Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018) Review

Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018) Verdict

Outstanding ability off-road and cute looks, especially as a soft-top. Cheap to buy.

Noisy, unsophisticated and cramped on the road. Poor ride and handling.

Reviews for Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018)'s top 3 rivals

Daihatsu Terios

Better than the previous Terios model and decent off road.

Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018) handling and engines

• Engines range from 1.3 Automatic to 1.3
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 25–42 mpg

From 1998-2005, the Jimny was powered by a 16-valve 1.3 litre petrol with 80bhp. It was a slow, plodding engine with a 0-60mph time of 16.3 seconds and a top speed of 87mph. This was replaced by a more modern 1.3-litre VVTi in 2005.

This 82bhp engine offers a bit more power, brings the 0-60mph time down to 14.1 seconds and is a shade more economical, returning 36mpg, rather than 34mpg. All cars are five-speed manuals, with the option of a four-speed automatic. Current Jimnies emit 162g/km, which is pretty high and gives away the very dated nature of the car.

There's also a 1.8-litre Jimny that was sold briefly between 2004 and 2005. It's more powerful, with 125bhp and gets to 60mph in little over 10 seconds. But such a large engine wasn't well suited to such a small car and it never sold well. It's rare on the used market.

On the road that the Jimny's age really starts to show. As well as being slow (and feeling it), it rolls a lot and has a ride that never really seems to settle - there's a lot of bouncing, which is quite severe on rougher roads. The steering is vague - as is the case on many old-school 4x4s - which can be off-putting at higher speeds and on the motorway.

But when it comes to off-roading, Jimny can rightly hold its head high. And rightly so - it follows a long line of Suzukis famed for their off-road prowess. Those who buy a Jimny tend to need it, rather than want it. And that's a subtle, but important difference. Those who need a Jimny appreciate the low ratio gearbox, seperate chassis and good ground clearance. Even with road tyres, it performs well and is only limited in its capabilities by the power of the engine.

Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018) interior

• Boot space is 113–324 litres

The Jimny's interior is as basic as you'd expect for a that first went on sale in 1998. Cars from 2005 benefit from a facelift that brought a much improved interior, though it still feels dated, That said, if you're looking for a working vehicle, then the Jimny's sturdy interior is just the job. The hard plastics stand up well to knocks and scrapes and can be easily cleaned. 

The driving position is very upright and despite Jimny's compact dimensions, tall drivers shouldn't have much of a problem with it as the steering wheel adjusts for height. Forward visibility is good and the view when pulling out of T-Junctions is unimpaired. The rear view isn't quite as clear, especially with four on board, but large wing mirrors partly compensate for this.

The Jimny's only really suitable as a second car or for couples as the boot is incredibly small and the two rear seats are only suitable for occasional use as there's very little legroom and as Jimny is quite narrow, shoulder room is restricted, too. But there's a reasonable load area with the seats folded and tumbled, but that only leaves seating for two - plus the side-opening door is a bit of a pain in small parking spaces.

All new Jimny models come with the essentials, but if you're expecting up-to-the-minute technology like navigation and smartphone compatibility you'll be sorely disappointed. There's a stereo and electric windows for ventilation, or you can get air conditioning on SZ4 models. 

Standard Equipment (July 2015)

SZ3 models come with steel wheels, electric windows, a 12V socket, CD player, cloth upholstery.

SZ4 trim adds synthetic leather upholstery, leather covered steering wheel, 15-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and air conditioning. 

Suzuki Jimny (1998 – 2018) models and specs

On sale until January 2019

On sale until January 2016

On sale until March 2010

On sale until June 2009