With interest in SUVs and 4x4s, such as the Kia Sportage and the Dacia Duster, showing no signs of abating, it would appear that a few of the old guard are starting to feel a little hard done by as they’re outshone by their younger companions and forgotten about.
Suzuki have seemingly managed to buck this trend though with the Jimny. Since it was first launched, way back in 1998, the Suzuki Jimny has accumulated a major following of loyal owners around the world and with its practical look Jimny owners can really enjoy a quirky alternative to a supermini or crossover SUV. To add further customer appeal for 2016, the new Jimny Adventure Special Edition is now on sale with a very limited production run of just 200 units for the UK. And the UK does love a special edition.
Suzuki were keen to point out to MotorMartin, that the Jimny Adventure Special Edition is based on the popular high specification SZ4 model which includes Dark Silver 15-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather seats, air conditioning and rear privacy glass as standard and then adds unique features including full screen satellite navigation with Bluetooth connectivity, hard spare wheel cover with ‘Adventure’ logo as well as individual Pearl White Metallic / Quasar Grey 2-Tone paint finish. That’s quite a list of interior technologies and specification and will surely have the effect of upping the perceived quality of the cabin for fans and non fans alike.
The Jimny Adventure offers strong customer value and is priced at £14,949 including metallic paint, just £1,000 more than an SZ4 model before optional metallic at £430 is added which brings it on par with the 1.3 Multijet Diesel Panda which MotorMartin drove recently http://motormartin.com/2016/02/15/fiat-panda-1-3-multijet-4×4-over-the-hill-and-far-away/
Suzuki go on the mention that the Jimny is equipped with an all-alloy 16 valve 1.3-litre engine that benefits from Variable Valve Timing (VVT) for lively performance and strong fuel economy from its light kerb weight of just 1,090 kg. The Adventure is available with manual transmission that returns an official 39.8mpg in combined cycle driving and CO2 emissions are 162g/km.
Suzuki are rightly proud that over the years the Jimny has built up an established, tough and capable reputation amongst its 24,000 loyal owners in the UK with many now on their third or even fourth car in succession. Durability was certainly put to the test back in 2014 when long standing Suzuki fan Les Carvall and three friends drove two Jimnys around the world on their ‘Heaven can wait I’m busy’ charity expedition. Starting in Southampton, the four month long Global tour clocked up over 18,500 miles across some very challenging terrain and both cars returned unscathed with no reliability faults to report.
The Suzuki Jimmy is perhaps the forgotten 4×4 of the moment but for it’s many friends it still provides a cheap, go anywhere vehicle that just gets on with the job in hand and for that, MotorMartin is grateful.
Where will you go?