Pushed wheels | 4WD with 2H, 4H, 4L |
| Weight | 1200kg (kerb) |
| Gas financial system (claimed) | 6.9L/100km |
| Gas financial system (as examined) | 8.0L/100km |
| Gas tank capability | 40 litres |
| Gas requirement | 91 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 161g/km |
| Braked tow capability | 1300kg |
To see how the Jimny XL stacks up towards the competitors, use our comparability device.
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.
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Abroad fashions pictured
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 probably not 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 straightforward to see the corners of the bonnet, and the upright rear finish doesn’t disguise autos in your blind spot like options with coupe-style designs and large pillars.
The steering is sort of gradual, and it doesn’t auto-centre as rapidly as you may 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, continuously working the wheel to remain in the course of the lane, the XL is extra assured.
The engine is working onerous 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 guide, 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 straightforward 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 strategy, 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 perimeters of most off-road trails, leaving you only a few choices when it comes time to choose a line by means of tough 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.
| Off-road dimensions | Suzuki Jimny XL computerized |
|---|---|
| Monitor entrance and rear | 1395mm + 1405mm |
| Floor clearance | 210mm (unladen) |
| Method angle | 36 levels |
| Departure angle | 47 levels |
| Ramp breakover angle | 24 levels |
| Wading depth | 800mm |
To see how the Jimny XL stacks up towards the competitors, use our comparability device.
What do you get?
The Jimny XL is obtainable in a single grade with both a guide or computerized transmission.
Jimny XL customary tools:
- 4 seats
- Auto LED headlights
- Projector-type
- Handbook levelling
- Entrance fog lights
- Privateness glass
- Hill descent management
- 15-inch alloy wheels
- 15-inch alloy spare
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- DAB digital radio
- Cruise management
- 1 x USB outlet
- 2 x 12V retailers
- Cloth upholstery
- 2 x top-tether baby seat anchor factors
- 2 x ISOFIX baby seat anchor factors
Obtainable colors embrace:
- Arctic White Pearl
- Chiffon Ivory Metallic
- Bluish Black Pearl
- Granite Gray Metallic
- Scorching Purple Metallic
- Jungle Inexperienced
Scorching Purple and Chiffon Ivory might be had with a Bluish Black Pearl roof.
Is the Suzuki Jimny protected?
The Suzuki Jimny XL hasn’t been crash examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
The three-door mannequin has a three-star score based mostly on testing carried out in 2018, however it’s made in Japan whereas the XL is made in India.
The shortage of a five-star security score 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 tools contains:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane departure warning (at speeds of over 60km/h)
- Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
- Reversing digital camera
- Rear parking sensors
The automated features adaptive cruise management, which works at speeds between 40km/h and 130km/h.
How a lot does the Suzuki Jimny value to run?
The Jimny XL has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee just like the broader Suzuki vary.
| Operating prices | Suzuki Jimny XL computerized |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | As much as 5 years (service activated) |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 20,000 kilometres |
| Capped value servicing | 5 years |
| Complete capped value service value | $2265 |
CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Jimny
The Jimny XL doesn’t redefine the formulation set out by the two-door mannequin, however it does make it simpler to convey mates alongside for the trip.
It’s nonetheless a bit gutless in a straight line, and it doesn’t have the polish of its extra car-like rivals should you’re after no-fuss transport for the day by day grind… however that actually isn’t the purpose.
Not solely is it a gifted off-roader, the Jimny has a cool issue nothing across the similar value can replicate. It makes you content in a method a Toyota Yaris Cross or Mazda CX-30 simply gained’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 may anticipate. It was gradual earlier than, and it’s nonetheless gradual now.
Should you can although, we’d suggest choosing the guide. It’s higher in a straight line, higher on the freeway, and extra enjoyable to drive consistent with the Jimny’s persona.
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