LITTLE BRUISER

The Suzuki Jimny packs a serious 4x4 punch,

In the world of modern cars the churn of vehicles can be mind-boggling. Models are launched, updated and replaced so quickly you can lose track of what’s what.

Thank heavens, then, for the Suzuki Jimny. Here is a car that has remained largely unchanged for the last 20 years. It’s not exactly the same as the model released in 1998 – there have been safety additions, equipment upgrades and a couple of minor facelifts – but the underlying vehicle remains largely untouched.

For some that might put them right off but for others it’s part of the enduring appeal of this tiny but tough 4x4.

Other manufacturers crow about the rugged looks of their compact suvsandt hep seudo4x 4 torque vectoring systems that will just about see them across a grassy field but the Jimny does it properly.

First off, it’ s properly compact – a mere 3.65 metres from its chunky front bumper to its boot-mounted spare wheel.

Secondly, it looks properly rugged. ask anyone to draw you a “real” 4x4 and the basic shape will look like a Jimny. Boxy, with short overhangs, squared off edges and chunky tyres. Yet, thanks in part to its size, there’s something almost cartoony and cutesy about the looks that stops it being aggressive.

Cutesy or not, the chunky looks are backed up by a pedigree that shames a lot of manufacturers. Suzuki has been building 4x4 vehicles since launching the LJ10 in 1970 and the Jimny is the evolution of that.

Its body-on-chassis construction is old-fashioned but is the tried-and-tested way for 4x4s that are expected to go off-road. And the chassis is equipped with the most advanced Allgrip Pro version of Suzuki’s four-wheeldrive system. This packs selectable two or four-wheel drive with high and low ratio options. Combined with tiny overhangs and decent ground clearance it means the Jimny can tackle the sort of off-road situations normally reserved for massive machines wearing a green oval badge.

For a certain, admittedly small, portion of the market that’s all the matters – it has Defender-like abilities without the size or the hefty bills. And it’s probably just as well because beyond that toughness, the Jimny does have its limitations.

The interior is tiny, for a start. There’s just enough space for two normal-sized adults up front but the rear seats look almost like an afterthought. It’s also pretty basic. The SZ4 has synthetic leather seats, air con and a CD player but beyond that the lack of modcons belies its age. Again, such lack of baubles will put some buyers off while it will be a positive selling point for others.

On-road performance isn’t a particular strength either. The 1.3-litre petrol engine puts out a meagre 84bhp and 81lb/ft. It takes a laughable 14 seconds to hit 62mph and tops out at 87mph but you’re unlikely to want to get near that thanks to a bouncy ride, vague steering and vulnerability to crosswinds.

There’s no denying that the Jimny is showing its age but it clearly still has an appeal. For buyers who need true 4x4 ability without the bulk of most “proper” off-roaders it’s a more or less unique proposition.

But it’s a proposition that won’t be around for long. Suzuki quietly ended production of the Jimny late last year. An all-new Jimny is on the way but not until early 2019. So if a tiny, tough 4x4 is what you want you’d better get down to your local dealer and snap one up while they’ve got some stock left.