2024 Suzuki Jimny 5-Door GLX 4-AT

Off-road fun, extended

The Jimny 3-door is a fantastic mini SUV, and the strength of its 54-year nameplate will attest to that.

Through the decades and advancements in automotive technology, it maintained these five design characteristics that made it a favorite in the off-roading community (and buyers who want an SUV minus the massive footprint) – a classic body-on-frame design, rigid axles with coil spring suspensions, a recirculating ball steering system, a part-time four-wheel-drive transmission, and a rear axle differential locker.

I do not know how loud it was, but there was a clamor more space in the Jimny. Suzuki answered it by giving its kei SUV a first: two extra doors. Some of the purists may be screaming que horror, but let us hold off violent reactions until we see what we are dealing with.

It loses a bit of the cuteness factor because it is now a tad longer than before - an extra 170mm nose to tail, to be exact. But the real magic is how the designers fit the extra doors by adding 340mm to the wheelbase. That is some David Blaine/Copperfield stuff right there. The width remains the same but is 5mm lower than the three-door variant.

The façade sports the throwback grille and classic round shape of the LED projector headlamps, signal lamps, fog lamps, the upright façade and A-pillars, and even the door handles. All these are nods to Jimnys past. Both bumpers look stout, but sadly, they are only made of plastic to reduce weight and increase fuel savings. But it would be cool and more period-correct if they were steel. Its rugged aesthetics are also functional. The roof has run channels so water does not trickle down the windows when it rains, and the vertical sides allow for taller windows and a better view of the surroundings (for off-roading). The wheel size is 15 inches but comes with highway tires; if you want all terrain, you'll have to pay extra to have a set fitted. 

Underneath all this is what makes the Jinmy an honest-to-goodness SUV. It has a ladder frame chassis, a three-link rigid axle suspension with coil springs (front and rear), and even the old-school recirculating ball steering system used (mostly) by trucks.

Ground clearance is 210 mm, which is good news for motorists who experience flash floods on the route home during the rainy season. Its approach angle of 36°, departure angle of 47°, and ramp brake over angle of 24° allow the Jimny to climb and exit steep ramps smoothly and drive over large rocks and boulders.

Despite its size, the Jimny is prone to delivering dings and dents because its doors open about 70° to 90°. Better watch out if you are in narrow parking spaces.

For an all-new model, the Jimny uses an outdated keyless entry system. It is not even a keyfob. It has the typical lock/unlock clickers and does not have a Start/Stop button. I would like to see this entire part of the ingress process modernized ASAP.

There is no fancy cockpit layout or design. It has a rugged, pickup truck-like dashboard with a rigid plastic surface and shows its heavy-duty design with exposed Allen bolts in several areas. Most controls are basic, either rotary or lever type, and the instrument panels show two plain dial-style gauges. But it is not all back-to-basics here with creature comforts like cruise control, automatic climate control, a multi-function steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, and the large 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay.

It only has one USB port in front. That will be an issue for someone buying an all-new model in 2024. There should be at least two in front and two at the rear. Sure, the cockpit lives up to the Jimny heritage, but with the 5-door targeting the adventurous family types, except for Dad, I do not know how receptive the rest of the family will be to this setup.

Suzuki calls this model the 5-door, but it is technically not a five-seater - the 2nd-row is proof of that as it only comes with two headrests. Yeah, you can seat three here, but it will be a (very) tight fit. There also are no cupholders here. The cabin only has two (on the center tunnel), so the four passengers must take turns using it if they all have coffee or drinks. It also lacks storage spaces for devices and loose items.

With the 2nd-row occupied, the cargo area measuring 33 inches high, 22 inches deep, and 37.5 inches wide will not fit much, maybe just a few overnight bags. But drop down the 2nd-row backrests, and the depth goes up to over 41 inches deep, accommodating bigger-sized luggage.

Under the hood is the same 1.5L gas engine as the 3-door variant. Its 100 PS and 130 Nm of torque go to the part-time four-wheel drive via a four-speed automatic transmission. It is enough within city limits, but it will feel taxed on the highway where revs went up to 3,000 RPM just to maintain 100 km/h.

Shift points are higher than in the Ertiga which also has 4-speed automatic. If you need to squeeze out more power for overtaking, click the O/D (overdrive) button on the shifter to rev it harder. It also has settings for 2H (2WD High), 4H (4WD High), and 4L (4WD Low). Fuel efficiency, you ask? Mixed driving conditions returned around 10.2 km/l.

Because of its old-school steering system, it feels like I was behind the wheel of a Ford Fiera, but at least with power assist. There is a dead spot at the center, and it is not as sharp and on point as a rack and pinion. I appreciated feeling the weight of this 1.2-ton vehicle as I maneuvered and the 'real feel' of the steering feedback. The trade-off is a turning radius is worse than a crossover.

As expected, the ride is bouncy (a trait of having non-independent suspension), but because of the extended wheelbase, it is not as bouncy as the 3-door model. It is almost comparable to crossovers. The suspension setup does not rear its ugly head over smooth pavement, but when the going gets rough (so to speak), the ride tends to get rocky. Wider tires will give it better traction on the highway or over winding roads because the tail can kick out (a bit) if you're heavy on the throttle while cornering at high speeds. Take care when turning because the center of gravity is higher than crossovers.

The sturdy suspension shows its true worth where the road ends though. It will not buckle or shiver under off-road conditions and remains poised even over small boulders and shallow off-road pits. Its suspension gives drivers the confidence to go on adventures that take them and their families beyond paved streets. 

The Jimny 5-door GLX A/T has limitations, especially compared to the plush ride and cabin coziness of mid-size SUVs and crossovers. It gets extra space for passengers and cargo (but not by much), but its best talent is off-roading. This top-of-the-line model goes for PHP 1,708,000. That is already mid-size SUV (entry-level to mid) territory.

Yes, it tries to justify itself with the added space, functionality, versatility, and even durability, but will that be a fair trade-off for comfort? The answer to that really depends on where you want to go with your vehicle, or how deep in the jungle you want to venture into.