Suzuki Jimny gets a new life for 2019 model year

MANILA: After a series of teasers, Suzuki has finally launched the latest-gen Jimny mini 4x4. The mini off-roader gets a retro boxy design accentuated by several modern-day components. This makes the new 2019 Jimny a dynamic player in the market that offers urban luxury and also suits your off-roading needs.

From the outside, the new Jimny retains the traditional looks that remind you of the past 4x4 off-roading vehicles. The box-profiled Jimny gets a distinctive front with an iconic five-slot grille, round LED headlights and big fender flares. Lower down is the black heavy duty bumper that is flanked by circular fog lamps. In addition to this, you’d see a wide air-dam at the centre meant for managing engine’s heat.

Sprucing up the exteriors are the 15-inch alloy wheels that are shod with 195/80 section tyres meant to perform on the world's roughest terrains. The tail section is comprised of the trademark spare tyre carrier and horizontal tail lamps positioned at the ends of the rear bumper.

For better off-roading performance, the new Jimny is supported by the ladder frame chassis and a suspension setup of the 3-link rigid axle with coil springs at the front as well as at the rear. As far as size is concerned, the 2019 Suzuki Jimny is 50 mm long, 45 mm wide, and 20 mm tall than the outgoing model. The dimensions for which stand at - 3,645 mm in length, 1,645 mm in width, and 1,725 mm in height. The wheelbase of the Jimny is, however, the same 2250 mm as before. The ground clearance is rated at 210 mm.

Inside, the Suzuki Jimny gets a touch of modernity and the cabin resembles the one seen on the present-day Suzuki models especially the all-new Swift. It gets a touchscreen infotainment system on the centre console, a multi-function three-spoke steering wheel, automatic climate control, and electrically adjustable windows. Adding to the upmarket look are the faux metal and glossy black plastic accents. The large grab-handle for the front occupant reminds you of the past off-roaders.

For convenience, there are plenty of niches and storage compartments to hold your essentials like phone, wallet, home keys, and other knick-knacks. The cabin space has been improved over the last Jimny, which is commendable considering its compact profile. The rear seats can fold fully flat which is a boon if you have larger items to equip.

Talking about the tech, it has some of the avant-garde features in its spec-sheet. To start off, the all-new Jimny gets a feature called forward collision warning with Dual Sensing Brake Support (DSBS), which detects and warns the driver of the possible collision through audio cues. In case the driver is not able to apply brakes in time, the system will take charge and brakes will be applied automatically - avoiding or diminishing the impact.

Other safety features include auto high beam assist, lane departure warning, road weaving alert, traffic sign recognition, hill start assist, anti-lock braking system, traction control, limited slip-differential, and the hill-descent control.

Under the hood, the 2019 Jimny is powered by a 1.5-litre inline-four engine dubbed as the ‘K15B’ that produces a max power of 102 PS at 6000 rpm and a peak torque of 130 Nm at 4000 rpm, mated to 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox. The engine is supported by multi-point injection (MPI). It also gets an optional Suzuki’s 4WD system known as AllGrip Pro. A new 658 cc three-cylinder turbocharged engine is also on offer, however only for the Japanese market. The tiny engine qualifies the Jimny for Japan’s Kei Class.

As far as availability of the new-gen Suzuki Jimny in the Philippines is concerned, the model is expected to arrive by the end of 2019.