Maruti Jimny

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is an off-road SUV that succeeds the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy. The SUV is available in 3-door and 5-door forms globally but India only gets the 5-door model. It’s an old school, no frills machine built for off-road enthusiasts who want something with serious capability, good modification potential and ease of use at a reasonable price. I’ve driven the Jimny extensively on the road and possibly spent more time with it off-road. Here’s why it makes a lot of sense for some and not so much sense for others.

The Jimny might not give off the typical offroader vibe at first glance, courtesy of its compact dimensions. But it looks purpose-built, with all the boxy and square styling elements, the heavily cladded wheel arches, and the upright stance that defines its exterior styling. 

At the front, you see circular LED projector headlights which interestingly get headlamps washers as well. The trademark Jimny grille is another highlight. While there are no daytime running lights here, you do get a pair of halogen fog lamps to complete the retro vibe. 

Despite the flat bonnet and some chunky elements like the bumper giving it a rugged look, the Jimny looks quite ‘cute’ with its 15-inch wheels and compact dimensions. It is also a head-turner, especially in the bright Kinetic Yellow shade. Moreover, given that the Jimny is a global product, the depth of modifications possible with it are endless. You can literally convert it into a baby G Wagon with the right set of modifications.

References to the German SUV are made largely because of how the side profile and rear are similarly slab-sided. There are no design highlights to speak off, Maruti Suzuki has accommodated the increase in length and wheelbase compared to the three-door model neatly, making the five-door version look just as proportional.  While its compact size won’t appeal to those who want an off-roader with more muscle and an intimidating presence, its size is purposeful. The narrow width in particular helps make it ideal for driving through narrow off-road trails. The compact size also makes it easier to use in the city especially for drivers who want a standout car which incidentally happens to be one of the best off-roaders money can buy.

The build quality is good but in typical Maruti fashion, it does feel light. That makes the light 1200kg kerb weight unsurprising. Colour options include Granite Grey, NEXA Blue, Bluish Black, Pearl Arctic White, Kinetic Yellow and Sizzling Red. While Sizzling Red is available with a black roof, Kinetic Yellow is offered exclusively as a two-done option with a black roof. And my favourite colours are the dual-tone options though NEXA Blue is a nice colour for someone who likes things subtle.

Design & Quality

The Jimny’s interior is old school: rugged, and built to a purpose, and the focus towards functionality is more than apparent. Everything not only looks solid, it actually is! You won’t find much soft-touch materials, as that’s limited to the grab handle. Simply put, the Jimny’s cabin is basic in look and feel. The cabin feels like it’s ready to take on abuse but it feels functional, not premium, and that’s on purpose. 

While the Jimny does sit high it’s still convenient to get in and out of. That said, the entry-way is a bit narrow in both seat rows, so those of a hefty build will have to squeeze their way in a bit.

The steering gets a leather wrap and behind it is a rather old school instrument cluster reminding you of the Jimny’s heritage. The analogue cluster is heavily inspired from the Gypsy, but has been given a slight modern touch by integrating a black and white MID display. That said, a coloured display would’ve been more apt here.

Front Seats

The front seat height is quite high by default which means even users around 5.5ft in height can get a good driving position. Unfortunately, there is no driver seat-height adjustment and the steering is only tilt-adjustable. While you get a very commanding driving position, taller drivers will find their knees brushing up on the centre console. 

The Jimny’s narrow width also has predictable results inside. The front passengers will sit with their shoulders quite close to each other. In fact, in typical off-road SUV style, the dashboard and door pads are slim as well so you can feel like there’s not a “lot of car” in between you and the exterior. 

Rear Seats

Access to the rear seats is trickier than the front owing to the narrower entry aperture. Once inside, you will find that like the front, the seats are quite flat with no usable lateral support. The cushioning is also on the softer side which can become slightly uncomfortable over longer journeys or through prolonged seat time. With a 6ft tall driver a passenger of the same height can sit behind. Headroom is good even for users over 6 feet tall. Do bear in mind that the Jimny is built to be/legally a 4-seater only.

Storage Options

The Jimny wasn’t really engineered with practicality in mind and that shows inside the cabin. Storage options are limited with 6 spaces coming in the form of 2 cup holders in the middle (shared with rear passengers), a small space in front of the gearbox (smaller in the manual), the thin door pockets that will just hold a couple of magazines at most, a decent sized glovebox and pockets behind the front seats. The lack of even one proper bottle holder in the doors is a consequence of the super narrow doors.

Charging Options

Charging duties are imparted to the two 12V sockets (one front and one in the boot), and the single USB port offered at the front. The rear passengers will have to rely on their personal power banks as there is no dedicated port for them. 

Features

The features list ends almost as soon as it begins. There isn’t much beyond the basics.

The 9-inch touchscreen is easy to use and stands out as the one modern bit in an otherwise old school cabin. Operating it is easy and it gets wireless Android auto and Apple CarPlay, which has been integrated well. The 4-speaker music system is acceptable at best and owing to the low placement of the speakers, the sound is played up to you rather than around you.

The Jimny offers an impressive kit right from the base variants. Six airbags, ABS with EBD, hill hold control, rear view camera with sensors, ISOFIX mounts and 3-point seat belts with reminders are all standard features. However, there is serious room for improvement with the rear camera quality.

