Fifty-two years ago, Suzuki introduced the Jimny, a neat jeep that you can pull off the road if needed. It used to be a four-seater, but I can tell you that my wife wasn’t very happy last week when I arrived home with a two-seater.
My good wife has a bit of arthritis and she appreciated the grab handle when boarding. Once on board, she was very pleased with the view of the countryside when she was comfortably seated in that high passenger seat.
A few years ago, Suzuki changed the design of the Jimny from a four-seater to a two-seater. The only Jimny now available in Europe is classified as a light commercial vehicle. C02 emissions are low, and it will cost you €413 to tax this all-grip 1.5-litre petrol version.
But it’s a fun car to look at and while it can be a bit noisy on the road, it’s not uncomfortable and it’s also fun to drive. There’s plenty of ground clearance which would naturally be good if you’re using the car on rough terrain.
The latest Jimny appealed to both private users and professionals looking for authentic off-road performance. Now in its fourth generation, the Japanese company has sold nearly three million Jimnys in 194 countries since the launch of the fourth edition in 2018.
There is a bit of noise coming from the cage in the back and sometimes you might be tempted to look behind you and see if there really is a prisoner in there! It is built on a ladder frame, which means the cab is separate from the frame.
Road tax aside, this little Jeep is very reasonably priced at just under €21,000 and should appeal to a diverse clientele.
People who love their dogs, not just a dog, might love one. It would also be handy for a photographer or a painter/decorator or perhaps a farmer who might need to bring a few bales of hay to their flock of sheep up high in the winter.
I haven’t had many opportunities to drive the car off-road other than the lower levels of the Dublin Mountains where I got to experience the chunky lever on the floor that lets you switch to all-wheel drive.
Space is a bit tight in the door lockers and you can pretty much squeeze a newspaper in there.
If you go off-road, you might need a spare tire, and the good news is there’s a full-size spare tire strapped to the rear door. It’s also a little thirsty, and fuel mileage ranges between 34 and 36 mpg.
My test car was painted white, which certainly got a lot of attention from other motorists and a few onlookers at various malls. White might not be the best color for driving in muddy terrain, but I suppose it would be easy to spot a white version, if you were looking for someone lost on a mountainside.
The Jimny is funky and it had an old fashioned handbrake, which is always appreciated. There was also a CD player, which would probably be considered old-fashioned these days, but no vanity mirror for the front passenger.
It’s clean and easy to park, but no rear camera or reverse sensors. Only one version available and at a reasonable price of €20,995.