Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021) Review

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021) At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Suzuki Jimny performs superbly off-road and is very cute, which many will consider sufficient compensation for its sub-par on-road manners.

+Adorable looks. Fun to drive (in a sense). Extremely capable off road.

-Tiny boot. Not in its element on the motorway. Not very refined even at lower speeds.

Insurance Groups are between 13–14
On average it achieves 0% of the official MPG figure

Suzuki came up trumps with its new Jimny in 2019, which was like a scaled-down Land Rover Defender. It had the same off-road bias, which means on-road manners are more passable than good. However, if you understand this, then you can appreciate the Suzuki Jimny as a tool for a specific job. Emissions saw it removed from sale as a passenger car after only a short period in showrooms, leaving the Jeep Renegade, big-selling Dacia Duster and underrated SsangYong Tivoli to fly the flag for affordable SUVs. Read on for our full Suzuki Jimny review.

The 1998 Suzuki Jimny was dire to drive on the road, its interior was basic and, by the time its 20-year production lifespan came to an end in 2018, it was long past its best.

You only need to visit rural areas to see how successful it was, though. Buyers loved it for its reliability, low running costs and ability to go anywhere.

The brand could easily have replaced it with yet another fashionable small SUV to take on the likes of the Nissan Juke

But it’s already got the SUV market pretty well catered for with its Suzuki Ignis, Suzuki SX4 S-Cross and Suzuki Vitara – so it stuck true to its principles and launched a very quirky off roader.

Quirky is arguably a polite synonym for flawed. The new Suzuki Jimny felt prehistoric to drive on the road – the steering takes a lot of turns from lock to lock, and you constantly correct the wheel to keep it in a straight line.

It’s also underpowered and desperately in need of a sixth gear, running out of steam at around 60mph.

But that’s the difference between a hatchback-based crossover and a proper, old-school 4x4 vehicle based on a ladder frame chassis.

Most people will hate how the Suzuki Jimny drives, but there’s a charm to it. Just like some people choose to drive classic cars, some people appreciate an old-fashioned off-roader. Indeed, some people need an old-fashioned off roader.

There are just two trim levels on offer: the SZ4 and SZ5. We’d recommend the top-spec model, if only for a wider colour range and the more attractive navigation display rather than the old-fashioned radio.

Whichever trim level you opt for, don’t expect to be able to carry your family and enough luggage for a weekend away. The Suzuki Jimny can barely carry anything with all four seats in use – it has an official load capacity of just 85 litres with the rear seats left up.

It’s much better treated as a two-seater, with the rear seats permanently left down, in which case you get a fairly boxy, useful boot. Suzuki even sold a load cover to fit over the rear seats for this arrangement.

Demand outstripped supply when the Suzuki Jimny was new and it remains a used car that plenty of people want – it’s become something of a cult machine. This keeps used prices strong.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar's Suzuki Jimny review.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021) handling and engines

Driving Rating
The Suzuki Jimny has a character all its own. It’s absolutely brilliant off-road, but much less happy being driven on A-roads and the motorway.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Handling and ride quality

The way the Suzuki Jimny wanders around as you attempt to drive in a straight line, not helped by the vague and slow steering, doesn’t encourage you to leave the inside lane – and you’ll know about it if you’re hit by a gust of wind.

We’ve established that the Suzuki Jimny isn’t at home on the motorway, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun elsewhere. Around town, its compact dimensions, along with a high driving position and good visibility, means it’s easy (and amusing) to dart around, squeezing between gaps and hustling with other road users.

Parking it is easy, although the lack of a reversing camera or parking sensors seems a strange omission.

Of course, it’s off road where the Suzuki Jimny is really in its element. Under normal everyday driving, the Suzuki Jimny sends all its power to the rear wheels. Should you wish, you can pull a lever, which results in a satisfying clunk as four-wheel-drive is engaged.

Pull it further and it selects low range, allowing you more control at low speeds – ideal for negotiating off-road obstacles. There’s also a button on the dash for hill descent mode, allowing the car to control the brakes while driving down a steep hill.

We’ve tried the Suzuki Jimny on rocky tracks and it simply isn’t fazed by steep ascents or axle-twisting obstacles. When it does lose traction, its traction control system will quickly brake the spinning wheel to redistribute torque to the opposing wheel with the most grip.