There are no crash test reports for the five-door Jimny just as yet. However, in 2018, the three-door version had secured a 3-star rating from EuroNCAP.

When you eventually go camping or grocery shopping in the Jimny, the 208-litre boot space will and should accommodate most of your stuff. Even airport runs can be managed with some planning – stack the luggage vertically and use small suitcases. 

The boot isn’t the biggest in all fairness, but you get 50:50 split folding that liberates more space. But they don’t fold flush with the boot floor. 

One unusual complaint is with the tailgate, which takes its own sweet time to open because of the hydraulic struts, and it can’t even be forced open either. Do note that the door opens towards the side, so you cannot open it fully in tight spaces.

The Jimny uses one of Suzuki’s most time-tested engines, the K15B. While this motor isn’t the most modern, it is known for its reliability and ability to withstand tough operation.

City Performance

The engine sounds quite refined at startup and delivers smooth performance for basic city driving. It can keep up with flowing traffic and light inputs are enough to manage crawling rush hour jams. If you plan to do a lot of city driving, it would be better to get the automatic version. The manual’s gear lever is quite notchy to use though the clutch itself isn’t too heavy. Depending on the driving conditions, the Jimny can manage around 10-11kmpl in the city.

Highway Performance

The Jimny’s highway performance is strictly average. Acceleration isn’t quick even with hard revving and you’re better off cruising at 80-100kmph and staying patient during high speed overtakes. In comparison, a Mahindra Thar with its 2-litre turbo petrol or 2.2-litre diesel can hit and cross 120kmph with no stress at all. This also means you have to stick to higher revs while driving through hilly areas in the Jimny. That combined with the 40 litre fuel tank capacity will make for more frequent fuel stops. Depending on the driving conditions, the Jimny can manage around 12-14kmpl on the highway. 

Off-Road Performance

This is what the Jimny was built for. It’s light weight helps it clear obstacles that other SUVs get bogged down by. Even in the snow, the Jimny can manage a fair bit where bigger SUVs would have to reach for the snow chains for grip. Turning through narrow obstacles is easy owing to its compact size and owing to the 4x4 drive with low-range the Jimny can clear everything from slush to rock crawls while making even novice off-road drivers feel comfortable. 

210mm of ground clearance aside, it has approach, departure and breakover angles of 36, 46 and 24-degrees which help make tackling challenging terrain easier.

Ride Comfort

The Jimny’s ride is quite comfortable especially when compared to the considerably stiffer Mahindra Thar. Potholes, ruts and road imperfections are dealt with easily and the occupants are kept well insulated from bumps too.

Handling

While the Jimny is a small car, the steering does feel quite slow and heavy for a car of this size. Taking U-turns does require a surprisingly large 5.7 metre turning radius which is slightly more than the wider Mahindra Thar. Managing city commutes and highway drives is manageable but the steering’s nowhere near as light or quick as city hatchbacks of a similar size. 

• The Maruti Suzuki Jimny 2025 is available in two variants: Zeta and Alpha.

• Both variants are available with manual and automatic transmissions.

Maruti Jimny Zeta variant

• This variant covers the basics for someone who wants a functional off-roader.

• It gets 15-inch steel wheels and unpainted door handles which actually look quite nice with this old school design.

• Features include manual AC, all four power windows, a 7-inch touchscreen and 4-speakers.

• All of the Jimny’s safety features, including 6 airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD and the rear camera are offered from this variant itself.

Maruti Jimny Alpha variant

• This variant added a few feel good, cosmetic and convenience features.

• Gets body coloured door handles and alloy wheels. The dual-tone paint options are offered only with this variant.

• The features list adds auto headlamps, headlamp washers, LED headlights, fog lamps and tinted windows.

• It also gets auto AC, a larger, 9-inch touchscreen.

CarDekho Recommends:

• Get the Jimny Alpha variant. While the Jimny isn’t a feature-loaded car to begin with, the larger touchscreen, cosmetic upgrade and added conveniences are worth spending a bit more money for.

It is a good city car for a small family but not one without compromises: this line sums up the Jimny perfectly. That’s because at the end of the day, this car is a style statement and a lifestyle choice, and the real fun lies in off-roading with it. It is a purpose-built off-roader first and everything else about it is secondary to that. Once you understand this, it’s clear the Jimny is excellent at its core purpose and cannot be compared or benchmarked against similarly priced sedans, hatchbacks or urban SUVs.

Other Options To Consider

Mahindra Thar

Reasons to consider

• Superior performance 

• Diesel engine option/rear-wheel drive option available

• More grand road presence

Reasons to ignore

• Stiff ride quality 

• Large size can make it a handful to drive in narrow lanes/trails

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Reasons to consider

• Superior performance 

• Diesel engine option/rear-wheel drive option available

• More grand road presence

• Much better cabin space, practicality, quality and features

Reasons to ignore

• 4x4 not available with a petrol engine

• Most affordable 4x4 model costs significantly more 

• Large size can make it a handful to drive in narrow lanes/trails

Force Gurkha

Reasons to consider

• Grand road presence

• Diesel engine option

Reasons to ignore

• Awkward interior ergonomics

• Force’s limited sales and service network vs Maruti Suzuki’s

• Large size and heavy weight makes it more daunting to drive on and off-road