It’s been more than five years since we last drove the “new” Suzuki Jimny.
The scary thing is that not much has changed in this time — it’s still fundamentally the same.
It’s the same engine, the same transmission and the same four-wheel drive system.
There’s a new touchscreen and operating system, while auto cruise control and parking
sensors have been added front and back.
And along the way, a cheaper, more accessible version of the little 4×4 was added to the mix
— known simply as the Jimny Lite.
STYLING
Five years ago, three-door Jimny was priced from $23,990. To get into the car now, it’s
$31,990 and that is for the Lite version. The full-blown version is $33,990 for the manual or
$36,490 for the automatic.
Five-door Jimny XL meanwhile is priced from $34,990, while the better equipped Heritage
edition is $40,990 — all prices before on-road costs.
Any colour except white adds to the price, with Premium paint $745 and two-tone paintwork
with a black roof is $1345. Lite is available only in Superior White or Jungle Green.
The bright green or perhaps yellow that everyone wants is called Kinetic Yellow and is
available only in combination with a black roof.
Interestingly, it’s a very close match for the colour of Ryobi power tools.
There are seven colours to choose from, three of them two-tone combinations: Superior
White, Jungle Green, Medium Gray, Chiffon Ivory Metallic/Bluish Black Pearl, Kinetic
Yellow/Bluish Black Pearl, Brisk Blue Metallic/Bluish Black Pearl.
Our test vehicle is the three-door Jimny in top spec, finished in the black and yellow combo.
Cloth trim is standard across all grades, with a leather-clad steering wheel and single zone
climate control for this grade.
Adaptive cruise control is also now standard on both three-doors, but only the auto version
of the five-door gets it. And you still start the car with a key.
There’s also LED headlights, auto high beam, traffic sign recognition, front fog lights,
daytime running Lights (DRLs), privacy glass and 15-inch alloys with skinny 195/80 tyres.
Jimny is covered by a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with roadside assistance for five
years too.
INFOTAINMENT
The big story, if you can call it that, is the upgrade to the infotainment system.
A 9.0-inch screen (7.0-inch for Lite) now heads up the system, with Bluetooth, voice control,
AM/FM and now DAB+ digital radio, plus wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, with sound
delivered via an ancient two-speaker audio system.
Built-in navigation, once standard, is missing in action.
There’s a single USB-A port and a 12-volt outlet in the front, with another 12-volt outlet for
the luggage area.
SAFETY
Safety comprises six airbags and autonomous emergency braking which uses a camera and
a laser sensor to scan the road ahead for traffic and/or pedestrians.
You also get lane departure warning, weaving assist to fight fatigue, plus automatic, traffic-
sensing high beam.
Despite all this, Jimny scores only three of a possible five stars for safety.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
At the business end, a 1.5-litre, four cylinder, naturally-aspirated petrol engine delivers a
stingy 75kW of power and 130Nm of torque — the latter at 4000 revs.
The 1.5 is available with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, with lockout overdrive
that prevents the auto from changing into top gear — sort of a sport mode.
DRIVING
It’s a cutie, that’s for sure — but looks aren’t everything.
A part-time four-wheel drive system, featuring high and low range gearing, is engaged via a
second stubby transfer lever located at the rear of the main one.
This can be accomplished on the move for high range, which is permissible on wet roads,
but the change to low range for the rough stuff requires a stop and shift to Park before it can
be engaged.
The rest of the time the car remains rear-wheel drive.
As well as hill hold and hill descent control, the 4×4 system also boasts what’s known as
Brake LSD Traction Control.
Basically, it means that if two diagonally opposed wheels lose their grip in slippery
conditions, it will automatically brake the slipping wheels and redistribute torque to the other
two.
With a tiny 40-litre tank, it takes standard 91 unleaded, with fuel consumption rated at
6.4L/100km for the manual or 6.9L/100km for the auto.
It’s a stubby thing, at 3.64 metres in length, with a 2250mm wheelbase.
But Jimny still accommodates four people, although the two rear seats are child-sized with
little leg room and very little room remaining for luggage.
