Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2020) Review

Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2020) At A Glance

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

Tiny boot. Not in its element on the motorway. Very high CO2 of 178g/km for the manual and 198g/km for the auto.

Satisfaction Index

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Ask Honest John

What's the smallest, competent 4x4?

"I wish to replace my wife's car with a small 4x4. Given the terrain where we live, it needs to be as narrow as possible and competent as a 4x4. What can you recommend?"

Suzuki Jimny: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/suzuki/jimny-2019/ Brilliant off-road and just 1.7 metres wide.

Answered by Dan Powell

We want a small 4x4 hybrid. Should we wait for the newest Jimny or look elsewhere?

"Can you please recommend a small 4x4, automatic, hybrid? Our first choice was a new Suzuki Jimmy and we've been on several dealer waiting lists for over a year now and getting tired of waiting. Second choice would be a Suzuki Ignis but I can't see an automatic option, ditto a Panda Cross. Would really appreciate your help."

If you need the car for off-roading then it might be better to wait for the Jimny or buy a nearly new model on the used market: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/cars-for-sale/search/Suzuki/Jimny/?age=2&l=0 If you do not plan to use the car off-road then it might be better to buy a front-wheel drive car and fit a good quality set of all-season tyres. These will give you the extra grip you need in the winter months. In this case, I'd recommend the Toytota C-HR: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/toyota/c-hr-2016

Answered by Dan Powell

Should I hold out for the LWB Suzuki Jimny?

"I'm struck by the cute, new Suzuki Jimny. I might be able to do some recreational off-roading, but I don't want a one-trick pony. So, with the possibility of a LWB model looking more a probability, filling a space left by everything else that's gone upmarket, that looks like a better bet. It certainly would up the practicality stakes for me: more space for camping gear, bigger roof tent, maybe a bike inside with a wheel off. Would a longer wheel base potentially make this a better cruiser?"

While a five-door Jimny is rumoured to be in development, we'd be surprised to see it sold in the UK. The future of the Jimny is under threat as its high CO2 emissions hinders the brand's ability to hit new CO2 targets being introduced across Europe in 2021. To answer your question, yes, a longer wheelbase would probably make the Jimny a slightly better cruiser - but not as much as a more refined engine and six-speed gearbox would. It could be worth looking at the Suzuki Vitara - it might not be as capable as the Jimny off road, but it sounds like it'd suit your requirements better.

Answered by Andrew Brady

I'm looking to replace my Daihatsu Terios - what would be a suitable new car?

"I love my Daihatsu Terios, which I have had now for about 10 years. I call it the Tardis as it is deceptively roomy. I'm now looking to buy something similar - high driving position and not too wide or long. I am 70 years old and vertically challenged so I like the seating position of the Terios. Not too confident about parking a bigger vehicle either. I prefer 4/5 door and AWD. I also like the reversing sensors and am looking maybe for an in-car sat-nav. What would you suggest? "

A Suzuki Jimny is probably the closest thing you can get to a Terios today. It's not a driving experience that'll be appreciated by everyone, however. Consider a Suzuki Vitara or Fiat Panda 4x4, too.

Answered by Andrew Brady

On the inside of an Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2020)

• Euro NCAP rating of three stars

There’s no clever packaging going on here - the 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 has 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 cossetting, but we've spent quite a lot of time in the 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.

The top-spec 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 SZ4.

Specifications (from launch):

SZ4 features Allgrip 4WD with low ratio transfer gear, ABS with brake assist function, ESP, driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, lane departure warning, emergency stop signal, hill hold control, hill descent control, full size spare wheel, alarm, immobiliser, remote central door locking, cruise control with speed limiter, digital clock, fabric seats, electric front windows, 12V accessory socket on centre console, manual air conditioning, automatic headlights, high beam assist, front fog lights, 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, black exterior door handles, black exterior door mirrors.

SZ5 adds a three-spoke leather steering wheel, front sun visors with vanity mirrors, 12V accessory socket in the luggage area, automatic air conditioning, 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, rear privacy glass.

Child seats that fit a Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2020)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Driving Suzuki Jimny (2019 – 2020)

• Engines range from 1.5 to 1.5 Automatic

While there’s a certain charm to how the Jimny drives, it’s not going to appeal to everyone. The engine is underpowered - Suzuki’s turbocharged BoosterJet engine would be a welcome upgrade - but the low gearing of the manual 'box means you’ll soon be in fifth gear at around 35mph. There aren’t any more gears, meaning the 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 Jimny any faster. This makes for a noisy driving experience and doesn’t help fuel economy, either. The way the Jimny wanders around as you attempt to drive in a straight line, not helped by the vague and slow steering, also 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 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 Jimny is really in its element. Under normal everyday driving, the 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 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 will cater for.

Whether you compare the Jimny to the Dacia Duster or more mainstream rivals like the SEAT Arona and Honda HR-V, it’s hard to deny that the Suzuki 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 Jimny to be able to overlook its flaws in the way it drives. 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 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 – 2020) Models and Specs

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What to watch out for

Model History