The test drive was on a bad stretch in which I had tried out the Scorpio-N, XUV700 and Jeep Compass.
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Quick test drive feedback on the Jimny AT.
We are not actively looking for a new car, bought a Compass Diesel AT 4×4 a year ago and my wife has a 2018 Elite i20, ideally, we replace cars between 5-6 years so the i20 is due for replacement next year, preferably with an AT.
So, my wife’s 10km daily city run doesn’t really call for a car like the Jimny, but I was bombarded with calls from Nexa and I just thought let’s take a test drive anyway ( obviously the festive offer of a 50k exchange bonus plus 50k customer discount played on my mind).
The test drive was a short one, but this was on a bad stretch in which I had tried out the Scorpio-N, XUV700, and Jeep Compass before finally settling down on the Compass. So it’s a road that I’m sort of accustomed to. The ride in the Jimny is a bit bumpy, and if you are in the back seat you would get tossed around as is the case with most ladder-on-frame cars.
Anyway, the Jimny felt reasonably well built relative to say something like a Fronx or the Baleno, etc. The petrol engine is smooth, the gearbox even though outdated is more than adequate for city runs and it even responded well when I floored the pedal. Extremely smooth combination.
However, the interior space management is not that great, ergonomics are a bit off. The rear seat is a joke, not because it’s a 4 seater overall, but because the rear seats don’t have any thigh support at all.
The Jimny is a great car if you want it for its utility. It’s not an all-rounder by any stretch. Families are better off buying cars like the Nexon and saving a few lakhs.
I couldn’t just comprehend that the Jimny base AT costs nearly 18 lakhs on-road in Bangalore! The top end is nearly 19.5 lakhs!
Before anyone jumps the gun, yes, I know, the jimny is great as an off-roader, and it is. I just want to caution the family folks not to fall for the Jimny based on its looks. Your use case should be very different if you buy the Jimny. City runs? Look elsewhere!
Keyword: Quick Jimny AT test drive: A possible i20 Elite replacement next year?