There are no air vents in the back either, nor cupholders or storage bins — just the one seat
pocket on the passenger side.
The body is bolted to a separate ladder chassis, as preferred by the 4×4 set, with a spare
wheel that sits on the tailgate.
It opens from left to right in keeping with right hand drive needs, but it can be heavy to
manoeuvre, particularly if parked on a slope.
With the rear seats laid flat, storage is a thousand times better, but the hard plastic surface is
extremely slippery and items slide around.
Suspension is three-link rigid axles front and back with shocks and coil springs, and it rides
on 15-inch wheels with 195/80 series Dunlop AT20 rubber.
With a creditable 210mm of ground clearance and short front and rear overhangs, it has an
approach angle of 37 degrees, ramp over angle of 28 degrees and departure angle of 49
degrees.
But no figure is provided for its water crossing capability, although we understand the figure
to be 300mm.
Getting into the car requires a step up and in, with a door-lip the same as a Jeep to prevent
the entry of water.
The driver’s seat adjusts backwards and forwards, but there’s no height adjustment and the
steering wheel moves only up and down.
Jimny is started with the twist of a key, just like cars all used to be in the old days. With a
small four-cylinder engine, it needs some revs to get going, with maximum torque not
available until 4000 rpm.
The electric steering is interesting, as it is possible to move the wheel from side to side
without actually generating any kind of response.
The auto, with only four gears, could do with an update, but of course there’s only so much
room to fit a larger transmission.
Despite this, it works reasonably well around town and is probably the pick because it
doesn’t use much more fuel.
No test of the Jimny would be complete without taking it off road.
Changing in and out of high range four-wheel drive is simple and the suspension and ground
clearance are adequate.
Engaging low range requires a stop and the transmission moved to Park.
This is a vehicle that has little trouble scaling rocks and rock shelves, but seems to have an
aversion to mud and water.
Embarrassingly, we got it bogged and it was time to dial a friend . . .
Jimny’s small size allows it to squeeze easily in and out of tight situations, but don’t expect
too much from the car and you won’t wind up disappointed.
Get to know it, get to know what it can and can’t do, and it won’t let you down.
However, for full-on four-wheel driving, we’d suggest chunkier rubber and a lift kit — the
skinny tyres don’t do the car justice.
In terms of fuel consumption, we were getting 7.8L/100km after 330km, including some hard
four-wheel driving.
That’s a bit disappointing considering the diminutive size of the vehicle and its small engine.
SUMMING UP
Adventure seekers will be drawn to the Jimny because of its rugged looks and the promise
of off-road ability.
Sadly, few if any buyers will actually take the vehicle off road and with a cramped cabin, it is
likely to quickly lose its attraction.
For those who just want something to drive around town, a more conventional vehicle will be
more practical and certainly more comfortable.
RATINGS:
Looks: 8
Performance: 6.5
Safety: 7
Thirst: 6.5
Practicality: 6
Comfort: 7
Tech: 7
Value: 8
Overall: 7
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
Suzuki Jimny 3dr Lite man, $31,990
Suzuki Jimny 3dr man, $33,990
Suzuki Jimny 3dr auto, $36,490
Suzuki Jimny XL 5dr auto $34,990
Suzuki Jimny XL Heritage 5dr auto $40,990
Note: This price does not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your
Suzuki local dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Suzuki Jimny 3dr 1.5-litre 4-cyl petrol, 4sp auto, 4WD SUV)
ENGINE
Capacity: 1.5-litre
Configuration: four cylinders inline
Maximum power: 75 kW
Maximum torque: 130 Nm
Fuel type: Premium 95 RON unleaded petrol
Combined fuel cycle: (ADR 81/02) 6.9 L/100km
CO2 emissions 146 g/km
DRIVELINE: 4sp automatic, part-time 4WD
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 3650 mm
Width: 1645 mm
Height: 1720 mm
Wheelbase: 2250 mm
Turning circle: 9.8 m
Kerb weight: 1110 kg
Fuel tank: 40 l
BRAKES
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Drum
STANDARD WARRANTY
Five years / unlimited kilometres
