2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
The Suzuki Jimny got a facelift. That hasn't changed anything about the character of the small off-roader. The little one shows its strengths in the field.
The Japanese have given their little off-roader a makeover that is so subtle that hardly anyone will notice. Slight modifications to the front do not change the traditional face of the Suzuki Jimny. And that's a good thing, because the way he is, his fans like the successor to the LJ80.
Going against the trend can also be chic. And elsewhere you can hardly get a real off-roader including manually shiftable all-wheel drive and terrain reduction for 15,190 euros. But not only the price is hot. During test drives on the gravel roads in Croatia, the little Kraxler revealed fundamentally honest values that almost make you forget the comfort deficit for a short time.
Jimny with 86 hp
The 1.3-liter four-cylinder petrol engine in the Jimny has an output of 63 kW / 86 hp and has variable valve control. It is coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The fact that at a maximum of 4,100 rpm is only 110 Nm makes up for the low weight of around 1,150 kilograms. The Jimny flows quickly with the current in urban traffic and is agile to maneuver. On country roads and motorways, it is advisable to plan the next overtaking maneuver in advance, because the Jimny really does not have sprinter qualities. The acceleration from zero to 100 km / h is a leisurely 14.1 seconds and that at 140 km / h is no more fun.
The Jimny shows off its true virtues in the field. Here it mutates into a real fun mobile. Wherever uncompromising drive is required, the little Suzuki surpasses itself and does not incapacitate its driver: depending on the nature of the ground, you can decide whether rear-wheel or all-wheel drive is the right choice while driving. An option that stimulates a feeling for the terrain much more than a comparable fully automatic all-wheel drive technology, of which Suzuki still offers a few alternatives for the SX4 or Grand Vitara. At Jimny you have to think along and work together. Real handicraft and footwork: a bit old-fashioned, but also very fun.
Comfortably high seating position
Little Jimny, who is only 3.65 meters long, is still making good progress where others have long since given up. The high seating position and the linear architecture allow a good view of the deep puddles that the last heavy rain left on the scree slopes of the Croatian hinterland. The small off-roader also climbs steep gradients of up to 30 percent with ease. This is where the reduction in terrain pays off, with the help of which the drive forces on the wheels are additionally increased in 4x4 mode.
When it comes to convenience, the Jimny can't win a flower pot. In normal road traffic, the hard suspension and the not very direct steering can not keep up with a small car of the modern generation. Even the short wheelbase does not help make the journey quieter. In return, the little Jimny scores with maneuverability and good clarity.
The space available is rather tight. The two rear passengers should not belong to the particularly large specimens. The interior is simple and has no frills. This in turn fits the all-wheel drive character of the vehicle and makes it more appealing: you don't expect more in a recreational vehicle with outdoor genes.
Suzuki offers the "Club", "Comfort" and "Style" variants. A four-speed automatic transmission is optionally available from the Comfort version. The price is then 17,390 euros. From the basic "Club" equipment, power steering and power windows are standard. The “Comfort” equipment line has seat heating at the front. It also has a CD radio, air conditioning and heated exterior mirrors. The "real" Jimny customer will not want much more comfort for his off-roader. (SP-X)
