Despite its size and puny engine, people all over the world adore the Suzuki Jimny. And it is for good reason. Despite its diminutive proportions and a small 1.5-liter engine, the mini-SUV is pretty capable, able to conquer trails just like its bigger and more expensive contemporaries can.
But if there’s one of the things that some fans have bemoaned about the mini SUV, it’s the lack of available passenger and cargo space. In its current configuration, the Jimny can seat four people and haul not much of its occupant’s belongings. Well, that’s about to change now. Because after all the teasing, Suzuki has finally launched the new five-door Jimny in India.
What Suzuki has done is just literally stretched the vehicle. It is 505mm longer, but is 5mm lower than the three-door version. The wheelbase is now 340mm longer, giving that much-needed interior room for the occupants at the back.
Up front, (sadly) it now has chrome inserts on the grill. But other than that and the two additional doors on the sides, this pretty much looks like a regular three-door Jimny. Even the rims are the same ones on the current models.
The interior is kind of untouched too. Save for the new trims for the extra doors and a roomier bench, everything here is exactly the same as the shorter, older Jimny. Based on the launch video, this will get new curtain and side airbags for added safety.
Not much information has been shared about the vehicle’s standard equipment. What we’re sure of is that it’ll still have the K15B 1.5-liter engine, doing 102hp and 130Nm. A part-time four-wheel drive system transfers that power to either the rear or all four wheels via a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.
Suzuki claims that the five-door Jimny is just as capable as the three-door. But we feel like there might be some change with the vehicle’s breakover angle. This could be easily remedied though through simple modifications. Something that a lot of future owners will do to this baby.
The new Jimny will still be produced in Maruti Suzuki’s facilities in India. And since Suzuki Philippines sources its units there and the vehicle’s popularity, the five-door Jimny will surely hit our shores. It’s just a matter of when. This should give us enough time to save up until the local distributor formally launches it here.
0 Comments