The Suzuki Jimny has been around for what feels like an eternity. However, theres an all-new version which may look similar, but boasts a number of upgrades.
Suzuki Jimny Review by David Taylor
Sharper looks
Visually, there doesnt seem to be much change. The Suzuki Jimny is still this tiny two-door off-roader thats filled with character and makes motor hacks use words like plucky and charming. Lets start with whats new in the looks department. The Jimny gains a little bonnet scoop, a refreshed front grille and the fog lamp positioning has changed. Its meant to give the Jimny a more aggressive, modern look and it works. Im not sure why a bonnet scoop has been fitted, as theres no high-performance engine that requires extra cooling, but its a cute touch nevertheless.
The Jimny’s engine is small but powerful enough
The Suzuki Jimny is powered by a 1.3-litre four cylinder engine with 63kW and 110Nm, and to be honest I was worried there wasnt going to be enough grunt to get around. Thanks to its dinky toy size, the Jimny actually does tootle around town rather nicely. Dont expect anything special in terms of outright performance though, its not aimed at the speedsters.
Not a car for the highway
My primary concern arose when I took it on the highway. While the car is fine in terms of driving on urban roads, highways are its nemesis. Top speed is rated at 140km/h and doing over 100km/h in the Jimny is a little disconcerting. With gusting Cape winds buffeting the Suzuki Jimny from the side, the car feels like it could tip over. Put it down to me being paranoid, but if you need to travel on the highway, I wouldnt try go past the national speed limit.
Offroading is the Jimnys party trick
Take the Suzuki Jimny off the city highway and suddenly it redeems itself beautifully. The soft suspension is perfect for tackling even the toughest of terrain and itll take a lot to get the vehicle stuck. The car has a low-range gearbox, a lockable diff and exceptional ground clearance which coupled with a smart design, means youre looking at a brilliant offroad vehicle.
Superb ability regardless of terrain
Thanks to a good friend who owns a dairy farm, the Suzuki Jimny was put to the test and despite my best efforts to try find an offroad weakness, it simply refused to give up. Maybe an ultra-steep decent down a loose gravel road would unseat it? Nope, put the gearbox in first and let it crawl down like an army commando. No surprise the Suzuki Jimny can be found serving in some armed forces around the world.
Basic interior
Inside the Suzuki Jimny the interior is rather simple and basic. No fancy gadgets here, this is all about comfort and practicality. The seats have been redesigned and now have new fabric, while ISOFIX anchor points for baby seats have been added. You get air conditioning, CD player, air con and electric windows. Its basic, but what more do you want? Satnav? Go get an aftermarket one and connect it to the cigarette lighter then.
Suzuki Jimny – Conclusion
Think of the Suzuki Jimny as a Labrador puppy. Its fine around the house, but when you take it for a walk in a big park and unclip the leash, thats when its happiest. Itll go charging through streams and up embankments in the most enthusiastic of manners, and when its time to go home, it settles down and becomes docile.
I do like the Suzuki Jimny. In a world filled with generic boxes which are devoid of emotional appeal, the Jimny is something totally different and unique. In the city its extremely easy to parallel park and drive through narrow streets, and weve seen how formidable it becomes when you turn off the tarred roads. Just dont try get anywhere in a hurry.
Suzuki Jimny – Price
Suzuki Jimny 1.3: R201 900
- Why you should: Cute looks, simple character, surprisingly spacious cabin, unbeatable offroad ability.
- Why you shouldnt: Doesnt feel like its designed to go faster than 120km/h
- It would be better if: For a future model, perhaps put in an aux or USB input on the radio.
- View the Suzuki Jimny: New / Used
- Competitors worth checking out: Daihatsu Terios
