The popular Suzuki Jimny is now available with two extra doors and we were on hand to test the new model on its official SA launch. We headed off into the wilds of Bostwana to put this plucky little 4×4 to the test.
Adventure for everyone
One of the year’s most hotly awaited 4×4 vehicles has finally arrived. The new Suzuki 5-door Jimny is set to open up the range to an entirely new clientele, with many who would normally have bypassed the offering, now considering getting a Jimny as it now has two extra doors and that all-important rear seating and boot space. Enthusiasts received a taste of what was to come when the Japanese brand pulled the covers off of a homologation unit at this year’s Festival of Motoring and had a few on display at the successful Gathering of the Jimny’s festival.
Suzuki finally had enough of the new derivatives of the 5 door to do a crossborder adventure into the wilds of Botswana for members of the media, to showcase not only its offroad prowess but also to display the space and practicality that South Africa’s smallest 4×4 now has.
Bigger, longer, better
The ladder frame chassis of the Jimny has been stretched ever so slightly by 340mm bringing its overall length to 3.965m. One may think that the extra length would now compromise the offroad capabilities but with the arrival and departure angles only losing a single degree and the break-over angle only impacted by 2 degrees, the 5-door derivative can still go just about anywhere the only difference is you can now do it in more comfort, with more gear and an extra two people.
The 5-door has not only gained the space but also a host of feature and tech upgrades as well. On the safety front, the Jimny has ABS and TSC as well as 6 airbags and a reverse camera. Regarding tech, the GLX derivatives get a 9″ touchscreen infotainment system, and the GL models a 7″ version, with both now being Apple Car Play and Android Auto equipped.
Feature-wise, the new Jimny’s get a different front grille in satin metallic grey with chrome accents and electrically folding mirrors and are available in a range of 9 colours, with three of those being two-tone and exclusive to the 5-door lineup.
Underneath the skin, the familiar K15B petrol engine remains but the driveshaft has been upgraded. Solid axles, springs, and a low-range transfer case keep things running smoothly, and after all, is said and done, the entire vehicle is now only 105 kg heavier.
Pricing options
The new 5-door Jimny will only have 3 grade offerings but with a price difference of only R40 000 between a 5-door model and a 3-door equivalent, it makes perfect sense that the GLX model is going to be the one to have.
| Jimny 5 Door 1.5 GL Manual | R 429 900 |
| Jimny 5 Door 1.5 GLX Manual | R 457 900 |
| Jimny 5 Door 1.5 GLX Auto | R 479 900 |
| Jimny 3 door 1.5 GL Manual | R 390 900 |
| Jimny 3 door 1.5 GL Auto | R 412 900 |
| Jimny 3 door 1.5 GLX Manual | R 416 900 |
| Jimny 3 door 1.5 GLX Auto | R 438 900 |
Into Africa
Our testing adventure with the new 5-door would be an 800km roundtrip from Polokwane, heading north into the Tuli Wilderness area in Botswana and back again, seeing us traverse every conceivable surface from smooth tar, heavily potholed byroads, corrugated gravel roads, sand, rocks and muddy river bottoms which the Jimny handled with aplomb. The major takeaway from the tour is that the Jimny is actually a lot more stable on the road with its extra length without impacting its offroad abilities.
The rear seating is comfy, and if the front seats are positioned right, there is more than enough legroom for even a 6-foot person to sit with ease. The rear boot space easily takes luggage and can be expanded from the now 211l to 1113l if you drop the back seats. An interesting discovery is that if you lay the seats flat, you can actually sleep rather comfortably in the Jimny, who needs a tent!
After crossing the Platjan border post, we deflated our tyres to 1.5 bar, and set out from the gravel road, dropping into a multitude of dry riverbeds. With low range engaged, we drove through the interconnecting riverbeds, occasionally crossing rocky sections that would normally be roaring waterfalls in the wet season. Some precise and technical driving was required, but everyone noticed that not one vehicle got stuck or needed to be recovered during our entire trip.
Quietly tiptoeing through a very wild area allows one to see an abundance of wildlife that would normally be spooked by noisy lumbering diesels. Giraffes, Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala, Warthogs, and Elephants, were rather nonplussed by our presence.
Our entire trip was done on less than 1 and a half tanks of fuel, with the Jimny averaging 7.3l/100km and not ever skipping a beat. The Jimny made the experience extremely pleasurable and proved that you don’t need a massive vehicle to go overlanding.
Verdict
As South Africa’s smallest 4×4 with low range, the new 5-door Jimny is a cracking offering. Not only is it more than capable, it now has all the space you need to tackle an adventure and take some company along. It is still the same width and height but with that extra little bit of length is now even more livable for everyday use and that occasional bush getaway. Suzuki does not believe that the new 5-door derivative will take away any sales from the current 3-door lineup but will expand the customer base to those who were looking for a Jimny but needed the extra space. With the production of the 3-door model moving back to Japan and Maruti Suzuki India handling the construction of the 5-door model, stock will not be a problem, and we should start seeing many more Jimny on our roads.
Keyword: Suzuki Jimny 5 Door (2023) First drive review