by Robin Classen 20 June 2024 5 min read time
Does adding more doors, more space, and more stability to South Africa's much-loved Suzuki Jimny make it better? We find out...
What more can be said about Suzuki that hasn’t already been said? Their cars are best-sellers and affordable, and most people love the brand. They also have a wide scope of models from the sporty SwiftSport to the affordable Fronx crossover.
The focus of this review is a car that made its debut in 1970 as a fully-fledged off-roader and grew into what people still refer to as a mini Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. It is, of course, the Jimny SUV, but the big news is that for the first time ever it comes with five doors instead of three.
About the model
The current Jimny was the first all-new version in 20 years when it was launched in South Africa in 2018. Thiscurrent model is only in its fourth generation because the third generation had a longer production span, with only minor upgrades carried out over the years.
There are two trims: GL and GLX, which is the one we had to review for seven days.
Some of the standardsafety features include Hill Descent Control, Hill Assist, Brake Assistance, ABS, ESP, central locking, arearview camera and rear parking sensors. The GL trim comes with two airbags, while GLX models have six(front-side and curtain). LED headlights and a rearview camera are also offered on the GLX.
The five-door Jimny gets the same 1.5-litre petrol engine as the three-door, with outputs of 75kW and 130Nm.
Power is sent to the road via a five-speed manual transmission (available on the GL and GLX models) or a four-speed automatic transmission (GLX only), directing power to the rear wheels or all-four wheels when engaging the 2H, 4H and 4 low-range modes.
The extra two doors really come in handy for the accommodation of more passengers and for ease of access.
The boot has a capacity of 211 litres, while the two rear seats can fold individually or together, increasing the rear loading space to 332 litres. It’s much more practical than the three-door but monthly groceries will stillrequire you to fold the rear seats down for that extra space. Ground clearance is 210mm, which is more than sufficient for rocky terrain or climbing those higher than usual curbs.
Inside and out
When considering the exterior, there isn't much difference between the five-door and the three-door models. It still features the 'Hummer-like' grille with rounded headlights on each side, square-shaped wheel arch extensions and a spare alloy wheel hinged on the boot in classic utilitarian style. On the GLX, the side mirrors are finished in gloss black paint. The 15-inch alloy wheels look great and are wrapped in multi-terrain tyres.
Customers can choose from six solid body colours (Celestial Blue Pearl Metallic, Arctic White Pearl, Silky Silver Metallic, Bluish Black Pearl, Granite Grey Metallic and Jungle Green), with two-tone matches also available.
The interior is very neat and compact. You get a height-adjustable multi-function steering wheel (which also has audio and cruise control buttons), a 9-inch infotainment screen (GL trims have a 7-inch), which is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, and electric windows all around. The GLX models have automatic climate control as opposed to the GL's standard air conditioning system. Just like the Celerio and S-Presso, the window control switch is located centrally and below the climate controls. It’s a unique way to save space in such a compact car and the movement often feels like you are activating air suspension or race mode.
The drive
With it shaped like a box and with the aerodynamics of a small church, you’re not going to reach your location in a hurry. The 1.5-litre engine is a gem for cruising or when in and around the city, but tends to run out of revs on the highway and you can hear the engine calling for that extra gear. Fitting a similar transmission to the one in the Swift Sport would certainly remedy that.
There is road noise, but it isn’t too pronounced. The transmission remains one of Suzuki’s standout performers, with slick shifts and quick engagement in each of the five gears. Suzuki claims an average fuel consumption figure of 6.4 litres/100 km and I managed 6.8 litres, but that was with regular use of the air conditioning and different driving speeds. After adjusting my habits for ‘cleaner’ driving, I managed to match the claimed consumption.
Behind the wheel is a comfortable place to be and none of the materials in the cabin feel cheap. The layout of the climate control buttons is centrally compact, located just below the infotainment touchscreen. During sharper than usual turns, the steering does feel a tad heavy with a slightly shorter turning circle, but this is common in most 4x4 vehicles.
The Jimny, whether in a three or five-door shape, offers an affordable off-road alternative. Locally, there aren’t many options to choose from, with GWM’s Tank 300 being the next best (but much pricier) alternative. Pricing is key, and in most cases, Suzuki will almost always win that battle – hence their current position in the top three best-selling automakers in SA.
Spec, pricing and aftersales
1.5 GL 5MT- R429 900
1.5 GLX 5MT- R457 900
1.5 GLX 4AT- R479900
The range is offered standard with a four-year/60 000km service plan and a five-year/200 000km promotional mechanical warranty.
In the market for a new or used car? Get it on Gumtree! There are over 50,000 cars listed on Gumtree. Whether you're looking for asmall car,family car,vintage car,fancy car, or your nextproject car; we've got it all!.
