NGFour Sept/Oct 2020

Suzuki Jimny 1.5 SZ5:
The One That Gets You
Styling wise, the all-new Jimny
looks absolutely fantastic,
combining the previous models
compact dimensions with a
go anywhere silhouette that is
both unique and yet instantly
recognisable as a Jimny. With
practical touches, including
bumpers with optimal cutaways
to offer superb ground clearance
at the wheel and moulded black
guards surrounding each wheel
arch, protecting the body from
stone chips and scratches, Suzuki
have created a handsome,
go anywhere 4X4 which not
only looks great but can use it’s
diminutive dimensions and light
weight to tread where others fear
to. There’s also front fog lamps,
LED headlights with washers and
high beam assist, 15” alloy wheels,
body colour door handles and
rear privacy glass to complete the
exterior. Excellent work.
The interior is packed full
of practical features and
technologies designed to get
you where you want to go, on
road or off, with comfort and style
featuring in equal measures. The
Suzuki includes air conditioning,
intuitively designed controls,
vertically adjustable steering
wheel and a permanently
illuminated meter cluster and
that’s before discussing the
feature packed, smartphone
linked advanced touchscreen
compatible with both Apple
CarPlay and Android Auto. In
fact, even the briefest glimpse
around the interior will confirm
how much Suzuki’s Jimny has
improved over previous models
with the switchgear and buttons
in particular having a delightfully
chunky and hard wearing
appearance and feel to them.
But all of the style and technology
in the world add up to zero if
the Jimny doesn’t drive as well
as it lineage and fans demand.
The driving position is certainly
more ‘old school’ than most with
the steering wheel close and
passengers closer but this just
adds to the charm and character
of this compact off roader. There’s
excellent visibility from your seat
up front with a view across the
flat and square bonnet which
lets you keep the front corners in
view, giving excellent visibility on
uneven terrain and allows you
the typically SUV higher driving
position that we all know and
love.
Setting off and the Suzuki pulls
away without drama giving you
your first chance to appreciate
the new 1.5L, 4 cylinder engine
under the bonnet. Producing
99.6 bhp at 6000 rpm and 95 Ib/
ft torque at 4000 rpm, this is an
engine that suits the Jimny down
to the ground as it produces
more than enough power for
reasonably rapid progress on the
road whilst retaining enough low
down shove for tackling those,
shall we say, less conventional
routes away from the tarmac.
CO2 emissions (WLTP) of 178 g/km
and combined efficiency figures
of 35.8 mpg mean that, despite
the less than aerodynamic front
end, the Jimny will be kind to your
pocket when visiting the pumps
and allow for travelling further
afield as and when the mood
takes you.
What Suzuki have delivered is
one of the coolest looking cars
of the last few years. A genuinely
unique offering in an increasingly
monotonous market sector and
one that will stand out amongst
it’s peers for many years to come.
The angular exterior and cleverly
packaged interior remind you of
Jimnys through the ages yet point
forward towards an even more
exciting future for this evergreen
SUV, for which we should all be
grateful. The Jimny is achingly
cool to look at, able to travel
near or far economically and in
relative comfort, packed with
the necessary technology and
features demanded of cars today
and offers up genuinely fantastic
off-road capability for amateur
adventurers to exploit to their
hearts content.
I absolutely love it.
As will you.
Where will you go?