2021 Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX – Worth The Wait

Everyone knows the Suzuki Jimny. The current generation’s launch could be one of the most hyped vehicle launches not only in the Philippines, but every market where the model is sold. Waiting lines stretch to as long as six months or it might even be longer, I’m not entirely sure. With only one factory in the world producing this little off-roader, Suzuki is having difficulties in keeping up with demand.

Sadly, we couldn’t exactly get our hands on a test drive unit from Suzuki Philippines for this review. If there’s a will, there’s a way. Thankfully, a good family friend of ours was able to purchase one and was kind enough to lend his new baby to us. So, is it really worth the hype?

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Exterior

Who’s gonna deny that the Suzuki Jimny is one cute little car. To be honest, this particular one we had gets a slightly more boring exterior color, that however does not change the fact that the Jimny is such a cute little off-roader. I mean look at small overall dimensions. The Jimny is less than 4 meters long, over a meter and a half wide, and around 1.7 meters tall. 

While best described as cute, the Jimny’s design is all about being retro. Compared to the previous generation, this model gets boxier dimensions. The round LED headlights are inspired by the 1970-1981 model while the 5-slot grille is inspired by the previous generation which ran from 1998-2018. The side profile shows us some beefy wheel arches which give off a more muscular and off-road ready appearance. The rear meanwhile gets retro-looking taillights which are mounted on the bumper.

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Wheels are 15-inch alloys with a gunmetal finish which look really nice and match the vehicle very well. Ground clearance is at 210 mm. The spare tire is mounted on the tailgate which gives us another throwback. The tire is housed in a case which I honestly would prefer if the spare was completely exposed, giving a more rugged look as well. The overall look actually looks like a baby Mercedes-Benz G-Class. 

Interior

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The retro theme continues on the inside. The dashboard is completely inspired by the dashboard in the 2nd generation Jimny but with a modern touch. Everything inside is boxy and straight lines, plus some round ones. Materials are all hard-touch plastics but given the Jimny’s relatively affordable price tag, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Build quality is excellent and everything feels durable.

The huge touchscreen dominates the center of the dash but more on that later. Below that are the climate controls which actually look cool. Further below you’ll find the window controls which are not on the door. With them you can also find the toggle switches for the hill-descent control and stability control.

The seats are covered in fabric materials which is also expected. The texture of the materials actually feel really nice and the seats themselves are actually comfortable. The steering wheel on the other hand is similar if not the same as the one you get on other Suzuki models. Some may not like the idea of parts-sharing especially with the Jimny’s own identity but it’s a good design and feels really good to hold.

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Moving to the back seats is quite easy considering that this is a small car. Simply pull the lever on top of the passenger seatback and the seat slides forward. The large space and door opening make it easy to access for people with average Filipino height like me. Once seated and with the front seat back in place, legroom will be almost non-existent. The rear seats are best reserved for small children or people you hate, and they will probably hate you more after the drive. The Jimny is best designated as a 2+2 seater. 

Storage

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Given its small dimensions, the Jimny is not exactly the best vehicle for carrying items. Opening the side-opening tailgate reveals only 85 liters of cargo space with the rear seats up. We could only use the space for a single tripod. Folding the seats down flat increases space to 377 liters which is already on par with subcompact crossovers.

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Technology and Safety

As mentioned earlier, a large touchscreen infotainment system dominates the center of the dashboard. At 9-inches, it’s easy to read and use. Response is pretty good and the system does not show any lag. It is missing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which is a necessity in cars nowadays. Also found in the touchscreen is the vehicle’s clinometer display for off-road use. This of course will come in handy but for the classic and retro look, I would have preferred actual clinometer gauges similar to what you’ll find in a Toyota FJ Cruiser or the old Mitsubishi Pajero.

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The Suzuki Jimny is a bit lacking when it comes to its safety rating. It’s rated with only three stars from the Euro NCAP. Despite that, it still comes with a handful of safety features such as dual front airbags, anti-lock braking system, hill hold control, hill descent control, brake assist, pedal release system, and ISOFIX childseat anchor points.

Engine

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Under the hood, the Suzuki Jimny is powered by the same engine found in the Ertiga MPV. The 1.5-liter K15B Inline-4 gasoline engine produces 100 horsepower and 130 Nm of torque, paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Now some people will most likely say that the numbers sound weak, but remember again that this is the same as on the 7-seater Ertiga which would be carrying a lot more weight in that case. It should be easier for the engine in a small vehicle like the Jimny. 

Driving and Comfort

Unfortunately we weren’t able to fully test out the Suzuki Jimny. Our test mainly focuses on driving in the city where most Jimnys will be driving anyway. So as mentioned earlier, the Jimny’s powertrain is the same as one found on a 7-seater which means it should perform better here. As expected, the Jimny isn’t fast. Given the boxy shape and dimensions, you don’t need it to be. Steering feel is light but leans a bit more toward the heavier side compared to other vehicles. It’s very nimble too because of its tiny size. The transmission shifts smoothly but maybe it could use an extra gear or even a CVT.

Ride quality is good but don’t expect a super smooth ride as the Jimny is a body-on-frame SUV like a Toyota Land Cruiser or Mitsubishi Pajero, and not a crossover.  All-around visibility while driving is also excellent thanks to the large windows and windshield. Once done with driving, easy parking is one of the perks of owning a Jimny. It even comes with a reverse camera which is honestly not even needed because of how easy it is.

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Fuel economy might be one important thing about the Jimny as most owners will be using it in the city especially when alone. Inside the city, fuel economy can be estimated at an average of 9 km/l which is good enough. On the highway expect around 18 km/l.

Conclusion

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We really wish that we could take this off-roading but unfortunately really can’t. Anyway the 2020 Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX Monotone is priced at 1,165,000. Some may think it’s too much but that surely isn’t the case especially considering how this is a proper go anywhere car for just a little over a million pesos. How much people want it also shows with waiting lines as long as 6 months and even more, but it surely is worth that wait.

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