The Suzuki Jimny has finally been given its long-awaited growth spurt, gaining two new doors for an added layer of convenience whether you’re travelling alone or with up to three friends.
The Japanese carmaker’s classic 4×4 has gained a cult-like following in South Africa, selling more than 20,000 units over the course of the last 15 years, with more than half of these sales coming from the latest fourth-generation units that only arrived on the scene in 2018.
Right now, the SUV is available in seven specifications consisting of four three-door options and three five-door options, with prices starting at R390,900 and R429,900, respectively, for the different body configurations.
The extra doors are not the only thing that the larger models have going for them, however, so it’s a good idea to assess exactly what’s on offer if and when you decide to buy the newest member of the Jimny family.
What you get
The first and most important difference between the two Jimny variants is that the five-door is 340mm longer in order to accommodate its new openings, which has had the added effect of increasing the wheelbase from 2,250mm to 2,590mm.
It also means its off-road angles have changed, as its approach now sits at 36 instead of 37 degrees, its breakover at 24 instead of 28 degrees, and its departure at 47 instead of 49 degrees.
Another change is that the boot has more than doubled in size, growing from the original’s 85 litres to 211 litres in the five-door version.
Beyond its physical changes, the bigger Jimny has also received new standard equipment.
The base GL now comes with a new chrome grille, rear park distance control, a rear 12V socket, privacy glass for the rear windows, a 7.0-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a reversing camera.
This is in addition to the three-door’s spec sheet, which includes 15-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, electric door mirrors, a multifunction steering wheel, two airbags, air conditioning, electric windows, two airbags, ABS, hill assist, and electronic stability control.
If you want anything more than this, you will need to pay to upgrade to the R457,900 GLX, which adds automatic LED headlights, cruise control, climate control, a larger 9.0-inch screen, rain-sensing wipers, auto-folding side mirrors, and six airbags.
Regardless of what model you end up going for, the Suzuki is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine delivering 75kW and 130Nm to an AllGrip all-wheel-drive system.
You have a choice of either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic gearbox, though on the five-door you will need to buy the top-spec GLX as there is no automatic GL option.
Each purchase of a new Jimny comes with a 5-year/200,000km promotional warranty and a 4-year/60,000km service plan.
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