Jimny: it’s all in the name.
Since its get-go the quirky small Suzuki SUV has been on a ‘fun run’, on and off road.
Last year the maker invested more in the three-door compact, which had become something of a cult, adding two more doors and extended cabin space.
Release the brakes, start revving the motor, the new Jimny XL five-door, after a bump in the road, has finally been let out onto Aussie streets, following a hold-up on sales for ‘an investigation into the model’ by the maker.
Suzuki confirmed there were no concerns regarding the stretched XL’s quality, safety, performance or compliance for the model put together in India from parts shipped in from Japan, as opposed to the total build of its three-door sibling in the latter. Is it better late than never?
With pent-up demand for the three-door, the Jimny GLX starts at $31,990, plus on-road costs. Now, among a harvest of five-door offerings are a Jimny XL five-speed manual, from $34,990, plus on-road costs, or four-speed automatic from $37,990. The latter was on test.
The Jimny XL is covered by Suzuki’s five-year, 100,000km warranty, with servicing recommended every 12 months or 15,000km.
STYLING
The Jimny XL is 340mm longer than the three-door at 3985mm, taken from the front bumper to include the full-size spare wheel cover mounted on the tailgate. Every inch of this is taken up by the wheelbase of 2590mm. Height and width match the three-door at 1720mm and 1645mm, respectively.
Retro fans need not fear, the XL takes its lead from the popular panel work of the tiny three-door, apart from the odd stylistic incursion to maintain a balance of city runabout with robust off-road cues. A metallic-accented front grille fits the bill.
A giant grab-bag of accessories makes up for the average standard spec of the XL and allows for a uniquely personalised small SUV. The test car was stuck (literally) with a gaudy badge, a shout-out to the Suzuki ‘Jimnyacs’ fan club, on its left flank.
INTERIOR
Here’s a dichotomy: The parked car is unlocked electronically by pressing one of two buttons on the key fob. Now, don’t trouser this, the physical key is needed to start the motor, as with an old-style ignition via a keyhole in the steering column. Whose idea is this?
So, moving on. With the extra two doors, the anticipated boost in cabin space is the ‘main event’. Decor is hard and lacking in tactile surfaces. The softest section is the seating in undistinguished material upholstery.
Storage up front is limited. Two cupholders between the seats, pushed to the rear by the 4WD lever, are not easily accessible and there’s no padded lid to a storage compartment to rest the driver’s arm on.
Door pockets are slim and all that’s left is an open space in front of the passenger, plus the slim glovebox.
Rear passengers miss out on air vents, USB access, or a fold-down central armrest.
Top tether and ISOFIX child seat points feature on both rear seats, and the square rear door opening makes it relatively easy to load little kids.
Boot space is a claimed 211 litres (85 litres, 3dr) with the rear seatbacks in place, expanding to 1113 litres (830, 3dr) with them folded flat. The less-than-90-degree side-opening tailgate does not make it easy to load awkward items.
INFOTAINMENT
The Jimny XL has a larger 9-inch media screen but it doesn’t come with built-in sat nav like the three-door GXL. Connection to the display is Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, using the phone map app.
Compared to the equivalent three-door, the XL gains rear parking sensors, a 9-inch touchscreen, up from 7-inch and DAB digital radio.
ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
The powertrain, producing 75kW and 30Nm, mated with a four-speed automatic transmission, is a straight lift from the Jimny three-door and is a little wanting, carrying the extra heft of two doors and 100kg of body weight.
SAFETY
Standard throughout the range are front, front-side and curtain airbags, autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning (at speeds of more than 60km/h). The automatic gains adaptive cruise control, which works at speeds between 40km/h and 130km/h.
Reversing camera and rear sensors add to driver confidence when slotting into skinny shopping centre car parking spots.
The Jimny XL is without an ANCAP rating. With much the same safety standards as the three-door, the new model is unlikely to fare any better than the three-door did when it recorded a three-star score in 2018.
DRIVING
While tiny dimensions make the Jimny XL five-door fun to drive, the test car’s four-speed auto and non-turbo engine disappointed, with two more doors and almost 100kg extra to push around relative to the three-door.
Biggest beef is the five-door is held back by its bulk on inclines where it quickly runs out of breath. Overtaking can be a challenge also. Colleagues claim the five-speed manual allows for a more connected drive.
Fuel is a bit of a bind too, with premium unleaded the recommended petrol, the maker claiming 6.9 litres per 100km on the combined urban/highway cycle. During a week with the test vehicle, the Jimny XL averaged 9.5 litres per 100km in the city and 5.8 litres per 100km on the open road.
The ride is bumpy on uneven road surfaces but feels more planted than the three-door at speed. Steering is well suited to slipping into tight spots at low speed but not so sharp on fast bends on the open road.
A face-saver is the fact that the Jimny XL is a genuine off-roader, with 4WD – 2H, 4H, 4L.
Shifting into low-range four-wheel drive is made simple by a traditional lever near the driver’s knee. Ground clearance is a lofty 210mm and wading depth up to 800mm.
SUMMARY
When it comes to luxury vehicles, owner loyalty can be rewarded in many ways, from exclusive hotel stays, gourmet meals to ‘masterful’ golf days.
With its cult-like status through the Jimny three-door and now five-door, Suzuki, in no small way, has been at the birth of a Jimniacs tribe, who offer first access to ‘awesome’ Jimny offerings, events, free stuff, discounts, merch and more. Give it a go.
RATINGS
Looks: 8
Performance: 6
Safety: 6
Thirst: 6
Practicality: 7
Comfort: 6
Tech: 7
Value: 8
