New Suzuki Jimny 5-door – South African pricing revealed

The long-awaited five-door version of the Suzuki Jimny is nearly upon us with a launch window set before the year comes to an end.

Pending the SUV’s imminent arrival, Duoporta vehicle information specialists have managed to uncover its official pricing, revealing that it will start from R429,900 – R39,000 more expensive than the entry-level three-door.

The five-door line-up is largely the same as its smaller counterpart, with two trim levels and the option of a manual or automatic gearbox, with the notable exception that the base GL spec is only offered with a manual this time around.

Features

The introduction of the new 4×4 means there is now a total of seven derivatives in the Jimny family, with four three-door and three five-door options.

The new entries have naturally increased the Suzuki’s length, though not as much as one might expect, as the five-door versions measure 3,965mm from head to tail lamp – 340mm more than its sibling.

Its other dimensions, such as its height and width, are completely unaltered at 1,670mm and 1,645mm, respectively, though it is worth noting that the wheelbase has gone up from 2,250mm to 2,590mm.

As before, things kick off with the GL trim which includes 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, electric door mirrors, a full-sized spare wheel, a multifunction steering wheel, electric front windows, manual air conditioning, fabric seats, a Bluetooth stereo, USB ports, ABS, two front airbags, and hill climb and descent control.

The range-topping GLX will then throw in a leather steering wheel, light-sensing LED headlights, automatic climate control, a 9.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and cruise control.

Performance

The Jimny’s engine line-up is unchanged, meaning all seven versions of the 4×4 are equipped with a 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol plant with 75kW and 130Nm.

Gear changes are handled by either a five-speed manual or a four-speed autobox, both of which connect to a part-time AllGrip Pro 4WD system with a low-range transfer box.

The five-seater’s fuel consumption is also listed at 6.3l/100km for the manual and 6.8l/100km for the automatic – the same as the three-door – suggesting that the vehicle’s increased weight (1,185kg vs 1,095kg) has not impacted its fuel usage.

The Suzuki’s ground clearance is pegged at 210mm, and its off-road angles are unchanged at 36.0 degrees for the approach, 24.0 degrees for the break-over, and 47.0 degrees for the departure.