It could do with a little more ground clearance and some serious tyres if you plan to follow a Land Rover Defender off road, but that's something the enthusiast market caters for.

Whether you compare the Suzuki Jimny to the Dacia Duster or more mainstream rivals like the SEAT Arona and even the Honda HR-V, it’s hard to deny that it feels like it’s at least 20 years out of date in the way it drives on the road. 

You have to really like the Suzuki Jimny to be able to overlook its flaws behind the wheel.

In a world of cars that can park themselves and speed limiters that can switch themselves on, a car that’s as old-fashioned as the Suzuki Jimny can, if you’re in the right mindset, be a huge amount of fun.

Just don’t buy one expecting it to drive like a Suzuki Swift on stilts.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Engines

While there’s a certain charm to how the Suzuki Jimny drives, it’s not going to appeal to everyone.

The engine is underpowered - Suzuki’s turbocharged BoosterJet unit would have been a welcome upgrade - but the low gearing of the manual gearbox means you’ll soon be in fifth gear at around 35mph.

There aren’t any more gears, meaning the Suzuki Jimny’s little 85PS 1.5-litre petrol engine is working very hard at higher speeds. There is an automatic gearbox – a four-speed torque-converter transmission – which is equally strained on the motorway.

With the engine screaming away at 3000rpm at 60mph, you’ll have no real desire to drive the Suzuki Jimny any faster. This makes for a noisy driving experience and doesn’t help fuel economy, either.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Safety

This is an area where the Suzuki Jimny's charm cannot make up for objective deficiencies. It scored three stars when tested by Euro NCAP when four stars was generally regarded as a poor result.

It does have six airbags, and Suzuki also provided automatic emergency braking, plus lane departure warning. There is ESP traction control, too, as well as traffic sign recognition technology.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Towing

Despite its pint pot size, the Suzuki Jimny can haul a braked trailer of up to 1300kg. Hitch up with an unbraked trailer and it can deal with up to 350kg.

Engine MPG 0-62 CO2
1.5 - - 154 g/km
1.5 Automatic - - 170 g/km

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021) interior

Interior Rating
The cabin of the Suzuki Jimny is extremely basic, and there is not much room for luggage if you choose to carry two people in the rear seats.
Dimensions
Length -
Width -
Height 1705 mm
Wheelbase 2250 mm

Full specifications

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Practicality

There’s no clever packaging going on here – the Suzuki Jimny is small on the outside, and seemingly even smaller on the inside. With all four seats in use, the boot is barely big enough for a single shopping bag.

It’s basically non-existent. You’ll have to drop the rear seats flat (a simple enough task) if you want to carry anything more than a newspaper, and Suzuki even offers a protective boot liner to cover up the backs of the rear seats when they’re dropped.

The driving position is similar to that of the old Land Rover Defender. Elbow room is lacking unless you drop the driver’s window, and there’s not much in the way of useful storage. Even the door bins are so narrow they’re almost unusable – save for, perhaps, an Ordnance Survey map. Suzuki had a clear audience in mind...

A high roof means there’s plenty of room for even the tallest of drivers (and passengers), although the lack of driver’s seat adjustment and steering wheel reach means it’s worth at least sitting in one before handing over any money.

The front seats (heated on the SZ4) aren't the most cosseting, but we’ve spent quite a lot of time in the Suzuki Jimny without any real aches or pains.

Due to the lack of a boot space in the back, it’s actually surprisingly spacious for rear seat passengers. And when you do drop the rear seats, there’s quite a boxy and useful luggage space.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Quality and finish

It’s all very rugged and basic inside the Suzuki Jimny, but that doesn’t mean it’s badly put together. Far from it, in fact, and Suzuki’s usual strengths of solid materials fastened solidly to each other are in evidence.

There is a lot of hard plastic and not a lot of soft-touch surfaces, but then this is an off-roader with purpose rather than a lifestyle SUV. We reckon it fits with the Suzuki Jimny’s overall outlook on life.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Infotainment

The top-spec Suzuki Jimny SZ5 model comes with a seven-inch touchscreen display, incorporating navigation as standard.

