The new Suzuki Jimny 5-door may be longer than the vehicle we’re used to, but it is still one of the best fun-sized SUVs you can buy in South Africa.
I was lucky enough to spend two days in the driving seat of the Japanese automaker’s latest vehicle on a media journey that took us from the country’s northernmost province of Limpopo over the border into Botswana for an adventure that showcased the new Jimny’s capabilities both on and off the road.
Getting started
Our journey began at a hotel in Polokwane early on a weekday morning, where we were all allocated a set of wheels and tasked with following a convoy out of the city and towards the border.
What immediately jumps about the Jimny is that its steering is quite heavy, at least relative to the size of the vehicle itself. It’s by no means difficult to use, but it does take a little getting used to, especially in a tight car park where we were all lined up for the off.
What does help tremendously is that the five-door comes standard with a reverse camera and parking sensors, and since it is still very compact by modern SUV standards, we were soon on our way with no issues.
The media were all allocated a manual car (in both GL and GLX guise) and Polokwane’s morning traffic was a great testing ground where we found the clutch and five-speed gearshift to be very smooth to operate.
It’s on the motorway where the Suzuki’s only weakness comes into play, as the five-door still uses the 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated petrol engine with its 75kW and 130Nm.
With this setup, the powertrain was revving at 3,000rpm at 100km/h and nearly 4,000rpm at 120km/h, which does hurt fuel consumption and also means overtakes at these speeds require forward planning.
Of course, with South Africa being the pothole capital of the world, this turned out to be less of an issue with our speed frequently being reduced to 80km/h or lower even on major roads.
What the road hazards did provide was a showcase of how well the SUV’s initially heavy-feeling steering allows it to weave around a minefield’s worth of hazards easily without ever feeling like it was becoming unstable.
This is where the fun begins
After going through immigration, Botswana’s dirt roads gave us the opportunity to switch from 2H to 4H mode, which is still done using a physical lever located below the gearstick.
While you will notice the shift from tarmac to dirt, the AllGrip suspension and part-time 4WD system hold up phenomenally well, and I can’t recall a single time where I or my cabin mate ever recoiled from a severe impact.
This was put to the test when we abandoned the roads entirely and began making our way through the bush, eventually landing up in a dried-up riverbed.
It was here where we switched to 4L mode and, despite using standard tyres, the Suzuki had no trouble skirting over the valley of loose sand that was our new highway.
Things did get very bumpy when driving over the corrugations in the tracks made by the cars further up the convoy, but it never became so uncomfortable as to make us want to stop and take a break.
In fact, everyone had a blast on what nearly turned into an impromptu rally stage with quick gearshifts and reflexes needed to keep up with the group.
I’d also be remiss not to mention that while the 1.5l engine lacks power on the N1, the same could not be less true out in the wild where it provides all the grunt needed to overcome what’s placed in front of it with a generous powerband that means you don’t need to be changing gears every two seconds to keep moving.
Also included in the adventure were several rocky inclines where the car’s hill descent control worked excellently, which proved that a short wheelbase makes off-road far easier as we rarely had to worry about scraping the underside.
That being said, the five-door is 340mm longer than its sibling, which has also lengthened the wheelbase from 2,250mm to 2,590mm with the side effect that its off-road angles have gone down with a new approach of 36 degrees, a break-over of 24 degrees, and a departure of 47 degrees.
They’re minor changes in the grand scheme and anyone familiar with the three-door will find the new model to be just as capable on their next holiday.
Everything you need
The two extra doors are the most obvious addition to the Jimny, and they naturally make the task of getting into the back seats a lot easier, but they aren’t the only new things about the 4×4.
The boot has grown by 126 litres for a new total of 211 litres, making it far more accommodating of the suitcases and gear you’ll be taking into the bush.
There’s the aforementioned camera and parking sensors, but you also get a new chrome grille, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a rear 12V socket, with the GLX units also receiving things like LED headlights, a larger 9.0-inch display, and climate control instead of aircon.
What does let the SUV down slightly is the lack of interior storage, as the door bins are tiny, the owner’s manual takes up most of the glove compartment, and the lower centre console only has two cupholders and is placed further back than in most cars owing to the placement of the transfer box shifter.
There is a little lip storage area for your phone beneath the aircon controls but that’s about it.
Final thoughts
At its core, the Suzuki Jimny five-door is the same as its smaller counterpart, and that’s fantastic.
It is one of the most capable 4x4s you can buy on a budget at its starting price of R429,900, is loads of fun to drive regardless of what surface you are on, and its growth spurt has added a much-appreciated layer of convenience.
It is not the most practical city car, owing to its steering, limited interior space, and lack of power on the motorway, but to buy one of these and only ever use it to navigate a dirt parking lot would be a crime.
This is a vehicle for those who love the call of the great outdoors, and in that regard, the new Suzuki Jimny passes with flying colours in every metric that matters most.
The three-door is still a viable option, of course, but for those who want a few new toys, easier access to the rear bench, and more boot space, the new Suzuki Jimny five-door will have you covered and then some.
Suzuki Jimny 5-door
Keyword: First drive in the new Suzuki Jimny 5-door in South Africa