February 2000 Volume 81 Number 2 "serving the protectors"
Jimny: The Ideal Beach Car
By Jim Barnett

small, economical, capable off-roader, robust,
surprisingly roomy, visibility is good

uzuki’s Jimny four-wheel-drive sits in a class all of its own. It’s small, capable and economical - but best of all it’s fun.

While Vitara has been stretched and now offers V6 power, Suzuki has maintained the original concept with the release of the refined little Jimny 4WD. This smallest of four-wheelers is only available as a two-door hardtop, but a soft-top is on the way.

Both trim levels - JX and JLX - are powered by a fuel-injected, 1.3-litre multi-valve engine coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. Built on a separate ladder chassis, Jimny is a robust and capable off-roader, which offers good approach and departure angles and a high-low transfer case.

Given its small outside dimensions, Jimny’s interior is surprisingly roomy. With a driver’s seat which offers plenty of forward and rearward adjustment, the driving position is good. Front seats are comfortable and visibility is good all around. The rear seat is compact and will accommodate two adults, provided the front seats are not back too far.

The dashboard layout is smart and a vast improvement over previous Sierra models. The JLX features:

• Air conditioning.
• Electric windows and mirrors.
• Remote central locking with immobilizer.
• AM/FM stereo with single CD player.
• Two good-sized glove boxes.
• Large door storage bins.
• Drink holders (front and rear).
• Storage pockets for rear passengers.

Four occupants on board leaves just enough cargo space for a medium esky and some beach gear. Jimny can swallow a reasonable load when the rear seats are folded, but a different design could have achieved a flat floor with much more space.

The Police Journal tested Jimny on suburban and country roads in very windy conditions. Around town it’s a lot of fun. The engine provides ample power while the five-speed manual transmission has smooth shift qualities. Easy manoeuvrability is assured thanks to its short wheel base and 9.8-metre turning circle.

At 110km/h the engine spins at 4,200rpm. At this speed, engine noise is reasonably well suppressed, but the vehicle does tend to cruise better at 100km/h. It did maintain 90km/h up the notorious Willunga Hill, which is quite reasonable given its low gearing and 59kW of power.

Unlike previous small Suzuki’s on which front and rear leaf springs were the order of the day, Jimny has three-link coil suspension all around. The ride is fairly firm and the vehicle tends to buck on rough roads, but it rides infinitely better than previous model Sierras.

Jimny corners confidently and generally has quite good handling characteristics. It at times became unsettled on the highway during strong winds, and needed constant correction under the force of side winds.

Jimny performed very well in soft sand en route to the Murray Mouth and is an ideal beach vehicle. The engine will rev hard when needed and the smooth gearbox allows quick down-shifts.

Jimny’s part-time four-wheel-drive system features automatic front hubs which enable changes from 2H to 4H and back again at up to 100km/h. Low-range gearing is not as good as most larger vehicles, but Jimny ascended a steep, rocky track with relative ease.

Prices start at $17,990 for the JX, which includes on-road costs and air conditioning. Fuel economy on test averaged around nine litres/100km. Options available on JLX models include dual airbags, ABS brakes, automatic transmission and alloy wheels.

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