This isn’t the slickest system to operate, but it does feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing you access to your phone’s features such as Google Maps when on the move.

It looks much better than the slab of plastic with an old-fashioned radio in the centre used on the dashboard of the Suzuki Jimny SZ4.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021) value for money

Value for Money Rating
The Suzuki Jimny scores well here for the simple fact that its used values remain impressively strong and stable, thanks to high demand.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Prices

If you thought buying a five-year old Suzuki Jimny was going to save a few quid on its original price when new, think again.

Supply and demand means even a five-year-old car in base SZ4 trim will cost from around £24,000 with 30,000 miles under its wheels – this would have cost £15,500 when new.

Great news if you bought one new, not so good if you’re desperate to own a Suzuki Jimny now.

Find a late model Suzuki Jimny SZ5 with plenty of extras and you could be spending as much as £27,000, such is the cult following that has built up around this small 4x4.

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021): Running Costs

The 1.5-litre petrol engine delivers combined fuel economy of 38.5mpg with the manual gearbox and with the rarely chosen auto an average of 32.1mpg.

In daily driving, reckon on around 30mpg from either version and less if you take the car off-road and use the low-ratio option for serious mud-bashing.

With the manual transmission, carbon dioxide output is 178g/km, while the auto increases that to 198g/km. However, all Suzuki Jimnys require the flat rate of road tax at £180 for 12 months.

Servicing a Suzuki Jimny is not expensive unless you really test the car in off-road conditions.

Nor will insurance threaten the finances thanks to the Suzuki sitting in groups 13 to 14 depending on whether you choose SZ4 or SZ5 trims, respectively.

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Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021) models and specs

At launch in 2019, the Suzuki Jimny was offered in SZ4 and SZ5 trim lines. The SZ4 was soon dropped, meaning most models on the second-hand market are found in SZ5 trim.

The Suzuki Jimny SZ4 gets the bare basics, with remote central door locking, cruise control with speed limiter, digital clock, fabric seats, electric front windows, a 12-volt accessory socket on the centre console and manual air-conditioning.

It also has automatic headlights, high beam assist, front foglights, electrically adjustable door mirrors, centre console cup holder, 50:50 folding rear seats, MP3 compatible CD player, DAB radio, Bluetooth, two speakers, steering wheel audio controls, 15-inch steel wheels and black exterior door handles and door mirrors.

The Suzuki Jimny SZ5 adds a three-spoke leather steering wheel, front sun visors with vanity mirrors, a 12-volt accessory socket in the luggage area, and automatic air-conditioning.

It also has LED headlights, headlamp washers, heated door mirrors, heated front seats, navigation system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 15-inch alloy wheels, body colour exterior door handles and rear privacy glass.

Dimensions
Length -
Width -
Height 1705 mm
Wheelbase 2250 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1135 kg
Boot Space -
Warranty
Servicing -
Costs
List Price -
Insurance Groups 13–14
Road Tax Bands G–H
Official MPG -
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult -
Child -
Pedestrian -
Overall 3
SUV
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.5 SZ4 3dr - - -
1.5 SZ5 3dr - - -
1.5 SZ5 Auto 3dr - - -

Model History

June 2018

Suzuki reveals Jimny

The more upright A-pillars and flat clamshell bonnet enhance visibility from the windshield, while the dipped driver and passenger window lines expand visibility from the side windows.

Other exterior features include the drip rails on the roof edges, which prevent water ingress into the cabin when opening or closing a door, wheel arch extensions and side sill covers protecting the body from stone chips and rear lamps gathered on the bumper to achieve a simplistic design and also contribute to a wider rear door opening.

Eight body colours, including two new colours developed exclusively for the all-new Jimny. A high-visibility “Kinetic Yellow” designed to stand out in bad weather or rough worksites, and a low-visibility “Jungle Green” which blends in with natural scenery.

The interior is without excessive colours or decoration to minimise distraction and lets the driver concentrate on manoeuvring the vehicle. The horizontal lines defined by the instrument panel, and the vertical lines characterised by the meter cluster and centre console panels help the driver recognise the angle of the vehicle in rough and mountainous terrain.

The instrument panel and surrounding parts have a scratch and stain-resistant grained finish, and the grip and switches are easy to operate so that it can be handled in off-road conditions as well as while wearing gloves.

