Cult hero isn’t for everyone, but will keep fans happy

The more things change the more Suzuki’s cute Jimny stays the same. Almost. The squared-off and very compact four-wheel-drive is a handsome and most capable machine – a cult hero to some.

Its heritage stretches back into the 1970s, yet it is this current generation which has broadened its appeal with smart styling and many of today’s motoring’s mod cons.

Prices have risen. There’s now a five-door XL version, automatic transmission options, electric windows and a reversing camera. Yet, the basics remain: a high-riding chassis, excellent approach and departure angles, and two-speed transfer case. There’s still old-school handbrake and four-wheel-drive levers, rather than the push-button engagements found elsewhere.

And while there’s been some improvements to suspension set-ups over the years, it’s still a rigid rear axle with rear drum brakes. Plus, today’s 1.5-litre engine is no fireball, producing 75kW at a high 6000rpm. All this adds up to a small machine, albeit a light one around 1500kg, which can take a bit of shoving around.

With the automatic version around town, this can take fuel consumption through to 10 litres per 100km – past the factory’s overall consumption claim of 6.9litres per 100km (about 75 per cent of Jimnys, three and five-door, are sold with the four-speed automatics).

While the Jimny can sit on a steady 100kmh down a highway, allowing for slow uphill climbs, this is no sports car down the highway, either. The short 2.2m wheelbase means a driver feels the rough stuff from front and rear axles and the 3.6m-long, three-door Jimny can be pushed around by side draughts (it all adds up to a built-in reminder to stop every two hours on a long haul and wondering why Suzuki couldn’t afford the driver a left armrest).

Then, off to the scrub or the sand where the Suzuki Jimny shines, running rings around bigger, more tech-loaded machines hampered in many conditions by size and weight (it is important to keep unnecessary weight out of the little bloke at all times).

It’s this four-wheel-drive ability, the Jimny’s character plus Suzuki’s reputation for reliability which attracts a devoted following. It’s back-to-basics motoring and offroading and it’s understood this won’t suit everyone in 2026.

This year, the three-door Jimnys had some minor updates and a suite of upgrades for safety and convenience. These include hill-hold and hill-descent controls, autonomous emergency braking, land-departure warnings and adaptive cruise control.

For convenience, there’s now a 7-inch touchscreen for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And there’s a digital road-speed read-out: much appreciated when the analogue speedometer and tachometer figures are dark orange on a black background and hard to read.

Other gripes include the lack of a volume knob for the multimedia touch screen, where swiping for controls can be hit and miss. Yes, there is a manual control on the steering wheel for volume and information outputs, but all these are on the tiny side of small.

So, the latest three-door Suzuki Jimny drives no different to last year’s model, which is to say it has simple, old-school charms which need to be comprehended if not always appreciated.

What’s new is the package of safety considerations and today’s price tag, starting around $39,000.