2019 Suzuki Jimny off-roader - The toughest small SUV

Cars are pretty predictable these days, aren't they? A new model is launched, it’s facelifted after three years and then three or four years later it’s replaced. Simple. Well, that may be the case the for the majority of models, but there are exceptions to every rule. Today’s example is the Suzuki Jimny.
You see, the third-generation model went on sale way back in 1998, but you could still buy a brand-new example from a Suzuki dealer until very recently. We wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few unregistered examples still kicking around. Sure, it may have been tweaked here and there over the last twenty years, but it remained essentially the same car.
But now an all-new Jimny is being introduced. It still has a rudimentary ladder frame chassis, live axles front and rear and a proper low-range gearbox, but there have been an awful lot of changes.
The chassis is actually all-new and 150% stiffer than before, plus there’s new safety kit – including automatic emergency braking – and a more powerful 1.5-litre petrol engine under the bonnet. You also get hill descent control and a hill hold system to make off-roading that little bit easier.
If that wasn’t enough, top-spec SZ5 versions get a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring and even a built-in sat nav. All this has been designed not just to make the Jimny better than ever on the rough stuff, but also a more civilised and liveable road car.
So, the question for us is whether it can compete with conventional small SUV rivals such as the Kia Stonic and Seat Arona.
As the Jimny is shorter than the Volkswagen Up city car, space inside is a bit tight. Those sitting in the front probably won’t grumble too much, because the seats slide a long way back, but taller drivers won’t like that the steering wheel adjusts only for height and not reach.
Rear passengers certainly get plenty of head room (especially if the reclining rear seats are laid back as much as possible), but leg room is very tight if anyone tall is sitting in the front.
As for the boot, it's tiny with the rear seats up; you could squeeze a couple of school satchels in but little else. At least the rear seats fold easily enough to reveal a flat – albeit slippery – load area with a capacity of 377 litres. That's three litres less than the Volkswagen Golf can carry with all five seats raised, if you're interested.
The Jimny's dashboard is an ocean of hard black scratchy plastic. Although a little bit of the soft stuff wouldn’t have gone amiss, this is an interior that’s designed to be hardwearing above all else. That Suzuki has been able to add some funky details, such as the watch-style surrounds for the instruments, is something at least.
Price £17,000 (est)
Engine 4cyl, 1462cc, petrol
Power 100bhp at 6000rpm
Torque 95lb ft at 4000rpm
Gearbox 5-spd manual
0-62mph tbc
Top speed 90mph
Official economy 41.5mpg CO2, tax band 154g/km, 31% NEDC
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