Small, tough and puppy-dog cute

Splish, splash, we were having a bundu bash.

Those who seek a little more comfort would probably go for something like a VW Amarok or one of several Isuzu, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Jeep models on offer in this country.

These are all excellent workhorses and pleasant play-mates, but they are all quite pricey and expensive to run and with the exception of the Jeep Wrangler, none of them really has sexy city slicker appeal.

This then is the time for a chirpy, cheeky little guy to strut onto the stage. He's called Jimny and although in the company of the above mentioned blue-beards he looks like Ricky January flanked by Victor Matfield and Bakkies Rossouw, he is not to be sneered at.

1300cc of muscle

Even though this little fellow looks like a tot glass besides a pint of beer, this is certainly no small-engined weakling.

Smirk as you may at its teeny 1.3-litre engine which produces a humble 63kW and 110Nm, but this baby Suzuki is capable of playing in any bundu with the real manne.

The Jimny may look like a cuddly little cutesy-pie, hardly big enough to carry a pretty lady's Gucci bag, but take it off-road and it will amaze you with its gutsy performance.

Like a bronzed blonde surfer with carefully cultivated designer stubble the small Suzuki is ruggedly handsome and exudes kerbside come-on.

But it's more than cool. With a price tag of only R188 900 and fuel consumption of 8,64 litres/100km it is also much less costly to run that its bigger brothers.

The Jimny's power output is hardly impressive muscle on paper, but because of its rigid front and rear axles, coil spring suspension, 4x4 drive-train with transfer case and robust box-section chassis, it climbs like a rock rabbit.

Power comes via a five-speed manual gearbox linked to a low-range transfer case which is conveniently simple to use, thanks to push-button selection on the dashboard with the choice of rear-wheel drive, high-range four-wheel drive, or low-range four-wheel drive.

Dynamite in a small package

Measuring only 3645mm long, 1600mm wide and 1705mm tall, the Suzuki is every bit as nimble and agile as it looks, while the 190 mm ground clearance, impressive 37 degree approach angle and a departure angle of 46 degrees gives it the clamber ability of as rock rabbit.

Because it only weighs 1070kg and has a tight turning circle of only 98m it is easy to ease around tight corners where other, bigger and heavier vehicles would have to chameleon walk forwards and backwards around hairpins on a twisty slope.

But not only is the Jimny very bush-friendly, what is remarkable for a vehicle that is fairly narrow and upright is its relatively comfortable ride, not nearly as hippety-hop as one would expect.

Back on the smooth black stuff it will also gallop gaily along at 140km/h and scoot around bends without feeling like an old double-decker bus.

Small, but very capable.

It's also very much at home in the city, whether on the school run, heading for the gym or showing off in the supermarket parking lot.

My wife Penny, who is as tall as a giraffe, absolutely fell in love with the Suzuki when I brought it home recently for a week-long stay.

She liked its looks, enjoyed the high ride and good visibility and the ease with which she could squeeze the little buggy into the tightest parking spots much to the interest of the other ladies arriving for aquarobic sessions at the local gym.

Although the cabin is really compact, the front seats go back far enough to create ample space for her long legs.

Rather like a mobile confessional in the back seat

The downside of the cabin is that it requires a praying mantis imitation to get into the backseat, and even then the front seats have to be moved forward and their backs folded down.

Leg, shoulder and bottom space at the back is quite tight and certainly not made for Victor or Bakkies. In fact, even Ricky might battle to squeeze in there.

Loading space is mighty small and there is no luggage cover. In terms of interior finish, everything is fairly basic but in a funny sort of way it adds to the appeal of the Jimny.

The seats are not designed for long-distance driving and the full-size spare wheel stuck onto the back door looks cool but adds a lot of weight to the door and the luggage floor is quite high, so not very practical for everyday shopping loads.

It handles dry and wet with equal ability.

However, these will probably not distract too much from its toughie-sexy looks, off-road abilities and value for money appeal which is likely to attract the interest of a fairly wide buying audience including young and trendy singles, small families, sporty out-door types and retired new car buyers.

The attractions

Attractive features include 15-inch alloys wrapped with 205/70 R15 Bridgestone Dueler tyres, fog lamps, electric windows, power steering, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, central locking, air-conditioning, two front and two rear cup holders, and height adjustment for the driver's seat.

Protection comes in the form of front airbags, inertia reel seatbelts, progressive front and rear crumple zones, side impact protection beams in the doors and ABS brakes.

But all these features aside, let us not forget that this Suzuki also comes with sentimental history, dating back to the Samurai SJ-series 4x4 which became an icon in this country before the Japanese carmaker stopped selling its vehicles locally.

The Samurai had a reputation way back then for being highly capable, tough, reliable, economical and great fun to own and such was their popularity that even today those original models are still much sought after.

Moreover, the new Jimny is also rapidly growing in status. Since it was re-launched here in 2008, more than 2108 of them have been sold.

I was impressed when I drove this chunky bit of metal at the local re-introduction way back in 2008 and nothing has happened in between to change my mind. To me it is still is as cute as a Labrador puppy.

To add to is appeal the Jimny's price tag includes a three-year/100 000km warranty, a four-year/60 000km service plan, a three-year AA roadside assistance package and a free 4x4 driver training package.

Specifications.

Jimny 09-01-2011

Suzuki Jimny Review (test)