It has a rather cramped interior, hardly has any room for luggage or stowage space, and offers a rugged ride. Yet, there is a big waiting list for it – and the list is growing.
Yes, it is the all-new Suzuki Jimny, which was launched at the end of last year – 20 years after this fun 4×4 vehicle had last been updated.
And it has also received the prestigious accolade of being named one of the 12 finalists in the 2019 AutoTrader SA Car of the Year competition held in conjunction with the Guild of SA Motoring Journalists.
Say “Jimny”, and you will undoubtedly hear a chorus of people singing its 4×4 praises and its impressive ability to climb just about any mountain. Express on Wheels spent a week test-driving the 1.5 GLX manual version of the new Jimny to find out if it can conquer the concrete jungle as easily as a mountain.
And while this column looks at vehicles from a mom’s taxi perspective only, with no 4×4 driving, one sees enough of them being driven on the urban commute to merit giving it a test drive to show its prowess in the concrete jungle.
The all-new Suzuki Jimny features a new, more powerful and frugal 1.5 litre engine.
It is available in a choice of two specification levels (GA and GLX) and two transmissions – five speed manual or four speed automatic.
Standard in all the models in the range is the ALLGRIP PRO mechanical shifting 4×2, 4×4 and 4×4 low range transfer case and the rigid ladder frame chassis for off-roading.
Exterior design
There is no question about it – with its retro-modern and mini-Hummer like design the all-new Suzuki Jimny certainly stands out in the crowd. Its design, which is very similar to that of its predecessors, makes it look like a vehicle you could go to war with or traverse the sand dunes of an island paradise like the Camel man.
According to Suzuki SA, every detail of the design is aimed at making the journey easier for those who like to drive and be in the outdoors in all weather conditions.
For instance, the upright design of the roof pillars enables the roof to carry more weight, which is ideal for a roof rack, rooftop tent and for rollover safety in case of an accident.
The new Jimny also features an all-round drip rail, which has been designed to allow for easy clamping of roof racks, while also keeping passengers dry from water on the roof as they enter or exit the vehicle.
Its angled front and rear bumpers not only keep them out of the way of rocks and shrubs, but also increase the approach and departure angles.
Interior design
The retro-modern design is carried on into the interior with a funky looking dashboard housing the touchscreen – giving this rugged looking vehicle a high tech feel inside.
Its lack of space and the fact that it is a three-door vehicle with difficult access to the back seats, as well little stowage space – and only enough boot space for about two sportsbags – means it’s not the usual family vehicle.
But people don’t buy a Jimny for the family, but rather for the fun and exploring the outdoors, and the Jimny will not disappoint in this regard.
Also on the positive side is the easy to operate touch screen, the steering-wheel controls for the audio system and other modern conveniences.
The GLX models are also fitted with Suzuki’s Smartphone Linkage Display Audio (SLDA). This double-DIN audio system has a 7-inch infrared touch screen with Android Auto, Apple Carplay and MirrorLink integration.
The system has a USB connector, SD-card slot and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity.
In between the two front seats is the separate gear lever to select 4×2, or 4×4 high, or the 4×4 low range transfer case.
All versions of the Suzuki Jimny have air conditioning, power steering and the complete ALLGRIP PRO 4×4 system with Brake LSD, ESP, Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control.
The GLX models get a host of additional features, including climate control, electric windows and mirrors, Auto LED projector headlamps, remote central locking and cruise control. The front seats have been redesigned to fold completely flat with the rear bench to allow someone to sleep inside the cabin.
The flat-folding passenger seat and foldable rear bench allow for a completely flat loading surface for long equipment, such as surfboards.
Although the cabin has been made roomier than that of its predecessor offering more legroom for both the front and back passengers, I still found it to be very cramped – especially for the backseat passengers.
Engine
For the all-new Jimny, Suzuki’s engineers have replaced the 1.3 litre engine with a new 1.5 litre K15B petrol engine.
The new engine has a higher compression ratio (10.0:1) and greater thermal efficiency to deliver more power, while using less fuel.
