Boxy shapes and miniature dimensions with classic off-road technology, We tested the Suzuki Jimny on an ‘offroad’ circuit, and it’s in its element!
A spartan “pocket” SUV without many concessions to comfort, but with short delivery time and price: how does that fit together? Especially since the commercial vehicle version is the only one available to avoid CO2 fines in the EU. The Suzuki Jimny leads by a dividing grille.
Suzuki Jimny design
The Suzuki “bonsai” can be registered as a kei car in its country of origin, that is, it can enter the city of Tokyo, but not in a parking lot. That’s why it only measures 3.40 meters long and 1.48 meters wide, it has such square shapes. Nothing is casual in its design.
His “dwarfism” has its effect on weight: just over a ton. Suzuki combines this lightness with classic off-road technology, such as a drop-down, all-wheel drive that can be engaged while driving with a 50:50 force distribution (acts like a center lock), and two movable rigid axles that can navigate uneven terrain. and undulating without a wheel losing contact with the ground.
There are no axle locks, their work is done by electronic slip control through braking intervention. And he does it very well.
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Jimny Behavior
We pulled it off the road, and the little Jimny handles mud and sand with incredible ease. But it’s not perfect. The first gear is not really short and, at more than 30 km/h, the ESP, even if you have it deactivated, wakes up again and is too rigorous.
That said, if you let some air out of the tires and engage the off-road gear shifter with the second gear lever, you can go anywhere 21 centimeters of ground clearance is sufficient. And thanks to the angle of attack, it does not touch the ground either in front or behind.
Delivery times are now just slightly longer than usual, and are only extended if you choose certain colors.
Factors to decide the purchase
Suzuki’s bonsai SUV offers brutal behavior off the road: only 1,090 kilos in weight, large wheels, reducer… it has no direct competition.
Conclusion
The best
Off-road behavior, low weight, design
Worst
Forget anything that has to do with comfort
