Suzuki Jimny

Overview

When it comes to affordable four-wheel drive motoring, there is nothing as small and cheap as the Suzuki Jimny. Thanks to its miniature footprint and capable drivetrain system, the Jimnny offers the thrills and go-anywhere abilities of a large SUV at a much smaller price tag. The Jimny has received a global overhaul recently, however, for the Philippines market, it is still the old generation model, at least for some more time. The Jimny currently on sale in the Philippines is available with only one petrol engine and two transmission options, i.e. one standard variant with both gearboxes each. The color options available for Jimny are Bluish Black, Cool Khaki Pearl Metallic, Metallic Quasar Gray, Silky Silver Metallic, and Superior White.

Interior & Features

On the inside, the Suzuki Jimny has got a utilitarian feel in its overall cabin design, with the dashboard having a very simple and frills-free design.

The three-spoke steering wheel is very basic and looks as if it has been lifted off from the Suzuki’s cheapest offering, the Alto 800. Mirroring the basic appeal of the overall design is that of the instrument console as well as the centre console. The latter has an old-school vertical layout extending all the way to the transmission tunnel.

The touchscreen infotainment system with inbuilt navigation system looks a bit out of the place and an aftermarket thought in this otherwise basic cabin, but then, it is functional and easy to use. And that’s the only fancy feature available in the Jimny, for the car has been built to cost constraints. You do get basic functions such as remote central locking, front power windows, electrically adjustable rear view mirrors, two speakers for the audio system, and that’s it. In terms of space usability, the Jimny provides you a number of seat folding options and sufficient seating comfort for four passengers. However, another impressive aspect of the Jimny is that it comes with a number of small storage space options, such as space on the floor console tray, dashboard, glovebox, door pockets and cup holders behind gear lever.

Exterior

Given its ability and focused driving areas, the Suzuki Jimny has a very basic and straight-to-point design, which might appeal to hardcore SUV lovers but not the laymen. The overall design looks a bit simple and dated in today’s day and age, but is very functional in terms of appeal.

At the front, the Suzuki Jimny has got a boxy stance which is complemented by straight looking squared headlamps and vertical grille which looks purposeful. The air scoops on the bonnet as well as high the mounted front bumper with skid plates make the overall frontal stance even more focused.

From the sides, the boxy stance of the Jimny is further complemented by its short wheelbase design, giving it a three-door profile with large side glass area for rear passengers. The small in size but chunky looking 15-inch alloy wheels with meaty tyres as well as high ground clearance of 190 mm make the side profile look big, considering the small size of the vehicle.

At the rear, the Jimny’s old school appeal is further accentuated by the presence of tailgate-mounted spare wheel, vertical tail lamps, and tell-tale bulbs on the rear bumper. The roof rails are there not just for the aesthetic purpose, they are functional in terms of load carrying capacity as well.

Ride & Handling

Given its functionality over form approach, the Suzuki Jimny comes with very basic mechanicals. This small off-roader is built on a ladder-on-frame chassis and comes with the 3-Link rigid axle with coil spring at both the ends. This provides enough rigidity to the chassis to tackle whatever the road conditions lie ahead. Adding to the bonus factor are high ground clearance and off-road spec tyres wrapped around small 15-inch alloy wheels. The overall ride quality is quite stiff in urban conditions, however, this very stiff setup gives it an edge over regular vehicles when the tough gets going. The four-wheel drive system with low ratio mode works flawlessly as well.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

For the Suzuki Jimny, the Japanese manufacturer has plonked in a rather basic 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is the only engine option for the Jimny right now in the Philippines market. The engine is capable of belting out a maximum power output of 84 bhp and a peak torque of 110 Nm. Taking its low kerb weight of 1075 kgs in account, and you do get a nice power-to-weight ratio making the Jimny a zippy drive. The engine does get two transmission options – a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 4-speed conventional torque converter, both of which have tall gear ratios to put the available torque to good use across the rev range.

Braking & Safety

Given its no-frills nature, it is quite expected that the Suzuki Jimny misses out on many safety equipment to keep both the costs as well as weight in check. Nevertheless, it is still appreciable that the Suzuki Jimny covers up the basics such as dual front airbags, ABS, side impact beams, remote central locking, and engine immobilizer.

Verdict

For the price at which it is being offered, the Suzuki Jimny is a real deal considering the oodles of fun this no-frills SUV provides. The overall exterior as well as interior is straight to the point and is clearly for those who prefer functionality over form and don’t run after the long list of comfort and convenience features. While the ride quality is stiff for daily usage, the Jimny shows its true colors when the going gets rough and tough. The chassis and suspensions setup is capable enough to take up all the beating comfortably. Overall, if you love hardcore off-road driving but don’t want to splurge too much money for that, the Suzuki Jimny is just there for you.