A few weeks ago, we got our hands on a Suzuki Jimny GLX Five-Door manual to navigate the urban jungle that is Gauteng.
The Suzuki Jimny is one of those cars that every seems to recognise, whether they know about cars or not. The small SUV from Japan has a real class-breaking persona and legacy. The original, two-door recipe has been around for over fifty years, gaining fans and ownership all over the world. With the most recent version, Suzuki decided to add a five-door version to expand the line-up.
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Add Practicality
By stretching the wheelbase 340 mm, Suzuki engineers have added some much-needed practicality to an otherwise compromised vehicle. Thankfully, extending the body hasn’t done much to dilute the cutesy appearance of the likeable off-roader. Family and friends immediately realised what it is. Comments ranged from “Oh my word, it’s so cute” to “Can I have it?” While were were not in a position to hand over the keys, they were keen to poke around the interior to check if it suited their lifestyles. We, initially felt the long wheelbase version appeared odd. But as we see more of them on the roads we can’t help but see it as a baby G-Wagen, a car that we really like.
Oh, and we finally saw it in action: other Jimny owners flashed their headlights at us on the roads during our loan period. This is a nod from one owner to another of this, not-so-secret, club. Owners of old-shape/original Land Rover Defenders used to do the same, but we’ve not seen that happen in ages. (Is the Jimny the new-age Defender? Hmmmm…? – Ed)
Click here to read about the Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser.
More Space Inside
The obvious side effect of two extra doors is ease of getting two rear-seat passengers into the cabin. A three-door Jimny also has a rear seat, but requires passengers to twist themselves between the front seat and B-pillar to get inside. The rear doors open quite wide and the stretched wheelbase provides, much-needed extra legroom. We did ferry a few passengers during our time in Johannesburg and none of the (variously sized) folks complained about a lack of space.
The infotainment system (a nine-inch touchscreen) offers the usual connectivity one expects in this day and age. There are a few storage area in and around the cabin, but modern mobile phones are so large that it isn’t easy to stow one conveniently, neither are large drinks containers. The automatic climate control kept the cabin well chilled in the midst of hot days in the Big Smoke and/or to demist the windows after the obligatory afternoon thunderstorm.
Boot volume has grown, a little. Our weekend luggage was easily stowed in the boot with the seats upright. The 211 litres of boot volume can be extended to a quoted 332 with both seats folded, if required. It’s worth noting that the rear seats don’t really fold flat, although one does have the option of using a seat while adding some additional space as the rear backrest is split in half. Oh, we must also comment on the rear door, which is quite large and you have to keep that in mind when parking the Jimny to accommodate its wide arc.
On the Move
We spent quite a bit of time driving the Suzuki Jimny five-door when it was launched at the very end of 2023 (report at this link). Our experience at the time was split between highway motoring and severe off-roading, both of which the model handled well. Our, more recent experience, was within the confines of the urban jungle that is Johannesburg. We tackled the dangers faced by most Gautengers on a daily basis: multi-level car parks, high kerbs, excessive afternoon traffic and lunatic taxi drivers.
In this arena the Jimny simply shrugged off any and all ‘obstacles’. The 210 mm of ground clearance meant that we could park, just about, anywhere we wanted. Chunky tyres mean that we weren’t too shy to get near or on top of concrete kerbs. However, the lack of power meant that we left for all trips a touch early. This isn’t a car that enjoys being rushed. The long-throw manual shifter and slow steering action means that you can’t really zip into and out of gaps in the traffic. The 75 kW (at sea level) is closer to 60 at the rarefied atmosphere of the Highveld. As a result one has to allocate lots of time for journeys. You aren’t really gonna blast down the highway in this car.
Summary
The Suzuki Jimny GLX five-door is yet another small SUV in this crowded sector, except that it isn’t. It has an appearance that is unique and recognisable to almost all who see it. It can accomplish proper off-roading unlike almost every other model at this price point, although we are not sure how many owners actually do. The two extra doors and larger boot, help to make the Jimny a more attractive prospect to a wider audience of buyers. We have yet to experience a three-door Jimny, but all those who have claim that the ride quality of the larger version is oodles better.
So this model offers a standout appearance, a comfier ride, more practicality and a feel-good factor that is hard to quantify. And the gamble, if it really was one, has paid off. Since introduction four out of every five Jimnys sold locally is of the larger variety (3 613 vs 901), according to stats provided by Suzuki Auto SA (SASA). It’s easy to see why the five-door Jimny is an unmitigated sales success.
Model: Suzuki Jimny GLX Five-Door Manual
Price: R457 900
Engine: 1,5-litre inline four
Transmission: five-speed manual, AWD
Max power: 75 kW
Max torque: 130 N.m
0-100 km/h: yes
Top speed: eventually
Fuel consumption: 6,4 L/100 km