by Steven Perez
posted on January 31, 2024
The tiny, forbidden 4×4
The new Suzuki Jimny arrived in 2018 and has been a massive success all over the planet. All over, except for North America. Suzuki hasn’t sold cars in the US and Canada since around 2013. And though it’s not a household name in those places, the newest Jimny has become somewhat of a legend for off-roaders and 4×4 fans for its tiny, boxy charm and utilitarian simplicity. For January’s car of the month, let’s head down under and take a look at Jonas’ 2022 Suzuki Jimny in Sydney, Australia.
2022 Suzuki Jimny
| ENGINE | HORSEPOWER | 0 to 60 MPH | TOP SPEED | MILEAGE | DAILY PRICE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L I4 | 100 hp | 12 sec | Enough | 36 mpg | A$644 |
| ENGINE | HP | 0 to 60 MPH | TOP SPEED | MILEAGE | DAILY PRICE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L I4 | 100 hp | 12 sec | Enough | 36 mpg | A$644 |
The Jimny’s most conspicuous characteristic is its size. The Jimny has been around since the 1970s, and just like the older models, the newest version is tiny — it has about the same footprint as a Fiat 500. There are a few reasons Suzuki hasn’t brought their two-door SUV over to North America, but chiefly, it didn’t seem to have appeal for car buyers obsessed with increasingly giant and lavish SUVs stuffed full of luxury tech.
From the factory, the Jimny is a barebones affair. It has handsome proportions and a sunny disposition with its square face and round headlights, but high-end materials and advanced safety features you will not find. The interior has some basic hard plastics and a minimalist design. It seats four people, but if the rear seats are occupied, the cargo space drops to near zero. The Jimny is limited when you consider all that the latest Wranglers and 4Runners offer, and it’s certainly a far cry from the G-Wagens and Defenders of the world.
But that’s really the point — the Jimny offers high-level ability in its chosen field for far less money than better-appointed competitors. The top-trim Jimny GLX like Jonas’s example here starts at the equivalent of about US$21,000, which would make it the cheapest off-road-minded SUV sold in the States.
Though you can’t drive off road with a vehicle booked on Turo, that’s really the Jimny’s bread and butter. Its short wheelbase, high ground clearance, front and rear live axles, two-speed low-range transfer case, and hill descent control give drivers all the tools they need to make maneuvering on trails a cinch. A high seating position gives you the feeling of driving a larger vehicle, with great visibility through those large square windows.
Given the Jimny’s off-road focus, it’s maybe not the ideal vehicle for a long highway journey if you’re in a hurry. It’s not especially quiet, or responsive, and oh yeah it’s definitely slow. The 1.5L engine makes around 100 horsepower, which is something that probably wouldn’t fly in a US market more enamored with Ford Raptors and V8 Wranglers. But the package should work just fine for city duty — and come on, you don’t need blistering zero-to-60 times in a yellow Suzuki Jimny, just chill and have fun!
Speaking of fun, Jonas’ little Jimny is kitted out for battle. He’s lifted it two inches and added goodies like a steel front bumper, roof rack, LED headlights, and a snorkel, making this two-door 4×4 look like it could punch way above its weight. Examples like this are why this honest, hardworking SUV has become such a dreamt-about forbidden fruit in North America. Good on Suzuki for making this charmingly authentic off-road-capable box. If you’re in the Sydney area, give Jonas a shout.
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Steven Perez
Steven is an avid car guy and content maker at Turo. Between Golden State Warriors games he can be found getting lost somewhere in California.
