Suzuki’s Jimny 5-Door Allgrip

Suzuki's 3-door Jimny has become a popular fun car since its launch with almost a cult status among adventurers and especially those who like to hit the back roads in style. This

relatively affordable 4x4 is built for those who want to go exploring.

While the short wheelbase and 3 doors make for a cool look, it lacks passenger space and storage space is largely the reason why the Jimny is not on the shopping list of small families.

While the newcomer is not the first long-wheelbase Suzuki Jimny; the first one was the LJ81-

model in the Jimny range, the latest is the first 5-door model in more than 50 years of the

Jimny's existence.



Appearance and Design

The compact square design with sharp right angles is still there and the nose and rear are,

in addition to a few cosmetic changes, still unmistakably Jimny. However, the wheelbase has been stretched to make the Jimny 340mm longer and two extra doors have been added to make the automobile even more striking in appearance.

Where the 3-door model was generally described as "cute" by most people, the longer 5-door will have even greater appeal. The longer model can even, in terms of appearance, be described as a "baby" Mercedes G-Class. Striking is the shiny grille of the 5-door model, and while it attracts attention and is maybe more sophisticated, the 3-door's colour-matched version may be more practical in the field.



Cabin and Equipment

Thanks to the extra length, the interior is the biggest improvement on the 5-door version. The

result is greater space for rear occupants and much more cargo space (126 liters more), while the

rear seats can also be folded down separately. With seats down there is a flat surface that can serve as a camping bed and then it offers a total loading space of 1113 litres. The cabin is practically laid out with materials and finishes that feel solid and look good. The top model GLX version offers a leather-wrapped steering wheel that also has switches for the phone, sound system and cruise control. The GLX has a larger 9" infotainment touchscreen than the entry GL model (7”) and offers connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a USB connection point and two

12V charging points (front). The GLX is also equipped with a reverse camera and rear parking sensors. The Jimny 5-door comfortably seats 4 adults with the seats providing good support.



Engine and Performance

Propulsion is thanks to the same 1.5 liter four-cylinder (K15B) petrol engine that is used in the 3-door version. Maximum power output is 75kW at 3000rpm while 130Nm of peak torque is available at 4000rpm. Driving the top model GLX Allgrip Pro was fun, testing all four wheels with the help of a 5-speed manual gearbox. The GLX models are also available with an automatic transmission.

Officially, the fuel consumption is stated as 6.3l/100km. Our consumption in a mixed cycle,

which also included sandy roads with thick loose sand, was 7.7l/100km after a total distance of approximately 800 km. However, the new version's longer length comes with an extra weight of 105kg and the turning circle (11.4m compared to 9.8m) is now larger than with the 3-door version.



Summary

The 2024 Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX AllGrip 5-door is a welcome alternative in the Jimny stable. The longer wheelbase and slight extra weight offer better ride quality, especially on dirt roads and with 210mm ground clearance, better rear legroom and the larger load space, the Jimny is now also suitable for family field trips. A larger gas tank and a clamshell top may be considerations for an upgraded model in the future.

With a price from around N$457 900, the 2024 Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX Allgrip manual is an

excellent option for a fun vehicle.