Maruti Suzuki India today started exports of the new Jimny 5-door, which is scheduled to land in South Africa before the end of the year.
“The vehicle will be shipped to destinations including Latin America, Middle East, and Africa regions,” the company announced.
Previously, when Maruti Suzuki commenced exports of the new Fronx on 6 July, it took around six weeks before the crossover went on sale in the domestic market on 15 August.
Considering this timeline, the Jimny 5-door should be making its official South African introduction before the end of November, or hopefully by early December at the latest.
There’s already one example of the 4×4 driving around in the country for media and press events, giving local fans a teaser of what’s to come.
“With the overwhelming popularity of the new Jimny, and its three-door sibling, our production facilities in Japan and India are working at full capacity to meet the demand,” said Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager for Suzuki Auto South Africa, in August.
“We have already placed our first order, and we hope to make it available for sale in the last quarter of this year.”
What to expect
Revealed on local soil for the first time at the 2023 Festival of Motoring, we know just about all the important details of the new Jimny 5-door except for its price.
Aside from its two additional doors, the larger 4×4’s wheelbase has grown by 340mm in comparison to the Jimny 3-door, coming in at 2,590mm, with a body that is an overall 360mm longer at 3,985mm.
Despite the larger footprint, Suzuki has promised that the newcomer will remain a “true-blue off-roader” boasting a respectable ground clearance of 210mm, as well as an approach angle of 36 degrees, break-over angle of 24 degrees, and departure angle of 50 degrees.
Like the three-door, the Jimny 5-door will make use of the brand’s well-known 1.5-litre petrol engine with 75kW and 130Nm.
The powerplant connects to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox in partnership with the AllGrip four-wheel-drive system, with this setup providing a low range for added off-road prowess, a brake-based limited-slip differential that enhances grip in slippery conditions, and hill-hold and descent control.
In light of its larger stature, the Jimny 5-door will likely be somewhat heavier than its smaller sibling, and achieve a slightly worse fuel consumption, too. For reference, the Jimny 3-door weighs between 1,095kg and 1,110kg and achieves a fuel economy of 6.3-6.8l/100km, depending on the selected gearbox.
The equipment sheet of the Jimny 5-door is reported to be nearly identical to the model we currently have, with the notable exception of a larger 9.0-inch infotainment screen integrated into the front fascia.
Customers can therefore expect amenities such as 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, cruise control, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control, smartphone pairing, and fabric seats – determined by the trim line.
The manufacturer also confirmed that the bigger Jimny will be offered in several exclusive paint colours, including Celestial Blue, Granite Grey, and Sizzling Red with a metallic black roof.
The final details surrounding the Jimny 5-door, including its pricing, spec sheet, and model range, will be revealed closer to its launch date later this year.
The Jimny 3-door currently has a starting price of R373,900, with the five-door model expected to come in around the R400,000 mark given its larger shell and ever-so-slightly more premium spec sheet.
Keyword: New Suzuki Jimny 5-door on its way to South Africa – Launching soon