A TALE OF TWO WHEELBASES
Underdog stories warm the heart — even in the automotive kingdom, writes Brenwin Naidu
Dynamite comes in small packages. Not the size but how you use it. A David and Goliath battle. There are many idioms hinting that we humans have a partiality towards seeing the success of the little guy. Underdog stories warm the heart — even in the automotive kingdom. The Suzuki Jimny makes a great case for itself as a fighter punching above its weight.
A Jack Russell terrier snarling on the offroad battlefield, populated on the larger end by bigger dogs such as the reincarnated Land Rover Defender. Both models made a turn through our test garage recently and it prompted careful consideration of what both sides of the ladder-frame 4x4 market offer. Obviously these vehicles are not direct competitors, but the comparison does make for a fascinating contrast of two different ways to conquer the wilderness (and urban jungle).
The two share a similarly aligned ethos. Both are tough in execution, boxy in design and with sturdy underpinnings conceived to serve those with an overlanding spirit. Their lineages are both well established.
The Defender traces its roots back to the original Land Rover Series 1 of 1948. Suzuki birthed the progenitor to the Jimny, the LJ10, in 1970. It was created from the outset to fit dainty Kei-car regulations of the Japanese domestic market.
Very clearly, the automaker took inspiration from the Land Rover and similar models, including the Willys MB of 1941, the original Jeep. Except Suzuki wanted to offer the same capability in shrunken dimensions. While some cars get radically larger throughout their iterations, the latest Jimny is still true to the essence of its forebear. Last year, a five-door derivative was added to the range.
It gains an extra 340mm in the wheelbase, but even still the overall length of 3,820mm undercuts that of a humble Volkswagen Polo Vivo (3,972mm). The lengthened chassis of the Suzuki does wonders for its road manners in the areas of comfort and stability. It is not as choppy as the three-door, nor does it give the sensation of wanting to tip over when driving at the national freeway limit.
Ground clearance is 210mm. A relative lightweight at 1,195kg, the 1.5-litre, fourcylinder, normally-aspirated petrol of the Jimny hustles it along just fine. You will need to shift down a cog or two approaching inclines though, which is also fine as the five-speed manual snicks into gears with a wonderfully mechanical feel.
But the biggest merit of the extra-length Jimny is the boost for interior space. No longer do passengers have to contort themselves to fit in the rear seats. The threedoor Jimny could barely fit a 1kg box of Jungle Oats in its boot. Now, you get 211l of luggage space, instead of 85l.
Simplicity is a theme that defines Jimny. The cabin layout is uncluttered, the instrument cluster retains classic analogue gauges and materials are durable.
Hardcore off-roaders will want to know about the approach, breakover and departure angles: 36°, 24° and 47° respectively. Not much less than the threedoor (37°, 28° and 49°).
It might surprise you to learn that the figures for the Defender 110 D250 SE
County we tested were not far off. Approach is 38°, breakover 28° and departure 40°.
A reminder that the 110 is the middle child of the Defender range, flanked by the shorter 90 and stretched 130. While the Jimny pretty much leaves you to your own devices on tricky terrain, the Land Rover has an assortment of electronic modes, as well as adjustable air suspension. With a maximum ground clearance of 290mm, it towers over most passenger vehicles. A length of 5,018mm makes it almost double that of the baby Suzuki.
Piloting the Defender after hopping out of the Jimny makes for a stark contrast. Whereas the latter is light, chipper, able to scurry and zip, the massive Land Rover is a heavy, lumbering beast. You feel invincible — like being in a fortified bunker.
There is no need to worry about shifting gears because the eight-speed automatic handles affairs in slick fashion. Grunt from the 3.0-litre, turbocharged-diesel power source with six cylinders is plenty, with 183kW and 570Nm. The cabin of the Defender is vast — occupants in the back could well be in another time zone.
Storage spaces abound and the exposed rivets of the door panels are among the nifty stylistic touches. As expected, it is big on digitisation with two massive screens on the fascia, one serving the driver.
Singletons and couples with outdoorsy streaks might find the Jimny to be ideal daily transportation. It could work even if a small child was part of their mix, thanks to the additional space on offer. There’s no doubt the Defender 110 appeals to a wellheeled, large family demographic who need a vehicle for all eventualities, including long-distance travel.
It comes in at a base price of R1,546,700. The five-door Jimny starts at R429,900.