SUZUKI’S NEW JIMNY IS CERTAINLY WINNING POPULARITY CONTESTS IN 2019, BUT HOW DOES IT GO OFF-ROAD? WE TAKE IT TO THE HIGH COUNTRY TO FIND OUT.
AMONG AN ocean of same-same compact SUVs with little or no appeal or individuality and even less off-road ability, Suzuki’s venerable Jimny is a welcome addition. Putting function to the fore but with boxy styling that wins on the cool and cute scales, the Jimny has no real competition in its class. As a three-door small 4x4, the closest vehicles you will get to the Jimny are the short wheelbase Jeep Wrangler or the no-longer-in-production Land Rover Defender 90, but even those are bigger vehicles.
Suzuki’s small 4x4 harks back to the original LJ10 released in 1970, and the 2019 iteration of that vehicle retains many of the hallmarks that made the original such a success. Most importantly, it’s a no-frills, lightweight vehicle, constructed on a ladder-frame chassis with live axles at both the front and rear for better off-road performance and durability.
However, it’s now 2019, and the new Suzuki 4x4 – now called the Jimny after progressing though LJ10, LJ20, LJ50, LJ80, Sierra and Stockman models – has to meet the extra demands and regulations of the modern era. The Jimny can’t match the roughly 600kg weight of its ancestors, but, at 1095kg for the manual version, it’s still the lightest true 4x4 you can buy.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MAXXIS CUSTOM OF THE YEAR
MAXXIS CUSTOM 4X4 OF THE YEAR IS BACK, AND YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN BY VOTING FOR YOUR FAVE 4X4. GET ON IT!
ONE WITH THE LOT
THE VERSATILITY OF THE NINJA WOODFIRE ELECTRIC BBQ GRILL & SMOKER PUTS IT IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN FOR COOKING ON THE ROAD
LONELY HIGHWAY
A DRIVE ALONG THE NYANGUMARTA HIGHWAY IS AN ISOLATED AND SELF-SUFFICIENT JOURNEY THAT WILL TEST BOTH YOU AND YOUR 4X4 AS YOU CROSS THE GREAT SANDY DESERT
THE SOFT PARADE
BRIDGESTONE HAS LAUNCHED A NEW ALL-TERRAIN TYRE IT SAYS OFFERS BETTER RIDE AND HANDLING THAN TRADITIONAL HEAVY-DUTY A/T TYRES
WEIGHING HII IT UP
OUR FORD EVEREST HAS ITS TOUGH DOG SUSPENSION FITTED, INCLUDING A GVM UPGRADE. NOW WE CAN'T WAIT TO DRIVE IT!
BIG MIDDY
THE GWM CANNON ALPHA HYBRID OFFERS A STUNNING ALTERNATIVE IN THE 4X4 UTE MARKET
WORKING BEE
HOW DOES THE NEW MITSUBISHI TRITON COMPARE TO THE POPULAR ISUZU D-MAX? WE PAIRED UP THE NEW D-MAX X-RIDER WITH THE TRITON IN GLX+ GUISE TO FIND OUT
ROCK 'N' ROLL RANGER
LIMITED-EDITION TREMOR TAKES THE 4-CYLINDER RANGER UP THE RICHTER SCALE WITH MORE PURPOSE.
GMC YUKON HERE IN 2025
NEW YUKON REVEALED IN NORTH AMERICA AND IS COMING DOWN UNDER
2024 FORD EVEREST TREMOR REVEALED
FORD REVEALS ADVENTURE-BORN EVEREST TREMOR BOASTING OFF-ROAD-READY SUSPENSION SET-UP