Maruti Suzuki Jimny : The Jimny 5-door has been nothing short of a revolutionary product in the compact SUV space in India – a genuine all-terrain vehicle that isn’t bulky and doesn’t cost a bomb, but does have some serious off-road credentials! An India-spec take on the global Jimny Sierra.
the Indian iteration is a more practical offering with the addition of two more doors, though not at the expense of the car’s quintessential boxy appeal and its sheer toughness underneath.
But in a segment crowded with several lifestyle SUVs (from the Mahindra Thar to the Force Gurkha), is the Jimny a proper all-rounder or does it remain a niche offering?
Here’s a closer look at those key points.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny Design: Retro Meets Function
The Jimny is not aspiring to be a contemporary crossover. Instead, it maintains its classic boxy vertical stance, round headlamps and flat hood. It is, however, adorable, like a shrunken G-Wagon, and that’s much of the point.
The squared-off wheel arches, chunky bumpers, and straight glass area above give it an honest, no-nonsense look.
It is not flashy — but it does scream out for attention, in terms of what it represents: a machine built for one thing and one thing only, which is to dominate the off-road.
The small stature also makes it very agile — both in the cramped confines of a tight city street and a rough trail through the jungle.
Interior: Basic is Beautiful, and more Spacious than You Might Expect!
Inside, the Jimny cabin maintains the no-nonsense theme. The dash is functional with big, chunky rotating knobs and switches, minimal distractions, and chunky grab handles. It is dominated by hard plastics, but they’re more about sturdiness than they are about luxe.
It’s a 5-door which puts it into practical than its 3-door international cousin. There is enough legroom in the back, and the verticle seats provide a shockingly comfortable ride on long trips.
Boot space, though not capacious, is usable for weekend breaks, and the rear seats fold flat to expand it when necessary.
Performance:
Built to Adventure, Not to Race You’re unlikely to mistake the Himalayan for a road bike, and yet you won’t be complaining about its performance, either.
Mechanically, the Jimny gets the 1.5-liter K15B petrol being used in several Maruti cars under its hood. It produces about 105 PS and 134 Nm, and comes with a choice of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed torque converter automatic.
On long stretches of the highway, performance is acceptable – not scintillating, but good enough to cruise comfortably at 100 km/h – but the true magic lies when you hit the trails.
Ladder frame chassis, low-range transfer case (4L mode) and Allgrip Pro; Jimny is born from the heritage of 4×4 the drive to all four wheels has been incorporated into the design of a compact and lightweight body enabling the driver to drive even in bad weather conditions. Surprisingly capable off-road, for its size.
Ride & Handling: Out-of-Whack in a Good Way
In the city, the Jimny is light on its feet, with nimble steering and a tight turning circle. The ride quality is still a bit jarring with the solid axle setup, but it is acceptable and much better than ye old sexagenarian off-roaders.
High-speed stability is fair — this isn’t a car designed for cruising at triple-digit highway speeds for hours. Wind and road noise intrudes, but that comes with the territory for a boxy off-road-derived SUV.
Features & Safety: Generously Feature-Packed for This Class
The Jimny is equipped with a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, cruise control and push-button start.
In terms of safety, it comes with 6 airbags, as well as ABS with EBD, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control, and rear parking camera, which is a decent kit for a compact SUV.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Real off-road capability in a small package
Exceptional, distinctive design with road presence
5-door practicality also available
Nice features list/safety tech
service network of Maruti Suzuki is quite trustworthy.
Cons:
Engine lacks grunt for the highways
Diesel or turbo petrol not available
Smallish boot with rear seats up
Rough over potholes
4-speed automatic feels dated
Maruti Suzuki Jimny Had been Framed Verdict: An SUV that Is a True Original
The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is not for everyone — and that’s what makes it unique. It’s not an attempt to be the most powerful, spacious, or modern SUV in its class.
What it provides instead is genuine off-road capability, unrivaled smallness, and a sort of quirk that few competitors can lay claim to.
For urbanites who relish weekend trips away or country buyers who require 4×4 in a small, reliable package — the Jimny is more than simply a niche product. It’s a lifestyle choice.