Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018) Review

Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018) At A Glance

Outstanding ability off-road and cute looks, especially as a soft-top. Cheap to buy.

Noisy, unsophisticated and cramped on the road. Poor ride and handling.

Real MPG average for a Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Reviews for Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018)'s top 3 rivals

Daihatsu Terios

Better than the previous Terios model and decent off road.

Fiat Panda

Impressively capable off road and in snow. Chunky looks. As practical as the standard Panda. Good quality...

Dacia Duster

Exceptional value for money – an SUV for the price of a small hatch, low running costs, hugely practical,...

Ask Honest John

Which 4x4 should I buy for £4,000?

"I am looking for a 4x4 with reasonable mpg. I have a 30-mile round trip five days a week on country roads and also need to go off road to feed livestock. I have a budget of £4,000. What do you suggest? "

I'd recommend the old version of the Dacia Duster. You'll get a diesel model that'll be very economical and capable enough off-road, especially with a decent set of tyres. It'll have more than 100,000 miles on the clock and feel a little tired, but it doesn't sound like that will be a major issue for you. With a full service history it should be mechanically sound. The old Suzuki Jimny is a more rugged off roader, but they suffer badly from rust and aren't actually that economical on fuel despite having a tiny 1.3-litre petrol engine. We have listed all the issues we're aware of on both cars: Dacia Duster: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/dacia/duster-2012/good Suzuki Jimny: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/suzuki/jimny-1998/good

Answered by Russell Campbell

I need a low budget 4WD for low mileages - what do you suggest?

"I drive lower than average miles per year, 6000 perhaps. I prefer to be sitting up-right, as in a little 4WD. I would like as economical a car as possible, in terms of running and maintaining. I have a budget of £6000, with some wriggle room. What would you recommend?"

I'd recommend a petrol for 6000 miles a year. A Suzuki Jimny might fit the bill, but it's not the most comfortable road car. I'd probably be looking for something like a Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V - although all will be a bit more expensive to run than a conventional hatchback. You could consider a Honda Jazz which is more versatile and has a slightly higher seating position than a standard hatch.

Answered by Andrew Brady

What's a good Suzuki SX4 equivalent for coping with narrow and winding roads?

"I'm living in Cumbria; windy roads, mountain passes, narrow lanes and lots of potholes. My Suzuki SX4 is a brilliant 4WD car. However, it is not made anymore. What would be a similar car to look at for a suitable replacement? I'm looking for a car which is not too wide (for those narrow lanes) really high clearance, (for tracks and occasional off-road) and, if possible, 4WD capability too. I don't need fancy, I need practical."

I'd stick with Suzuki. They make robust vehicles and most of the range is available with 4x4. You could look at a Swift or Ignis, or if you'd prefer something bigger (and with more ground clearance), consider an SX4 S-Cross or Vitara. Or there's the go-anywhere Jimny, but it's an acquired taste on the road. Also consider a Dacia Duster.

Answered by Andrew Brady

What's the best car used car for ground clearance?

"I currently drive around 6000 miles a year, all short journeys but often down rutted tracks. I am looking for a second-hand car with good ground clearance for around £5k. I am looking at maybe a Suzuki Jimny but would be grateful for any other suggestions. I currently have a Polo."

We're huge fans of the Suzuki Jimny, but you might find it a bit old fashioned after your Polo. It certainly doesn't drive like a hatchback, with vague steering and little in the way of sound insulation. A Suzuki Grand Vitara will be nicer to drive, while an SX4 might be a better compromise between a car and a 4x4. Also, consider a Toyota RAV4 - they're good to drive, and the 2000-2006 RAV4 is available as a short three-door model.

Answered by Andrew Brady

More Questions

Inside of the Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018)

• Boot space is 113–324 litres

The Jimny's interior is as basic as you'd expect for a that first went on sale in 1998. Cars from 2005 benefit from a facelift that brought a much improved interior, though it still feels dated, That said, if you're looking for a working vehicle, then the Jimny's sturdy interior is just the job. The hard plastics stand up well to knocks and scrapes and can be easily cleaned. 

The driving position is very upright and despite Jimny's compact dimensions, tall drivers shouldn't have much of a problem with it as the steering wheel adjusts for height. Forward visibility is good and the view when pulling out of T-Junctions is unimpaired. The rear view isn't quite as clear, especially with four on board, but large wing mirrors partly compensate for this.

The Jimny's only really suitable as a second car or for couples as the boot is incredibly small and the two rear seats are only suitable for occasional use as there's very little legroom and as Jimny is quite narrow, shoulder room is restricted, too. But there's a reasonable load area with the seats folded and tumbled, but that only leaves seating for two - plus the side-opening door is a bit of a pain in small parking spaces.

All new Jimny models come with the essentials, but if you're expecting up-to-the-minute technology like navigation and smartphone compatibility you'll be sorely disappointed. There's a stereo and electric windows for ventilation, or you can get air conditioning on SZ4 models. 

Standard Equipment (July 2015)

SZ3 models come with steel wheels, electric windows, a 12V socket, CD player, cloth upholstery.

SZ4 trim adds synthetic leather upholstery, leather covered steering wheel, 15-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and air conditioning. 

Child seats that fit a Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018)

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 (1998 – 2018)

• Engines range from 1.3 Automatic to 1.3
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 25–42 mpg

From 1998-2005, the Jimny was powered by a 16-valve 1.3 litre petrol with 80bhp. It was a slow, plodding engine with a 0-60mph time of 16.3 seconds and a top speed of 87mph. This was replaced by a more modern 1.3-litre VVTi in 2005.

This 82bhp engine offers a bit more power, brings the 0-60mph time down to 14.1 seconds and is a shade more economical, returning 36mpg, rather than 34mpg. All cars are five-speed manuals, with the option of a four-speed automatic. Current Jimnies emit 162g/km, which is pretty high and gives away the very dated nature of the car.

There's also a 1.8-litre Jimny that was sold briefly between 2004 and 2005. It's more powerful, with 125bhp and gets to 60mph in little over 10 seconds. But such a large engine wasn't well suited to such a small car and it never sold well. It's rare on the used market.

On the road that the Jimny's age really starts to show. As well as being slow (and feeling it), it rolls a lot and has a ride that never really seems to settle - there's a lot of bouncing, which is quite severe on rougher roads. The steering is vague - as is the case on many old-school 4x4s - which can be off-putting at higher speeds and on the motorway.

But when it comes to off-roading, Jimny can rightly hold its head high. And rightly so - it follows a long line of Suzukis famed for their off-road prowess. Those who buy a Jimny tend to need it, rather than want it. And that's a subtle, but important difference. Those who need a Jimny appreciate the low ratio gearbox, seperate chassis and good ground clearance. Even with road tyres, it performs well and is only limited in its capabilities by the power of the engine.

Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018) Models and Specs

On sale until January 2019

On sale until January 2016

On sale until March 2010

On sale until June 2009

Good

Bad

What to watch out for

Model History

• March 1999: Jimny lauunched
• April 2004
• January 2005
• November 2005
• July 2009
• June 2014
• December 2014
• March 2018