The little big Jimny that conquered Mapanuepe
SUZUKI Philippines recently hosted a media drive to the scenic Mapanuepe Lake to showcase the newest addition to its stable — the all-new Suzuki Jimny 5-door AllGrip Pro.
Lake Mapanuepe is a camping site that has gained popularity because of its New Zealand-esque landscape. Located in the municipality of San Marcelino, Zambales, getting to the site is not easy, as it involves crossing through lahar beds as well as a few streams. Though it’s far from what one would consider hard-core off-roading or overlanding, for city folks like us, driving a stock subcompact SUV through unfamiliar terrain was fun and challenging.
The Jimny’s AllGrip Pro 4WD system allows the driver flexibility when handling various terrains. In 2WD (two-wheel drive) mode, the Jimny is smoother and more fuel-efficient. Alternatively, 4WD (four-wheel drive)-High provides additional traction for driving on dirt, gravel, or packed lahar, while 4WD-Low provides maximum torque and traction that are best for loose sand, mud, or steep rocky terrain. Shifting from 2WD to 4WD and vice versa can conveniently be done on the fly when running below 60 kph.
Since its announcement, the 5-Door Jimny’s arrival has been highly anticipated. Despite receiving mixed reviews, even in its country of origin, India, this slightly larger variant is a welcome addition to Suzuki’s lineup.
If you’re not aware of the subtle design differences, like the chrome accents and color options specific to the model, the only way to distinguish a 5-door from the 3-door variant is to view it from the side. It’s the same cute, boxy, rugged-looking vehicle that’s equally appealing as a matchbox as it is in full size. With just a little over a foot difference in length from bumper to bumper, the 5-door variant isn’t much bigger than its 3-door sibling. Rather than being able to accommodate more passengers, I see buyers choosing the 5-door to get the little bit more space it affords for cargo and whatnot.
Inside, the Jimny maintains its functional retro look with functional knobs and levers for everything except for the touchscreen head unit. The steering wheel provides proper feedback, and the seating provides the driver with a good view of the surroundings. Because the Jimny isn’t loaded with many creature comforts, its wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as cruise control are welcome niceto-haves for the GLX trim. Electronic stability program (ESP), fabric seats, SRS front dual airbags, and the 195/80 R15 tires, which are aesthetically thinner than this writer’s liking but do their job, are standard.
Similar to its 3-door sibling, the Jimny 5-door is powered by a 1.5-liter K15B gasoline engine that produces 101 hp at 6,000 RPM and 130 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Given that it is 110 kilograms heavier than the smaller 3-door variant (1,545 kg vs 1,435 kg), the latter has the better power-to-weight ratio and fuel economy.
Speaking of fuel economy, despite the fuel economy challenge issued to all participants, our group unanimously decided that we would drive as we normally would to test what the real-world consumption of the Jimny 5-door was. From Suzuki Calookan to the designated endpoint on Argonaut Road inside SBMA, we logged around 13 to 14 kilometers per liter (kpl). Not bad, really, since we traveled in the most comfortable vehicle offered and were the third vehicle to arrive at the checkpoint. The eventual challenge-winners were able to eke out an outstanding 22+ kpl, but not without employing every trick in the book, including patiently traveling several hours at barely highway-legal speeds in an aircon-less box.
Despite the numerous cons of the Jimny five-door, why is this new model generating so much excitement? In my opinion, Jimny owners are a unique breed. Even the highly sought-after 3-door variant, which Suzuki still struggles to produce enough of, has never been considered “cheap” when compared to other options in its price range. Jimny enthusiasts have their reasons for loving this compact SUV, and clearly, comfort and speed are not at the top of their list of priorities.
The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door is now available at all Suzuki Auto dealerships and comes in three trims: GL at P1.558 million, GLX AT at P1.698 million, and 5D GLX AT (2 tone) at P1.708 million.