Introduced in 2023, the Jimny debuted in India as Maruti’s successor to the Gypsy. While the Jimny was sold internationally as a 3-door model, India was the first country to get the 5-door version. It gets retro-futuristic looks, high ground clearance and a 4x4 drive system with low range. If you’re looking for a hardcore compact off-road SUV, should you consider the Jimny? We list out reasons to buy one and reasons why it may not be the SUV for you.
Reasons to buy the Maruti Jimny
Superb off-road ability
Underpinning the Jimny is a ladder-frame chassis that’s best suited for heavy off-roading. Additionally, it gets Suzuki’s Allgrip Pro 4x4 drive system with a lever to switch to ‘2WD-high’, ‘4WD-high’ and ‘4WD-low’. High approach (36-degree) and departure (47-degree) angles, solid front and rear axles along with tech like hill-start assist, hill-descent control and electronic braking differential (front and rear), help the Jimny feel right at home when off-roading. It performs superbly when wading through water, going up rock-covered steep inclines, pulling out of tricky situations and leaning at unimaginable angles all without breaking a sweat.
Charming character
In a sea of pseudo-SUVs, the Jimny comes across as one of the few hardcore compact off-road SUVs underpinned by a ladder-frame chassis. Additionally, it’s the only compact off-roader with five doors, unlike other off-road SUVs in the segment, including the Force Gurkha 3-door and Mahindra Thar. What’s best is that it isn’t as intimidating as the other two and is very usable in the city as well. Adding to its overall appeal are a quirky exterior and interior with retro-futuristic elements all over, lending it a very charming character.
Comfortable ride
While ladder-frame vehicles aren’t known for their ride quality, the Jimny feels comfortable on the whole. Especially when compared to rivals, it is more pliant and has better-controlled body roll. It handles broken roads and potholes with ease, and you could take two wheels off the road to dodge traffic with confidence. With a 210mm ground clearance, you wouldn’t need to think twice about going off the beaten path.
Reasons not to buy the Maruti Jimny
Weak engine
The Jimny is powered solely by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine developing 104hp and 134.2Nm of torque. It’s grunty enough in urban and off-road conditions, but it falls short if you ask more of it. As with naturally aspirated engines, mid-range punch is lacking. For simple overtakes, you’ll find yourself flattening your right foot and wringing the motor’s neck. 0-100kph acceleration timings were 14.59 and 17.47 seconds for the manual and automatic gearboxes, respectively, which is slow.
Clunky manual gearbox
While manual Marutis have been known for buttery-smooth operation, the same can’t be said for the Jimny. Though acceleration is quicker when paired with the manual gearbox, it doesn’t work well in the Jimny. Shifting is firm and requires substantial effort to slot the SUV into gears, thus taking away the fun associated with driving a manual gearbox. The heavy clutch is also a let-down, especially when driving in city conditions.
Heavy steering
The Jimny’s steering takes 4+ turns lock-to-lock, which is more than most cars, and is cumbersome. Secondly, the electric power steering is slow-geared, and while that’s good for off-roading, it does not work well on the road. The weight of the steering itself is heavier than most vehicles of its size, and it has a huge turning radius of 5.7 metres.
Uday Singh
Dipan Sur