The meters set in cubic housings are always lit up for clear viewing on and off-road, when the vehicle often passes between sunlit and shaded areas. For intuitive operation of the audio system, a Bluetooth compatible Smartphone Linkage Display Audio unit with a 7-inch infrared touchscreen is equipped on higher grades.

The rear luggage space can be expanded by folding the rear seats, creating a 377 litre luggage space which is 53 litres larger than its predecessor. Flat all the way across, the quarter trims and seats have been carefully designed to increase storage width, and the backs of the rear seats and luggage room floor are coated with plastic for easy dirt/stain removal. Five utility screw holes are available on each side under the quarter windows along with four luggage hook screw holes around the floor area for flexible usage of the luggage space.

From its ladder frame structure to its 1.5-litre engine, the all-new Jimny is built for rough-road adventures. But on-road ability was not compromised, with the higher torsional rigidity of the ladder frame providing a more comfortable and solid ride on the road, and newly equipped steering damper on the front suspension minimising steering wheel vibration and kickback. Whether navigating the urban jungle or exploring off the beaten track, the Jimny is sure to satisfy adventurous minds.

The Jimny incorporates the four essentials for serious off-roading — a ladder frame, the three angles, 3-link rigid axle suspension with coil spring and part-time 4WD with low range transfer gear. Designed for professionals, it features ALLGRIP PRO.

The approach angle of 37 degrees, ramp breakover angle of 28 degrees and departure angle of 49 degrees allow the Jimny to climb over obstacles and steep hills without scraping its bumpers or underbody.

Rigid axle suspensions thrive in bumpy off-road driving. When one tyre is pushed upward by an obstacle, the connected tyre on the other side is pressed downward, giving superior grip on uneven terrain. The Jimny equips the rigid axle suspension on both the front and rear, allowing it to travel even on rough roads.

The Jimny features a part-time 4WD system with low range transfer gear, which can be easily switched from 2H (2WD-high gear), 4H (4WD-high gear) and 4L (4WD-low gear) modes by a shift lever directly connected to the transfer gear. Compared to the 4H mode, the 4L mode can transfer more torque to the tyres while in lower gears, for better traction on steep slopes and rough terrain.

The former 1.3-litre engine is replaced by a 1.5-litre engine in the all-new Jimny. It delivers stronger torque at all rpm than its predecessor, with ample torque at low revolutions enhancing driving performance especially while driving off-road, where low revolution is often needed. Despite the increased displacement, it has smaller overall dimensions than the engine it replaces, with 15% reduced weight, contributing to enhanced fuel efficiency.

The 5-speed manual transmission has optimised gear ratios for the new engine and also offers better fuel efficiency. The shift lever has been redesigned to reduce vibration, and also provides a more solid and direct feeling when changing gears. The 4-speed automatic transmission has also been redesigned to offer less friction and better fuel economy. The shift pattern has been changed from the former gate type to the straight (aligned) type to simplify operation.

November 2018

Suzuki Jimny prices announced

Suzuki has announced UK prices for its new Jimny 4x4.

The off-roader is available in two trim levels from launch: the SZ4 priced at £15,499 and SZ5 from £17,999. The SZ5 4-speed torque converter automatic is £18,999.

The SZ4 offers selectable 4WD with low ratio transfer, Dual Sensor Brake Support (DSBS), Air Conditioning, CD Tuner, Bluetooth connectivity, Cruise Control and front foglamps. Moving up to SZ5 adds 15-inch alloy wheels, LED Headlights, Climate Control, Navigation with Smartphone link, rear privacy glass, heated front seats and body coloured door handles.

Other functions included as standard equipment for both grades include Lane Departure Warning and weaving alert function which help the driver stay alert, and high beam assist supports relaxing and courteous night driving by automatically switching the high and low beams at speeds of 25mph and above.

Six body colours are available at UK launch including a new colour developed exclusively for the new Jimny: a high-visibility “Kinetic Yellow” designed to stand out in bad weather or when in use on rough ground worksites. Metallic paint is a £485 option with dual tone metallic paint available as a £650 option.

What to watch out for

24-06-2019:

Rated 'Unacceptable' by Thatcham for proximity key security.

What does the Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2021) cost?