Sadly, it’s still forbidden fruit.
The latest Suzuki Jimny will never come to North America. That’s a given because the automaker itself left this market back in 2012. It simply could no longer compete, not even against a fellow small Japanese carmaker, Subaru. Overseas, especially in Asia, Suzuki continues to thrive and the Jimny plays a huge role in that. At one point there was a multi-year long waitlist.
According to Autocar India, the Jimny body style customers demanded is finally happening: the five-door. For now, it appears it’ll only be sold in India but that could change. During a recent dealer conference held in that country, it was revealed the five-door’s wheelbase will be 11.8 inches longer than that of the three-door. All told, the five-door will measure 151.6 inches long and have a 100.4-inch wheelbase.
No details were given regarding pricing just yet but, remember, this is India-only for now. Power will come courtesy from the automaker’s familiar and tough-as-nails 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a total of 100 horsepower and 102 lb-ft of torque. It’ll also reportedly be connected to a mild-hybrid system to aid fuel efficiency. Transmission options are expected to continue being either a five-speed manual or a four-speed slushbox.
We’ve long been fans of the Jimny, especially the latest generation, which debuted in 2018. Its body-on-frame chassis, 4×4 system, and general simplicity make it, in many ways, the ideal affordable SUV.
Nikita Chuyko/Kolesa
Nikita Chuyko/Kolesa
medaka.5ch.net
The closest thing to it in America is the Jeep Wrangler which can get fairly expensive once you begin checking the option boxes. The Jimny just had its first (and very mild) facelift, so it’s possible a second update could happen sooner than expected. The launch of the five-door could possibly be included in that.
Last July, the Jimny returned to the European market after being banned due to its engine no longer meeting strict new emissions standards. Suzuki came up with a clever solution to beat the system without having to swap the engine: remove the rear seats. This way, it technically becomes a commercial vehicle that isn’t subject to those regulations. Pretty brilliant.