The new engine is rated at 75kW at 6 000rpm and 130Nm at 4 000rpm.
Fuel consumption on a combined cycle has been stated as 6.3 litres for the manual models and 6.8 litres for the automatic model.
During Express on Wheels’ week-long test drive, which was on the urban commute only, the average fuel consumption was 12,5km per litre according to the trip computer (or 8 litres/100km).
On the open road, as well as around corners, the Jimny does feel a bit floaty at times and the five-speed gearbox and smallish engine make overtaking not as hassle-free as one would want on the long road. But even though it prefers to be off-road rather than on the quick highways, it will get you to your destination in a fun drive with all the modern conveniences at hand.
Its ability to deal with rocky an uneven terrain is, however, a big plus point when having to deal with all the potholed roads and speedbumps on the urban commute.
Safety
All Jimny models are fitted with ABS brakes with emergency brake assistance (BAS) and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) to prevent wheel slip on all wheels.
All Jimny models also have ISOFIX child seat anchors, a high mounted brake light and an emergency pedal release system.
Price and warranty
The GLX model is standard with a four-year/ 60 000km service plan and the GA model with a two-year/30 000km service plan.
All models are sold with a five-year/200 000km mechanical warranty.
The GLX comes with a four-year or 60 000km service plan while the cheaper GA has half this — two years or 30 000km.
All models are sold with a five-year or 200 000km mechanical warranty.
GA MT R264 900
GLX MT R299 900
GLX Auto R319 900
Suzuki also offers a wide range of accessories for both city-dwellers and off-road enthusiasts.
What the 4×4 enthusiasts would like to know
For the benefit of those who are interested in the new Jimny’s 4×4 capabilities (which were not tested for the review), I have included in this column some information from Suzuki’s publicity material.
Both versions of the Jimny have the same off-road capabilities. The backbone of the new Jimny’s capabilities is the ladder frame chassis featuring a patented cross member, the Suzuki X-member, that further strengthens the chassis. This helps to limit body flex in serious cross-axle off-road driving and also creates a very sturdy platform for the fitment of the body and the underbody parts.
As an additional benefit, the additional torsional strength has improved the Jimny’s on-road driving dynamics and overall crash safety. The second essential element to the off-road capabilities is the rigid axle suspension system. Rigid axles greatly improve off-road capabilities, as they mechanically force one wheel down if the opposite wheel is raised from the ground.
Furthermore, the axle system prevents the nose from diving under speed, which is a boon when driving in dunes, and it handles rutted roads with greater ease.
The third element is the ALLGRIP PRO four-wheel drive with low range transfer gear.
The all-new Jimny replaces the push-button selection between 2H (rear-wheel drive), 4H (4WD high gear) and 4L (full low range, 4WD) with a shift lever that is directly connected to the transfer gear and can switch between 2H and 4H on the fly at speeds of up to 100km/h.
The mechanical four-wheel drive system is greatly enhanced by Suzuki’s proprietary Brake Limited Slip Differential and electronic stability control systems.
The Brake LSD-system adjusts torque to the wheel with grip if another wheel on the same axle starts spinning. The system has an extra-power mode, which kicks in below 30km/h in low-range mode for the best possible traction.
Brake LSD is supported by Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control, which are standard on all models.
Hill Descent Control will maintain a descent speed of 10km/h in 4WD high range and 5km/h in 4WD low range, which allows the driver to focus on navigating obstacles, without having to operate the brake pedal. All these integrated 4×4 assist systems are combined as Suzuki’s proprietary ALLGRIP PRO off-road system and are standard on all models of the new Jimny.
The fourth essential element of a good off-roader is its approach, departure and breakover angles.
The all-new Jimny improves on its predecessor’s off-road angles by offering an approach angle of 37 degrees (35 degrees on the previous model), a departure angle of 49 degrees (46 degrees on the predecessor) and a breakover angle of 28 degrees (previously 27 degrees).
The Jimny has a ground clearance of 210mm, which is 20mm more than the previous model.
