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Suzuki’s Queensland and NSW Northern Rivers distributor says the regions disproportionately high market share for the Jimny 4×4 is a result of off-road driving options ranging from oceanside beaches, difficult mountain terrain and the Australian outback.
Suzuki Auto Company general manager Paul Dillon says the new Jimny 4×4 five-door is perfectly suited to the Queensland outdoor lifestyle and its topographical variation.
“Adding a five-door to the range, while still keeping the distinctive, funky Jimny styling, makes it not only an extraordinary off-road machine, but also a head-turner in suburbia,” Dillon says.
“It also is in the unique position of having appeal across all fronts for first-time car owners – mechanical dependability; ease of manoeuvrability; excellent vision; a host of safety equipment; high levels of infotainment, affordability, and extraordinary retained value.
“For the experienced driver, particularly with off-road expertise, it is a vehicle with just on half a century of outstanding reputation and capability,” he says.
The five-door version of the Suzuki Jimny is a longer wheelbase version of the company’s compact off-road superhero.
It has been re-engineered to ensure it continues the marque’s position as having the most affordable, most capable compact off roader in the country.
The ladder frame chassis has been beefed up with the addition of another crossmember; the transmission in automatic variants is now stronger; behind it sits a stronger and longer rear propellor shaft; the front suspension has been upgraded with stronger springs, recalibrated shock absorbers and a larger stabiliser bar; and the front brakes are now ventilated discs to improve heat dissipation.
Together, they ensure that the five-door version of the Jimny which sits on a 340mm longer wheelbase, retains the unique DNA that Suzuki built its reputation around for capable access to places when the bitumen ends.
The five-door Jimny’s approach and departure angles off road are virtually the same as the three-door meaning that the driver’s capabilities when driving off-road, will be a far more important factor in navigating tough terrain, than any difference in new clearance specifications.
Ground clearance remains the same between the three and five-door with a minimum of 210mm.
Whereas the three-door Jimny has seats for four people, it invariably spends most of its time carrying just one or two passengers.
Given that the five-door model is likely to be carrying more people and for longer distances, the comfort levels have been significantly upgraded for rear seat passengers with the rear seats having increased thickness and greater width than the three-door. They also have two incline positions.
The five-door also has almost three times more luggage space in the cargo area than the three-door, when rear seats are in the raised position.
The new five-door also has improved comfort and convenience items with a 9-inch infotainment HD display which features Smartphone connectivity via wi-fi or USB cable. It is linked to a rear-view camera.
That’s a bigger, more sophisticated unit than the three-door and includes DAB radio with four speakers – two in the front doors and two in the rear.
The five-door Jimny has a new binocular camera system replacing the monocular camera and laser radar system of the three-door model. The new safety camera gives a wider range of capabilities including an adaptive cruise control function and night-time pedestrian recognition.
And rear parking assist sensors are fitted as standard for the first time on a Jimny – they previously have been an option.
The same engine, (Suzuki’s K15B) and All Grip Pro drive train is carried across from the three-door ensuring unrivalled off-road capabilities.
When a wheel loses grip, a limited slip drive traction control automatically applies a braking force to the slipping wheel, so torque is redistributed to the other side, allowing the Jimny to regain traction.
If one front wheel is in the air and one rear wheel is on a non-grip surface such as very wet mud, the All-Grip Pro system will deliver a driving force, without the use of diff locks, to the two remaining wheels so the Jimny can continue to proceed.
Two tone and single tone colours are offered – the two-tone teaming a new red (sizzling red metallic) and chiffon ivory metallic with a blue-black pearl roof.
Monotones are a new granite grey metallic joining the existing jungle green, artic white pearl and bluish black pearl options.
The new Jimny five-door, with five speed manual or four speed automatic transmissions will be offered in one specification – a GLX premium model.
Recommended retail pricing for the five-door Jimny starts at $34,990 for the GLX five speed manual and $36,490 for the GLX four speed automatic.
The prices for the Jimny three-door are $30,490 for the GL Lite five speed manual, $31,990 for the GLX five speed manual and $33,490 for the GLX automatic.
