Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Lifestyle SUV Reimagined

Maruti Suzuki took their time introducing the original Jimny in India, well after its global launch. And while the world got a tiny, short off-roader, the model that came to India was elongated to better suit the Indian buyer’s needs. The longer version, called Gypsy, left a lasting mark on the Indian enthusiast. The car was loved by rally racers and army men alike, and while it continued to sell in India for a long time, Maruti never launched  the second or third generation of the international Jimny, here. 

Similar to the first time around, Maruti took its time bringing the 4th generation model — launched globally in 2018 — to Indian shores. And just as it had done a  couple of decades ago, Maruti Suzuki elongated it, added a couple more doors, and launched it in our market five years later. Even though  a lot of Gypsy fans were desperately waiting for it and would buy it regardless of its pros and cons, it does compete with a couple of very capable off-roaders — the Mahindra Thar and the Force Gurkha. And to its disadvantage, the Jimny is much smaller than those two cars. Neither does it have that ‘SUV feel’ or the ‘commanding’ driving position that the other two have, nor does it have a punchy engine. So why should someone pick this over its rivals? Let's find out.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Pros and Cons 

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Exterior Design 

Boxy. There’s no better word to describe the external design of the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. In many ways, the Jimny looks like a baby G-Class. The tailgate mounted spare wheel, the squared off design, and the flat hood are very reminiscent of it, and that’s not a bad thing! What is interesting though is that the Jimny is deceptively tiny. Despite India getting a specially elongated 5-door model, it is still under 4-metres long, including the spare wheel. Height too, is just 1,720 mm. While the entire car is quirky, chic, purposeful, and full of character, its looks are polarising and may not be liked by everyone. 

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Interiors 

Compare the cabin to the Brezza, and you will feel that the Jimny’s interior is lacking . However, compare it to the older Gypsy, and you will find the Jimny’s cabin to be a huge leap into the future. And that speaks to what the Jimny is all about. It is not supposed to be practical, feature loaded, or even comfortable. Its only purpose is  being  drivable on all roads and no roads. And when you take that into consideration, the interior l doesn’t seem as bad. Yes, it lacks many features, and there is only space for four adults, but the interior is utilitarian, easy to clean, and has basic creature comforts like a touchscreen infotainment system. The door pockets for example can’t house any water bottles; you will have to resort to using the only two cupholders in the cabin for this. There is also no seat height adjustment for the driver, neither can the steering wheel  be adjusted for reach. The addition of an inclinometer, tiltmeter, and a compass would also have been clever.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Comfort 

At 1,645 mm, the Jimny is a rather narrow car. While that has its perks, it does come at the expense of interior space. There's just about enough space on the inside for the shoulders of the front two passengers to not touch. The rear can also only host two passengers, and taller individuals will feel cramped. The seats themselves are soft and offer good cushioning.

Being a body-on-frame SUV, you’d expect the Jimny to be a rough and jarring ride. But Maruti Suzuki has done a great job at keeping this in check. The suspension is soft, and while the comfort levels aren’t comparable to soft-roading sub-4-metre SUVs, it is much better than off-road focused rivals and can manage day-to-day urban driving.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Performance, Handling, and Off-road Ability

The Jimny gets Maruti Suzuki’s K15B engine, which powered multiple cars from the Indo-Japanese manufacturer between 2019 to 2022, including Ertiga, XL6, Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ciaz. Maruti Suzuki recently replaced the K15B in its line-up with the updated K15C dualjet petrol engine, but the Jimny doesn’t get the updated unit. Adapting that to the four wheel drive AllGrip Pro hardware would not be feasible, especially considering the limited benefits on offer. The K15B also has a stronger bottom end, which should help the Jimny’s purpose. The engine is well refined and does a good job at city speeds. However, it is not the most fuel efficient engine in Maruti’s arsenal, and the top end performance is also dull. While the engine will rev beyond 6,000 RPM, the time it takes to do so is too long, and the engine also sounds strained at high speeds. It gets two gearbox options — a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed torque converter automatic. The manual gearbox is a bit clunky to operate, and the automatic has just four gears, which limits usability a bit.

As you’d expect from a body-on-frame SUV, the Jimny is not the best handler either. There is a fair amount of body roll, and while the heavy and slow steering does help with off-roading, it is a bit cumbersome when you are taking on a set of twisties. Where the Jimny shines — unsurprisingly — is off the roads. Thanks to its compact dimensions and light kerb weight of around 1.2 tonnes, the Jimny can take on any terrain like a mountain goat. But what is impressive is that it doesn’t need a very skilled off-roader to do so. The overall packaging of the Jimny is such that it is one of the best vehicles to learn off-roading in, and it doesn’t intimidate you while you are learning the ropes. 

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Key specifications

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Safety Features

Maruti Suzuki Jimny does a fair job when it comes to safety. The 3-door version of the Jimny secured a 3-star crash test rating from the Euro NCAP, but the 5-door version is yet to be tested. It gets safety features like a brake locking differential, six airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, hill hold and hill descent control, brake assist, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and more. It also gets seat belt warnings for all four seats, but the rear seats get no load sensors. So the beeper keeps reminding you to wear the rear seat belts even if there are no passengers at the back, and it doesn’t stop beeping for the first 90 seconds of starting the car.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Technology and Infotainment

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny gets a Gypsy-inspired instrument cluster. The instrument has analog metres for speed as well as engine RPM. It also gets a small digital display that shows basic information and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display which gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.  Considering this is a purposeful off-road vehicle, this is a welcome addition. However, it would be nicer if it also got a 360-degree camera and off-road metres. 

Is the Maruti Suzuki Jimny for you?

Purchasing a car like Jimny is a decision you make with your heart, not your mind. The mind will tell you that its engine lacks punch, and the interiors lack practicality and space. But the heart knows exactly what the Jimny is good for. It is a one-of-a-kind SUV which can go pretty much anywhere. Not only are its four-wheel drive credentials amazing, but its compact dimensions will also allow it to fit in places its rivals can't. And then there are its looks. Yes, many people will hate it, and that could include members of your family too, but for the rest, the Jimny is pure eye candy. Is the Jimny for you? We couldn’t possibly answer that for you. You’ll have to ask your heart.