The New Suzuki Jimny 1.5L GLX

This was the general response from members of the public wherever I took the all the new Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX to. But whilst this 4x4 has very good looks and has the public swooning, it is also capable of delivering some serious off-road performances. At the outset, this is not your everyday ‘go to work’ vehicle. Instead, the Jimny is more suited for that weekend bundu bashing. Bring on any terrain and the likeable vehicle will take it on.

The Suzuki Jimny has been around since 1970 and that seems like yesterday. I spent a week testing the 4x4 on all sorts of terrains and was reasonably impressed.

The drive on tarred roads was very predictable and comfortable with plenty of legroom for all passengers, back and front, as opposed to previous models. All the basics controls and operations are there and within easy reach of the driver. So, if are carrying four passengers, there is very little room for any extra luggage. Which means that as long as there are two passengers, the rear seats have to be folded down should you wish to carry any luggage.

Drive Me

Technological advancements is all the rage with all new passenger vehicles and this will never stop. The Suzuki Jimny has a powerful 1.5litre four-cylinder engine under the hood that produces 75 kW and 130 Nm of torque. Enough power to keep you going at a steady pace on tarred roads. Also enhanced is the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a somewhat powerful infotainment sound system with a large touch-screen.

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I could not wait to get onto the dirt tracks to put the Suzuki Jimny through its’ paces, as this 4x4 is loaded with off-roading capabilities that include a brake supported slip differential (Brake LSD), Hill hold assist, Hill descent control and the distinct ability to change the mode of driving between two and four-wheel drive, as long as you are not in excess of 100km/ph.

Improved ground clearance

The Jimny has a 20mm improvement in ground clearance which is now at 210mm, so entering and exiting rough and tough terrain proved to be relatively easy. Its short wheel proves it’s capabilities for off-roading. This vehicle gives you the confidence you need when tackling those seemingly impossible ‘off-road’ challenges. Spare Wheel a Must

At the rear of the vehicle, Suzuki designers have moved all the lights into the horizontal rear bumper, which has allowed them to create a wider rear door, for increased practicality.

The spare wheel is fitted to the rear door for easy accessibility, while also freeing up space underneath the luggage floor and allowing for an improved departure angle.

Fuel consumption on a combined cycle has been tested at 6.3 litres for the manual models and 6.8 litres for the automatic model. In contrast, the previous generation Jimny was rated at 7.2 litres and 7.8 litres per 100 km respectively.

Buyers will have a choice of a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic gearbox. Both gearboxes’ gear ratios have been optimised for the new, more powerful 1.5 litre engine.

Colour me

Suzuki Jimny comes in three dual-tone and five single-tone colours. The dual-tone colours are a new high-visibility Kinetic Yellow, Brisk Blue Metallic and Chiffon Ivory Metallic. These models have a gloss black roof.

The single tone colours are Jungle Green, Bluish Black Pearl, Medium Grey, Silky Silver Metallic and White.

Like all Suzuki models, the Jimny is priced to be accessible to as many people as possible. The GLX model is standard with a 4 year/60,000 km service plan and the GA model with a 2 year/30,000km service plan. All models are sold with a 5 year/200,000 km mechanical warranty.

Price of the Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX at launch: R299,900

André Venter, divisional head for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa, has the final words: “In the absence of many affordable 4x4 vehicles, this philosophy of building a compact and capable off-road vehicle at an affordable price is now more needed than ever. And it has seen the Jimny quickly log multi-year waiting lists in many of the countries in which it has been introduced.”