The 5 door Suzuki Jimny is finally here. And it’s a winner!

Image: Naresh Maharaj

Suzuki Auto South Africa has launched the five-door Jimny after giving expectant fans a sneak peek at the Festival of Motoring in Johannesburg recently.  

"This is the first time in the 50-year history of the Suzuki Jimny that we offer a five-door model. We did this to meet the unprecedented demand for this hardy off-roader from customers who, owing to family size or overlanding requirements, asked for a larger Jimny model," says Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto South Africa.

A Most Pleasing Drive

We drove in convoy as we set out from Polokwane, heading some 180kms into Botswana. I sat most comfortably behind the wheel and in full control of all driving aids. We encountered every possible road imaginable. Long patches of tarred roads, pot-holed roads for long stretches that forced me to place the tyres carefully on the smoother surfaces, then undulating ups and downs. But the cherry on the cake was driving on the sometimes wet and then stone dry Limpopo River that traverses Botswana and SA. With the right gear selected, the wet patches were a breeze. The real challenge was driving long stretches on the dry, loose sand that was at least 200mm in depth. A challenge that the Jimny 5dr came through with flying colours. Not once did the Jimny 5dr flinch. It just went on and on, showing us all it’s capabilities in many ways. Another test was alongside the Limpopo river when I drove this adorable beauty on large rocks and boulders without a fuss. Easy peasy! It was clear from the outset that the engineers and designers of the Jimny were not willing to compromise on five decades of legacy, evolutionary design and sheer off-road capabilities. Plucky, capable and agile to say the least.

 

Design and dimensions

Image: Naresh Maharaj

As a start, the engineers stretched the wheelbase of the three-door Jimny to 2 590 mm. This was enough to allow them to add two rear passenger doors and more room, but not so much as to compromise its off-road capabilities. The overall length, measured from bumper to bumper, has therefore increased by 340 mm to 3 820 mm. Ground clearance is at 210mm.  The designers kept the same front and rear designs as the three-door model. This includes the upright grille, round headlamps fitted in an almost utilitarian manner on either side of the grille, the square edges and the fitment of the spare wheel to the side hinging rear door.

The five-door model has the same square wheel arch extensions, large side mirrors (painted gloss black on the GLX version), large glass house with privacy glass on the rear windows and integrated drip rails that also allows for the fitment of heavy-duty roof racks and other outdoor equipment, including jerry cans and storage boxes. All five-door models also have 195/80 on/off road tyres on 15" alloy wheels. The spare wheel is also fitted with an alloy wheel.  

Image: Supplied

 

Interior

Suzuki has transferred the design of the dashboard, seats and controls directly into the five-door model, giving future owners the same fun and functional upright dashboard with controls close at hand and with the same commanding driving position that makes off-road driving (and manoeuvring in city traffic) such a treat. All South African versions of the five-door Jimny will have a 50:50 split rear bench, an additional power socket in the luggage compartment and a multi-functional steering wheel that is height adjustable.

Image: Supplied

The GLX further adds two inches to the infotainment screen (from 7" on the GL to 9" on the GLX). All versions have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in full colour and will show images from the reverse camera on the infotainment screen. All models have electric windows on all passenger doors, and the GLX models have automatic climate control as opposed to the GL's standard air conditioning system.

Image: Supplied

Space it out!

When it comes to space and convenience, the five-door Jimny offers just the right amount of extra space and convenience. The rear doors add ease of entry and exit with additional assist grips for the two rear passengers. The two rear seats can fold individually or together, increasing the rear loading space from 211 litres to 332 litres. The cabin has 1 113 litres of space in total. Plenty of space for any bundu-bashing adventure. 

Under the bonnet

The 5dr model has the same 1.5 litre petrol engine multi-point injection, 16 valves with variable valve management a 10:1 compression ratio for more useable power at all engine speeds. The engine delivers 75 kW at 6 000 rpm and 130 Nm at 4 000 rpm. The power is delivered through a five speed manual transmission (available on the GL and GLX models) or a four-speed automatic transmission (GLX only) to the rear wheels under normal circumstances or all-four wheels when the transfer gearbox is engaged. It is important to note that the Suzuki Jimny is fitted with a complete off-road system, including a transfer gearbox with 2H, 4H and 4 Low Range modes. 

Safety

Suzuki is not known to compromise on safety and this is also true for the five-door Jimny. Hill Descent Control, Hill Assist and Brake Assistance as standard as well as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), ABS brakes, side-impact beams in all doors and three-point seatbelts for all four seats. The Jimny in GL-specification has two airbags and the GLX-models have six, including front-side airbags and curtain airbags that run the length of the cabin. All models also have central locking, a digital immobiliser and rear parking sensors as standard.

Image: Supplied

Verdict

Very Impressive! It’s a people pleaser and I just loved being behind the wheel across so many different and demanding terrains. Gear selection (2H, 4H and 4L) to match the terrain is simple and quick. Average fuel consumption was around a pleasing 7l per 100kms, considering that I drove for long periods on drive river beds on 4h and 4L. I sat on the back seat to test the increased space. I am a somewhat tall person at 1.79cm and sat most comfortably with legroom to spare. All things considered, Suzuki has a winner with the Jimny 5 door. 

Pricing (incl)

1.5 GL MT R429 900

1.5 GLX MT R457 900

1.5 GLX AT R479 900