Will autonomy kill car ownership?

14 July 1979

SUZUKI’S LIGHT JEEP (LJ) was introduced in 1970, but it took until 1979 for it to be offered here. It was sold in its new 80 form, with either a canvas roof or steel estate body atop a 41bhp four-cylinder petrol engine, a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drive.

“The LJ offers minimal but adequate carrying capacity for two and a modest load, plus a superb little engine and gearbox,” we said, “but a rather atrocious ride.”

“It’s no substitute for a Land Rover,” we concluded, but “fulfils its utility function extremely well. It has considerable appeal for the farmer who wants inextravagant go-anywhere transport, or the offroad leisure market where running costs are even more important.”