Suzuki Jimny Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Suzuki Jimny
Prices: £10,490-£10,990 - on the road
Insurance Group: 7D
Emissions: 171g/km
Performance: Max Speed 84mph / 0-60mph 14.1s
Fuel Consumption: (combined) 39.2mpg
Dimensions: Length/Width/Heightmm 3625/1600/1670

JIMNY SWEEP

Our Rating: 4.1 / 10

Suzuki's Jimny Estate is a little car that claims to be able to do a great deal. Jonathan Crouch checks it out...

Small cars are where it's at just at present. Supermini sales have never been higher but it's tiny citycars and compact 4x4s that are really attracting the buyers in this sector. All of which would seem to promise a bright future to a contender that can claim to satisfy customers in both camps; a car like Suzuki's Jimny.

Here, on the face of things, is a real alternative to that little hatchback you were going to buy. A vehicle small enough to fit into the tightest space (it's only 5mm longer than a Ford Ka). A vehicle cheap to buy and run. And yet a vehicle that can hold its own off road and give you that commanding over-the-hedgerow driving position you've always wanted.

At first glance, the Jimny looks to be designed more for the mud than the metropolis. Flared wheelarches, bulky side panels, roof rails and that spare wheel on the tailgate give it a purposeful look intended to reflect a 'rugged personality'. From the outside, the latest version can be distinguished by its revised five-spoke alloy wheels and fog lamps set into the front bumper, both now fitted as standard rather than an option. Underneath all that, however, it's all surprisingly car-like. Instead of the 'garden shed' aerodynamics favoured by most off roaders, the slippery body has a drag coefficient comparable with that of a normal family hatchback.

In town, that high seating position and excellent all-round visibility make it great for nipping in and out of traffic. The 1.3-litre all-aluminium 16v engine is in its element here too. On the open road, however, it can sound a little stretched due to the fact that most of its 85 braked horses are not available until you get the engine singing right up at 6,000rpm.

Since the Jimny's diminutive size means its unlikely to be often used on longer trips, this shouldn't prove too much of a problem for potential owners. True, four adults can be carried on short journeys (as long as they don't bring any baggage) but even then, front seat occupants will probably be called upon to sacrifice some legroom. The other disadvantage of carrying rear passengers is that the luggage area behind them is tiny. Better to think of the car as a two-seater and fold the rear bench down.

Inside, things have been revised in the latest version, with more stylish fabrics and finishes, smarter front and rear seat designs providing greater support and comfort, a redesigned steering wheel and a fresh instrument panel featuring red illumination. Automatic transmission equipped models get a different centre console and gear selector gate, while both manual and automatic models now feature push button selection of the four-wheel drive system, located below the heating controls. Finally, a better quality audio unit, with easy to use controls and a CD player is fully integrated within the latest dash.

Handling around twisty tarmac is not as accomplished as the sharpest superminis, but it’s quite good enough to satisfy most. Besides, there's always the bonus, denied to conventional road users, that when the fancy takes you, the muddy stuff beckons. Like the original Vitara, four-wheel drive is selectable (these days via Suzuki's 'Drive Select' system), a surprisingly painless operation that can be accomplished whilst on the move.

Over reasonably rough terrain, the little Suzuki feels very confident, thanks to its tough ladder frame chassis, a standard design feature that many small off roaders lack; this renders cars like Toyota's RAV4 effectively useless for serious off road work.

You'll have to accept, however, that the Jimny won't ultimately have the wherewithal to reach the places that larger off roaders can. At least not in normal circumstances. Over in