FUNKY AND CHUNKY

Suzuki brings back the capable little 4WD with serious retro cool

Shoving aside small faux-wheel drive SUVs, Suzuki’s new Jimny arrives with serious retro cool plus genuine offroad talent. Fun, stylish, great value, able to climb mountains and one of this year’s most eagerly awaited cars, the Jimny arrives with a bargain $23,990 before on-roads price tag for the manual version.

Can it serve as viable fun transport for our family of four?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

IAIN: I’m almost welling up with nostalgia …

JULES: I know you’re going to bring up your 1986 Suzuki Sierra and how we had to sell it when we had children. IAIN: I loved that car. It went anywhere.

JULES: Well, here’s your modern retro equivalent, all boxy, equally cute and far safer than your old one.

IAIN: And still one of the most capable 4WDs on the market. These new Jimnys weigh as much as a chip packet so they just fly over soft sand and rocks.

JULES: It’s a funky, chunky but tiny thing. I love the black roof, dark alloys and rear barn door with spare wheel attached.

IAIN: Great how Suzuki has dropped the outgoing Jimny’s softer design and replicated the boxiness of the 1980s SJ Sierra. Like my old one. That you made me sell.

JULES: Buy one of these then. They’re They re only $24K, plus $1250 for the paint.

IAIN: Only white is free, sadly, , and there should be more colour choices s than Suzuki’s palette.

JULES: True. Regardless, if you’re u’re looking at small SUVs the Jimny ny is great value.

IAIN: Similar money will get you a front-drive Mazda CX-3 or Mitsubishi ASX. I’d rather take roller-skates off-road.

THE LIVING SPACE

JULES: It’s titchy inside but there ere are two good cup holders, space ce for a phone and it’s certainly light ght and airy.

IAIN: You sit up high, there’s huge uge headroom and the large and long ong windows give brilliant outward d vision.

JULES: Switches and dials are chunky, round air vents are stylish ylish and I’m amazed to see a touchscreen.

IAIN: Almost mandatory these e days. And with Apple CarPlay/Android roid Auto and satnav, it’s got the modern odern toys you’d expect.

JULES: The infotainment is slow to connect to my phone and the audio is hardly concert hall standard.

IAIN: Hence the cheap price. And also why hard plastics dominate. The seat material looks as if it’ll stain too; not great for wet boardshorts, muddy pants or sunscreened skin.

JULES: I’d definitely option some rubber floormats.

THE COMMUTE

IAIN IAIN: I may like the old school looks and 4WD ability but the ride and cabin c noise bring back less happy happ memories. JU JULES: There have to be some compromises. co It did feel hairy at highway h speeds in the wind, getting g pushed around a lot. IAIN: And running at 3000rpm at 110km/h means the little 1.5-litre is noisy on the t highway. Good to have c cruise control though. JULES: JU If you have a city commute co it’s fine. It’s so small fo for zipping between traffic. IA IAIN: You have to treat corners gi gingerly too. It is wallowy and leans le in the turns — but drop the th speed and it’s a joy to punt along. al

THE TH SHOPPING

JULES JULES: Leave the two independently indepe foldable rear seats down and there’s plenty of room for the shop, sh and with the barn door it’s so big b and easy to access. IA IAIN: If you have two child seats tethered in, it’s a different d story.

JULES: Indeed. You need to remove the handy rear luggage box to fit child seats, leaving you only space for about two shopping bags.

IAIN: Proving the Jimny’s no family car. You can barely fit a slab of beer behind the two rear seats when they’re up.

JULES: Positively, it’s so easy to park thanks to its tiny size and reversing camera.

SUNDAY RUN

IAIN: Beach drive. No question.

JULES: It was at its most comfortable when we took it on sand. I can’t believe how capable it felt.

IAIN: Old school helps. It weighs less than 1100kg, has a ladder chassis, low range, 210mm ground clearance and excellent approach and departure angles.

JULES: Right. What you said. I just appreciated how it never ever felt like it would get stuck, and it was easy enough to put into 4WD mode or low-range with the little shifter.

IAIN: It was impressive through very soft sand. Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro worked superbly, applying braking force to any slipping wheel.

THE FAMILY

JULES: If you’re a family of one or two, it’s OK. IAIN: Indeed. With rear seats permanently down there’s room aplenty for camping gear or sports kit. Kids? Not really.

JULES: They loved it. Like a big toy car, they said. But it was really hard getting them in their seats with it being a two-door.

IAIN: Come on, it’s fine. You just slide the seats forward. And actually, there’s handy storage beside their car seats above the wheel arches.

JULES: OK, the rear windows don’t open and there are no rear air vents. You can clean up when the kids get carsick..

IAIN: There’s safety gear — autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist — but the three-star crash rating puts me off as a parent.

THE VERDICT

JULES: For singles or couples liking cool style and off-roading talents, the new Jimny looks perfect. Why pay more? There’s so much fun to be had.

IAIN: Not the comfiest on highways or corners but I’d forgive this car anything. Brilliant offroad, head-turning looks and smiles for miles. No wonder there’s a long waiting list already. CCPE01Z01MA - V1