Stunned by the ecological penalty, the Suzuki Jimny reduced its offer to a two-seater utility version, non-convertible, to escape the tax. Enough to enjoy this wonderful toy as confusing as it is endearing, without spending too much.
Test car: Suzuki Jimny 1.5 VVT Privilège 2 places
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From€ 20,490
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The Suzuki Jimny is a special case in current automobile production. It remains a direct heir to the old 4 x 4s, foremost among which is the Jeep Willys, a pioneer of all-terrain vehicles. Vertical grille, big round headlights, windshield at 90 ° (or almost), wheels thrown at the four corners, generous ground clearance and spare wheel on the rear door: the Jimny has a hell of a face in a small size of 3, 65 m.
The current generation of Suzuki Jimny was launched at the end of 2018. The vehicle was then sold for a little less than 18,000 euros in a four-seater VP version. But the ecological penalty quickly stifled our adventurer under a tax of 10,000 €. Withdrawn from the market in 2020, here it is back in a two-seater LCV (utility vehicle) version, which exempts it from the ecotax. This is the only proposal that remains in the catalog, with a 102 hp gasoline engine.
Suzuki Jimny Price
No more penalties, no TVS for companies: the Jimny regains a certain appeal since it is displayed at only 17,075 € HT (20,490 € TTC). Suzuki has certainly played the card of simplicity since its vehicle has only one finish (Privilege) and one transmission (BVM 5). Only metallic paint is offered as an option (with the addition of a two-tone roof in the case of the So’Color option). Properly equipped, the Jimny must however still face significant delivery times (more than six months of waiting) linked to the commercial success of the small 4 x 4 around the world.
Driving
Impossible to assimilate the Jimny to another small SUV. It is the worthy heir to the tradition of 4 x 4 with chassis-ladder, all-wheel drive and short gearbox. The driving position is very vertical and it is better not to be too big because, with the appearance of the partition wall, the backrest cannot really tilt and the seat back a lot. We must make do. When starting up, the four-cylinder petrol knows how to be discreet. However, things change quickly under acceleration, where a lot of noises (including transmission noises that any current motorist has forgotten) are present. The engine is generous and entertaining in use, but its 102 hp is perched very high. The five-speed gearbox, well staged, suffers from a firm control which is rather vague in the position of the lever. In fact, the driver is sometimes not quite sure which gear is engaged.
In town, the Jimny is particularly pleasant. Lively, easy to park, it sneaks up everywhere, and its look attracts the sympathy of other users. Enough to give a smile to its two occupants. On the road and especially on the motorway, things change: the Jimny is much less comfortable when the speed exceeds 100 km / h. The noise level in the passenger compartment increases, heading hold becomes more uncertain, the long-travel suspensions generate body movements which make driving imprecise, and the driver is desperately looking for a sixth gear to lower the engine speed (therefore the level sound). And yet, the smile is still there and returns as soon as the pace slows down. Because in the end, like a Willys or a Land Rover Defender, sympathy trumps everything else.
The Suzuki’s faults on the road and even more on the motorway are directly linked to its vocation as a franchiser. Its important ground clearance (21 cm) and its wheels at the four corners are not there only to give itself a kind. The Jimny has real crossing capacities. Its range of short speeds, its overhangs reduced to a minimum and its light weight (1,100 kilos empty) allow it to go anywhere. The tires, which contribute to the feeling of blur at high speed, become your best ally to venture off the beaten track despite the lack of differential lock.
On board
Competetion
Not only are “real” 4WDs becoming scarce, but in addition to Jimny-sized and three-door vehicles this simply does not exist. While it is possible to oppose it with urban SUVs, some of which are equipped with all-wheel drive, these vehicles do not display the same crossing capacities. the Jeep renegade is certainly the one that comes closest to the adventurer of Suzuki, but at much higher prices. Another production of the Stellantis group, the small Fiat Panda 4 x 4 has dimensions quite similar to those of the Jimny and has all-wheel drive allowing it to venture off the beaten track. But it will hardly be able to follow him in extreme crossing tests.
Find the test report, equipment prices and technical sheets on the next page.
