You may not be familiar with the Suzuki ‘Jimny’ name. Suzuki has produced the Jimny since 1970, and it was sold in the United States from 1985 (1986 model) until 1995 as the Suzuki Samurai.
The current Jimny has been relatively unchanged since 1998, so there is much anticipation about the release of this 2019 model.
The new chassis looks like it’s going to keep with it’s reputation as an off-road billy-goat thanks to its ladder frame, and solid front and rear axles.
The suspension holds each axle laterally via a track bar, and longitudinally via two control arms. This setup provides the important ingredients for an off-road vehicle that you can modify, and achieve good articulation with.
According to preliminary technical specifications, the JDM-spec Jimny will be available with a tiny 660cc engine and a bigger 1.5-liter unit with a choice between a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic transmission. 15- or 16-inch wheels will be offered as well.
The Jimny will come in at least two trim levels: Jimny and Jimny Sierra, with a variety of color options.
For a touch of modernity, the list of other goodies includes air conditioning, cruise control, push-button start, a multi-function steering wheel, and autonomous emergency braking.
We like the interior with its big buttons, and a thick frame around the LCD screen at the center of the dash.
Suzuki says 2.85 million Jimnys have been sold through March 2018: If the pricing (about $18,500 for the old model in Europe) remains affordable, that number is sure to rise nicely.
This handsome new Jimny isn’t likely to be available in the states, which is sad, because at a time when the vast majority of companies have chosen the ride and handling offered by independent suspension over the robustness and articulation of a rigid axle, the Jimny continues to hold onto its roots. And at a time when the one remaining mainstream off-road SUV with a solid front axle has gotten rather large, the Jimny remains a tiny box on wheels.
Sure, the tiny Jimny may not be the SUV the U.S. needs, but it’s the SUV that it deserves.
