Back in the days when Suzuki was designing the Jimny, off-road vehicles were used for driving off the road. They needed to be able to do this without getting damaged or stuck. Since then, such abilities have grown less and less important as the 4x4 has become a trendy lifestyle accessory for buyers who'd never dream of venturing away from the tarmac. The market has moved away from the Jimny but there are still people out there who want an affordable off-road vehicle and Suzuki's stalwart largely has them all to itself. The downside of the Jimny's undoubted ability when the going gets bumpy and grip becomes scarce is a rather choppy ride when it isn't. There's bounce in the heavy duty suspension over undulations in the road and it's not particularly cosseting over pot holes and other surface imperfections. The Jimny has a decent turning circle and good visibility for manoeuvring around town but it doesn't respond well to brisk cornering where the elevated ride height contributes to pronounced body lean. All will still be forgiven by those who use the Jimny in its native habitat. The sturdy 4x4 mechanicals and low range gearbox make it genuinely capable in the rough. Being comparatively light and narrow, it will even access areas where larger, more expensive off-road vehicles would struggle to tread.
"If you want a small 4x4 to produce the goods in the mud there's nothing better at this price or anything close to it"
Power is supplied by a 1.3-litre petrol engine with 84bhp and 110Nm of torque. It's not the liveliest unit, with 0-60mph taking 14s and the Jimny running out of puff at just 84mph. It's also a little too vocal at higher revs, so it's at its best either off road or around town where higher speeds aren't necessary. A five speed manual gearbox comes as standard but a four-speed auto is also available. The tough ladder frame chassis and low range transfer box mark the Jimny out as a proper 4x4 from a time before the glut of soft-roaders and crossover models filled the market. Suzuki's Drive Select 4x4 system allows the driver to select high or low range 4x4 modes as well as a front-wheel drive setting while on the move at speeds of up to 62mph. The Jimny also has 190mm of ground clearance and is designed with its wheels pushed right out to each corner of the car, producing steep approach and departure angles. The Jimny may be small but it looks the part with its chunk dimensions and neat detailing. The interior is showing its age these days, but the robust construction that's common elsewhere in the Jimny is evident here too. There's not much adjustment in the driving position but this Suzuki sits you very upright and most people will be able to get comfortable behind the wheel. The same can't be said for the rear seats where legroom is very tight and there's very little boot to speak of behind. The best course of action is to settle for two seats, fold the rear bench down and use the area for your luggage. There's 113-litres with the seats up and 324 litres when they're lowered. The Jimny is available in JLX or SZ4 trim and for the £500 premium, the plush SZ4 models look like the way to go. All models come with a high specification including roof-rails, front fog lights, electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, twin front airbags and ABS. The SZ4, however, includes air-conditioning which is worth the premium alone, as well as 15" alloy wheels, part leather trim, chrome door handles and privacy glass. There are other small 4x4s on the market. Many of them have a more modern feel and look to them but none are anything like as good off-road. The Jimny also looks attractively priced compared to most of them, considering that it has a full-time 4x4 system with a low-range gearbox. Even larger compact 4x4s like the Toyota RAV4, Ford Kuga and Vauxhall Antara will struggle to live with the Jimny in tricky off-road scenarios. The small petrol engine in the Jimny would lead you to expect rather better fuel economy than the 39mpg that it ultimately delivers. Again, the Suzuki is a victim of its age and the basic design that allows it to venture off the beaten track. Emissions are measured at 171g/km, pushing running costs up further, and with the optional automatic gearbox installed, owners can expect just 37mpg and 181g/km. At least the Jimny's tough and proven mechanicals should help keep repair costs down. The small 4x4 market has changed dramatically over recent and not so recent years but the Suzuki Jimny has been there to see it all. In context of the current market, the Jimny looks rather dated and serves as a good illustration of exactly why modern small 4x4 vehicles have gone soft. It asks owners to make sacrifices in terms of refinement, comfort and practicality in return for its impressive off-road ability. If you want a small 4x4 to produce the goods in the mud, however, there's nothing better at this price or anything close to it. There aren't too many choices afforded by the Jimny range but the SZ4 derivatives do make sense. For a modest premium over the JLX, they deliver alloy wheels, air-conditioning and part-leather trim. You can't say fairer than that. Since the off-roader look became fashionable in its own right, it's become very difficult to decipher which vehicles are 4x4s and which are not. It's more difficult still to identify models that you'd actually risk taking on an off road foray but everyone can rest assured that the Jimny is the real deal.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Suzuki Jimny SZ4
PRICE: £10,990 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 7
CO2 EMISSIONS: 171g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 87mph / 0-60mph 14.1s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 39.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: twin front airbags / ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 3625/1600/1670
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