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

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.

Ask Honest John

Best petrol tow car for £10,000?

"I am currently running a 2007 Land Rover Defender. I love it, but towing a medium sized caravan brings consumption down to 17mpg and for normal use 28mpg. The cost of diesel, tax and maintenance is becoming onerous. Also, clean air zones make the vehicle no longer practical for certain areas of the country. I'm thinking of downgrading to a tiny Eriba caravan (kerb weight 750kg) therefore I need the most economic 4x4 petrol tow car. I was thinking of a Suzuki Jimny 2010 (1030 kg kerb weight) Any ideas for a compact petrol 4x4 enabled small car, capable of towing, say, a 750kg braked trailer/caravan? My budget is around £10,000 for an old workhorse."
The Suzuki Jimny is a very good off-roader but it's regarded as quite a poor tow car by those who test or use them. It's not particularly stable and secure even with a relatively light caravan due to its short wheelbase and tall body, so we'd advise against it. We'd be looking at something like a Suzuki Vitara or Dacia Duster, both of which are available with proper four-wheel drive and decent at towing.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Can you recommend a 4x4 for towing?

"I need a car with 4wd in order to tow glider trailers out of farmer's muddy field. However, most of the driving will be on ordinary road so I need the option of 2wd. The Suzuki Jimny has 2wd/ 4wd high and low ratio and a 4wd high ratio with locked differentials and so fits the bill. However, it is small, noisy and under powered. I had a Toyota Rav 4 with supposedly 4wd but it got stuck towing a trailer in the snow. Can you advise which cars have the proper 4wd, (like the Jimny) and could pull a 2000kg glider trailer or a 4 berth caravan with a bit of comfort and could still get through mud and snow? I am looking for an automatic, second hand car with a maximum of 30,000 miles. Budget of less than £20,000. Any ideas? I am happy to consider a plug-in hybrid if it can tow. "
You will struggle to find a 'proper' 4x4 with selectable ratios and locking differentials in budget. All small-to-midsize SUVs have moved to a more economy-biased selectable all-wheel drive system. Other than the Jimny pretty much all of them are large SUVs or pick-up trucks that cost a bit more. That said, have you checked out the latest SsangYong Rexton? It's a proper 4x4 with plenty of SUV comfort and an automatic gearbox. There's also the Mitsubishi Shogun (very old-school but spacious and affordable) and the Toyota Land Cruiser (over-budget but probably the best proper 4x4 around). For pick-ups we'd be looking at the Mitsubishi L200 or Ford Ranger.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Can you recommend a plug-in hybrid 4x4?

"I am looking to buy a new car (nearly new/used probably) but have quite a few criteria and despite spending some time looking on the internet have not had much luck in finding what I'm looking for! I used to drive Suzuki Grand Vitaras which I absolutely loved, especially the high driving position and chunky style. I then decided to go from a manual to automatic (to help my knee) and that's where the trouble started! I have wasted money trying to find a car I love as much as the older GV (I really want to have the higher traditional 4x4 type). My criteria is: Plug-in hybrid; 4x4 - 4 wheel drive with 2 wheel drive option; higher, traditional 'chunky' style 4x4 like my old Vitaras without being the size of a tank; automatic gear box; 1.4 engine size or above; smaller rather than family-size; and mileage - less than 20,000."
The Land Rover Defender 90 is available as a plug-in hybrid, has a high driving position, automatic gearbox, a 2.0-litre engine and is relatively small. That said, they're expensive and have permanent four-wheel drive. Cheaper options don't have some of the kit you have requested, but if you can live without the car being a plug-in hybrid, the Suzuki Jimny sounds like it would be ideal. It has an old-school SUV design so it feels – and genuinely is – rugged, has a high driving position, switchable four-wheel drive, is available as an auto and has a 1.5-litre engine.
Answered by Russell Campbell

What's the best 4x4 for narrow, rural roads?

"My daughter, an emergency nurse, is moving from the south of England to the North East and will be commuting between hospitals. She is looking to buy a new car more appropriate to the change in climate and the narrower roads. A small 4x4 would be ideal, perhaps a MINI? Your advice would be very much appreciated. "
I'd recommend the Suzuki Jimny, Fiat Panda 4x4, Dacia Duster 4x4 or MINI Countryman All4. The Jimny is a brilliant 4x4. But Suzuki stopped selling it as a new car in 2021, which means your daughter will need a nearly new model via a dealer.
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

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