Automotive

Suzuki releases details on the super-cute 2019 Jimny 4x4

Suzuki releases details on the super-cute 2019 Jimny 4x4
2019 Suzuki Jimny: Genuine off-road capability with a humble, fun, retro approach at a fraction of the cost of a G-Wagen
2019 Suzuki Jimny:  Genuine off-road capability with a humble, fun, retro approach at a fraction of the cost of a G-Wagen
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: 2-door, 4-seater
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: 2-door, 4-seater
2019 Suzuki Jimny: LED headlights with built-in washers
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: LED headlights with built-in washers
2019 Suzuki Jimny: capable of dealing with steep angles
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: capable of dealing with steep angles
2019 Suzuki Jimny: interior touch screen and dash
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: interior touch screen and dash
2019 Suzuki Jimny: high/low range transfer
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: high/low range transfer
2019 Suzuki Jimny: steering wheel and interior
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: steering wheel and interior
2019 Suzuki Jimny: 210 mm underbody clearance
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: 210 mm underbody clearance
2019 Suzuki Jimny: wide back gate gives full access to the rear trunk
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: wide back gate gives full access to the rear trunk
2019 Suzuki Jimny: genuine off-roader with a fair bit of charm
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: genuine off-roader with a fair bit of charm
2019 Suzuki Jimny: 40-liter fuel tank
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: 40-liter fuel tank
2019 Suzuki Jimny: compact interior
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: compact interior
2019 Suzuki Jimny: ladder chassis and rigid axles
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: ladder chassis and rigid axles
2019 Suzuki Jimny: hill start assist and hill descent control
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: hill start assist and hill descent control
2019 Suzuki Jimny: low range transfer gives serious off-road capability
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: low range transfer gives serious off-road capability
2019 Suzuki Jimny: automatic emergency braking
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: automatic emergency braking
2019 Suzuki Jimny: lane keeping warnings, weaving warnings and traffic sign recognition won't help you much out here!
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: lane keeping warnings, weaving warnings and traffic sign recognition won't help you much out here!
2019 Suzuki Jimny: sales will begin in early 2019
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: sales will begin in early 2019
2019 Suzuki Jimny: pricing yet to be announced
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2019 Suzuki Jimny: pricing yet to be announced
2019 Suzuki Jimny: Genuine off-road capability with a humble, fun, retro approach at a fraction of the cost of a G-Wagen
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2019 Suzuki Jimny:  Genuine off-road capability with a humble, fun, retro approach at a fraction of the cost of a G-Wagen
View gallery - 19 images

Full specs and details have dropped on the adorable 2019 Suzuki Jimny, a miniature retro G-Wagen lookalike with true off-road capability at a fraction of the price. And we see nothing here that makes us like this humble, fun 4x4 any less.

The engine will be a cheap 'n' cheerful 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline unit called the K15B. It's tuned for bang on 100 horsepower and 96 lb-ft of torque, and comes with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto transmission, both of which come with a high/low transfer gear ratio selector to make it suitable for steep and slippery off-road action.

If a whole liter and a half of raging performance sounds a little hard to handle, certain markets (particularly through Asia and the subcontinent) will also get the option of a 660cc turbo for even greater fuel economy. In these markets, the 660cc version will be called the Jimny Minicar, and the 1.5 liter will be the Jimny Sierra. Other markets will likely run multiple versions of the 1.5-liter version.

2019 Suzuki Jimny: capable of dealing with steep angles
2019 Suzuki Jimny: capable of dealing with steep angles

A rigid ladder frame and 3-link rigid axle suspension at both ends are nods to the rough road intentions Suzuki is designing the Jimny for. When an obstacle pushes one wheel up, the opposite wheel gets forced down for additional traction.

Hill hold control prevents rollback from a standstill on steep takeoffs, and hill descent control lets you forget about the pedals and concentrate on steering as you take it down a nasty slope. And if the car detects that diagonally opposite wheels are losing traction at the same time on a slippery surface, it'll brake the two slipping wheels and redistribute torque to the ones that have got grip.

Other electronic driver aids include auto emergency braking, automatically dimming high beams that can detect and dip the headlights for oncoming vehicles, weaving alerts, lane departure warnings and traffic sign recognition, the most useful application of which is that the car will display the most recently detected speed sign on your dash in case you forget.

2019 Suzuki Jimny: compact interior
2019 Suzuki Jimny: compact interior

Ground clearance of 210 mm isn't huge, but the Jimny's wheel-at-each-corner design gives it the ability to tackle some fairly steep angles without scraping. Approach angle is 37 degrees, and departure is 49 degrees. Ramp breakover is a little less impressive; you'll drag the undercarriage driving forward off anything greater than 28 degrees. Headlights are neat round LED jobbies with built-in washers to clear the view if they get gunked up with mud or snow.

As a compact 4-seater, the Jimny isn't the most spacious looking machine on the planet, but Suzuki has worked hard to make maximal use of the space available. As an example, the brake lights and rear indicators have been moved right down onto the bumper so the entire rear gate can swing open. If you've got the back seats folded forward, that gives you full access to a spacious rear compartment. If you don't, it gives you full access to lick your finger and poke it into the ears of your back seat passengers while shouting "wet Willy!"

2019 Suzuki Jimny: wide back gate gives full access to the rear trunk
2019 Suzuki Jimny: wide back gate gives full access to the rear trunk

The Jimny is at once the antithesis of the brawny, muscle-shirted 4x4 scene, and the epitome of cheap, humble, capable off-roading. It's simple, fresh and looks like a lot of fun. We suspect Suzuki's got a hit on its hands here.

Source: Suzuki

View gallery - 19 images
13 comments
13 comments
Daishi
It reminds me a bit of the Geo Tracker that was popular in the US in the 90's as sort of a budget jeep.
Grunt
".......to lick your finger and poke it into the ears of your back seat passengers while shouting "wet Willy!"" Really? If that's a requirement, it has put me right off getting one of these; I'll stick with my old G-Wagen.... lol
bhtooefr
@Daishi: That's because it's actually quite closely related to the Tracker.
The Escudo/Vitara/Sidekick/Tracker was essentially a larger version of the 1980s version of this (and we got that version as the Samurai).
EUbrainwashing
I had a 4x4 dealership where I sold Suzuki Vitaras (Geo Tracker) loaded with big wheels, Bushwacker arches bull bars and such. With the Jimny we would present them well (without spending too much on parts). The issue was the vehicle's ride quality was so gruelling any long trip had to be avoided. They were good off-road but the suspension and lack of power made it horrible for any trip - at least once you were over the novelty of the look. Hope they have sorted these a little more for modern times.
Chijazz
What guy would want a vehicle that people call “super-cute”
R^2
People with enough money for a dedicated off road vehicle will find this too stripped down. People who are attracted to the price will wish that it had more comfortable suspension and more engine power to make it suitable as a daily driver.
minivini
Chijazz - any guy not worried about having to display his masculinity.
Brooke
Are these coming to the US?
Jonathan Colvin
And of course we can't have it in North America because it's not a gas guzzling full size and the USA's chicken tax duties.
Malatrope
I'm still driving my 1987 Samarai, which is the identical vehicle (and, amusingly, was also called the Jimny in Japan). I'm glad they "updated" it, though the dash, interior, engine, and suspension all looks the same. The thing cannot be stopped by snow or mud, but it definitely isn't an interstate vehicle.
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