SUZUKI JIMNY

What is it?

It’s that rare thing: a piece of retro design so well judged, with just the right amount of balls, to make everyone fall in love with it on first sight. Moments before they start checking finance options and whether they can fold their three kids plus accoutrements in the back.

Spoiler: you can’t. The Jimny may look like a G-Class but it’s actually about the same length and width as a Citroen C1, four-seat only and with the back seats up a mere sliver of a boot. But that’s not the point – the Jimny is a feisty little tank of a thing, designed to use its size and agility to make it unstoppable off-road. So you get a ladder-frame chassis, three-link rigid axle suspension with coil springs, part-time four-wheel drive and a low-range transfer gear. It is, in Suzuki’s words, “designed for professionals”. Professionals at what isn’t clear.

Powering it is a 1.5-litre four-pot engine good for 101bhp and 96lb ft of torque. No 0–62mph is given, presumably through fear of ridicule, but the five-speed-manual model is capable of a 90mph top speed. Principally because it’s light, at just 1,090kg (manual) or 1,110kg (auto).

Can I buy one?

Could anyone stop you? The want is strong with this one. Prices will rise over its decades-old predecessor, though, likely to start around £17,000. And bear in mind it only scored three out of five in its NCAP test, largely down to slow-witted airbags. BUT JUST LOOK ATT IT!