A compact off-roader that once conquered impossible landscapes continues to do so, better than ever. The Jimny is a relentless tale that inspired generations to reach beyond the supposed end of the road, and tread along unfazed. From the 1970s all the way to the present, this little off-roader has made its presence felt in 199 countries across the world and has garnered quite a cult following owing to its unique dimensions and capabilities.
The Kei Car Origins
The Jimny began as a Kei car, a vehicle category in Japan for the smallest highway-legal passenger cars, with restricted dimensions and engine capacity. Suzuki adapted the Hope Motor Company’s Hopestar ON360 for making the first Jimny. The body shell was redesigned and Suzuki FB air-cooled 359 cc twin cylinder two stroke unit was installed to power the little car. It could only have 3 seats as the spare wheel was placed inside the body to comply with the Kei car limits.
Apart from the 4-wheel Drive system, the Jimny featured high and low range gearing from the first generation itself. The first gen Jimny was a success with almost 5000 units being sold in Japan.
Jimny, Samurai, Drover… Gypsy!
When the second generation was launched in 1981, the Jimny scrambled out of its Kei car dimensions and had export versions under different names such as Chevrolet Samurai and Holden Drover. The extended wheelbase version India got is the popular Maruti Gypsy. And the export versions got Suzuki’s F10A 970 cc SOHC 8-valve engine. Later it got the 1.3L DOHC G13BB 16-valve engine or an 8-valve G13BA producing 70 hp.
Add a Tinge of Style
The third generation Jimny which was introduced in 1998 featured a modern bodywork and an aerodynamic design. This new generation vehicle featured coil springs with three-link suspension, and either a four or five speed manual all synchromesh gearbox depending on the market and when produced. The four-wheel drive high and low were selected via buttons on the dashboard as opposed to a gear lever in the previous generations. This Jimny also made giant strides in the comfort department with better ride quality and seats.
Tough and Cute
The 4th generation of Jimny was launched in 2018 to unprecedented global acclaim. The smoother bodywork of the third generation was completely abandoned in favour of the more boxy utilitarian lines. Even the interiors got more of such design elements and the 4 wheel high and low selector got a gear. And it inherited design elements from the past iteration – like the round headlight and independent indicators from the 1st generation, horizontal double slit design below the A-pillar from the 2nd generation, front grille with vertical openings from all three generations, and rear combination lamps gathered at the bumper like the 2nd generation.
This Jimny is powered by the 1.5L K15B engine. Its 5-door version was launched in India in 2023. The new Jimny while staying true to its roots in its capabilities offers great comfort and on-road drivability. It also comes with a host of safety features and electronics like ABS, Hill Hold, Hill Descent Control and Brake LSD.
The journey of Jimny has been legendary. And even after the evolution of half a century, it stays true to its roots and remains a humble and affordable off-roader. That’s the secret behind its relevance
