Maruti Suzuki Jimny User Reviews

autocar.india

•3w

Of your shortlist, it comes down to the Honda Elevate, Maruti Suzuki Victoris/Grand Vitara, or Toyota Hyryder, and finally the Kia Seltos.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is simply not practical enough for the money, and its ride isn't suitable for touring. The Sierra's 1.5 NA petrol is its weakest engine, and the diesel is expensive, and between the Creta and Seltos, we'd pick the newer Seltos as it is more modern, larger and more spacious. And though we would recommend using the official service outlets, if you are interested in servicing the vehicle yourself, the naturally aspirated petrol manual is the best bet. The good news is that all these cars will fall comfortably within your budget, too.The Maruti and Toyota SUVs are superbly reliable and incredibly efficient, though rear-seat space is not as good as the others. The power figure is not great either, and though sufficient in the city, for your highway touring use, you might feel it wanting slightly.The Kia Seltos' 1.5-litre petrol engine produces slightly more power, but the vehicle is also heavier, so it does not feel dramatically quicker on the highway. It is larger than the others, though, offering noticeably more cabin space, better interior quality and a stronger feature list. While it costs roughly Rs 1.5 lakh more in higher trims, you do get more for your money.In terms of outright value, though, the Honda Elevate strikes the best balance. It is more spacious than the Maruti/Toyota, cheaper than the Seltos, and has the most powerful engine, which is also fuel-efficient and legendarily reliable. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC remains tractable at low speeds as well as strong enough on the highway. It is also backed by solid ride and handling dynamics. Downsides are that refinement isn't as good as the others, and even in top-spec guise, the feature set is not as good, though you do get the essentials. We would recommend the Honda over the others for your needs.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

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•4w

Go for the Hyundai Creta because your 70% highway use and family of five will benefit most from its space, calm cruising and real-world efficiency. The 1.5 NA petrol with the automatic is smooth, stress-free and proven reliable, and the Creta’s big cabin and boot make family trips easy. Real-world mileage should be good too, and maintenance should be relatively low. In your budget, you should be able to get the mid-range S (O) CVT. Coming from a Maruti Jimny AT, you’ll love the greater refinement, more comfortable ride and stronger high-speed performance.From Maruti Suzuki, there are the Grand Vitara and Victoris, which are both excellent options too. Great mileage, smooth gearboxes and exceptional reliability, but for a family of five, space in the back seat isn't as good as the Creta, and the 105hp 1.5-litre petrol can feel overwhelmed under heavy load, especially on the highway, where you do 70% of your driving. Honda's 1.5-litre petrol in Elevate doesn't have this issue, but compared to the Creta, space and comfort aren't quite as good, and it lacks the same wow factor. However, if you don't mind a sedan, the City is a more compelling choice.Overall, though you won't get it in a higher variant with as many features as others, we feel the Creta is the best all-rounder for the money.

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•5w

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. For Spiti’s narrow, broken mountain roads with light to moderate snow, the Jimny’s small size and low weight make life easier. It is simpler to place on those cliff-edge tracks, its narrow tyres bite better on packed snow, and visibility is excellent. The 4x4 with low range works cleanly, and Maruti’s service reach in Himachal is wider if you do need help.Be ready for one compromise. The 1.5 petrol loses power at high altitude, so climbs will be slow and you will use lower gears more often. Cabin and boot are smaller too.If you regularly travel with four adults plus big luggage, or you expect fresh, deeper snow, the Thar’s extra torque and higher clearance give you more headroom. But for a typical winter, Spiti run in light to moderate snow where control and confidence matter more than brute force, the Jimny is the better tool.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Mahindra Thar

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•6w

Go for the Marutu Suzuki Victoris AWD, not the Marutu Suzuki Jimny, for what you plan to do. You said no real off-roading, just “all sorts of roads” - broken village stretches, rain-soaked highways, mild slush. The Victoris’ AWD will send drive to the rear when it slips, so you keep moving without the drama, while giving you far better ride comfort, highway stability, space and boot than the Jimny. You also get a more modern cabin and features like a 360-degree camera, and in some trims, ADAS is available.Jimny’s low-range 4x4 only really pays off in deep ruts, rock steps and deep mud. For daily use, it’s slower, bouncier, narrower, and the boot is smaller.One honest catch with the Victoris: AWD won't be as fuel-efficient as the FWD model. If your routes are just rough and unpredictable rather than extreme, the Victoris AWD will suit you fine.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

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•12w

Of your cars, you should replace the Maruti Ignis with a Kia Seltos diesel automatic. This gives you the convenience and better fuel efficiency you are looking for, while allowing you to keep the City for its VTEC driving experience and the Jimny for rough roads or compact lanes. The Kia Seltos diesel auto is smooth and relaxed in traffic thanks to its smooth torque converter, and on highways, it cruises at low engine speed, so it feels calm and will likely use less fuel than your Honda City or Maruti Jimny. The back seat is wide enough for family use, the seat height is good for elders, and the boot is much larger than the Ignis, so it works well as the main family car.One thing to keep in mind is that you will miss the Ignis’s tiny size, and though the Jimny is a compact car, it isn't quite as light and manoeuvrable as the hatchback. Overall, the Seltos feels like a more upmarket and high-tech alternative to your existing cars, and should be a good upgrade that works in a variety of situations.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Honda City