A few months back, we got a sneak peek of the all-new Suzuki Jimny at the 2018 PIMS (Philippine International Motor Show) held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Last Friday, Suzuki Philippines finally officially rolled out the latest iteration of this classic crowd favorite.
The launch event was held at the Bonifacio High Street Ampitheater in BGC, and was led by Suzuki Philippines (SPH) Director and General Manager for Automobiles, Keiichi Suzuki and SPH President Hiroshi Suzuki.
“Every detail of the fourth-generation Jimny—from the body to the engine—is designed to deliver the maximum performance and durability required by serious, off-road travelers,” pointed out Keiichi Suzuki during his opening remarks.
The pocket 4×4, which seems to have no direct competitors in its odd market segment, is primarily simple but extremely
functional. Its authentic toughness and characteristic nimbleness in off-road terrain give it that special, niche appeal that enthusiasts from all over the world seem to gravitate to.
As a matter of fact, just last March 5 at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, the all-new Jimny was named among the top 3 finalists in both the World Urban Car category and World Car Design of the Year category, by the World Car Awards group. Also notable is the fact that the Jimny was also included in the roster of top 10 finalists of the 2019 World Car of the Year award (WCOTY), revealed at the Detroit Auto Show early this year.
This reliable 4×4 mini monster now exudes a charismatic, retro-style look with its squarish body, expressive round headlamps, and eye-catching new colors. It rolls with 15-inch alloy wheels, and comes equipped with a scratch- and stain-resistant instrument panel for some workhorse durability. Its multimedia audio unit now features a larger, 9-inch capacitive touchscreen that has off-line GPS navigation and an off-road audio guide. The new Jimny is also distinctively bigger — now with 53 liters more luggage capacity than its predecessor.
Most importantly, the Jimny now uses a new 1.5-liter engine that delivers more power and significantly more torque, alongside enhanced fuel efficiency. It promises a more comfortable ride with improved NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels; in fact, this was a top consideration in building the new Jimny, achieved partly through redesigning the body mounts and increasing the compact SUV’s ladder frame rigidity. More sound-absorbing materials are now strategically placed around the vehicle body. It is worth mentioning that the front seat cushion frames are now 70mm wider and 50mm taller for better comfort and shock absorption.
The new Jimny now labels itself with the All-Grip Pro feature, which is basically its version of tough 4×4 capability. It uses the traditional, part-time 4WD feature with a low-range transfer gear so it can easily switch between 4WD and 2WD mode to get the most out of the changing environment. This way, better fuel economy and enhanced cornering can be achieved on paved roads while maximum 4×4 off-road performance can be served when the situation calls for it. A 4-Low mode is available for extra rough terrain.
Moreover, Jimny jousters will need not worry about scraping their vehicle with the compact SUV’s 37-degree and 49-degree approach and departure angles + its 28-degree ramp breakover angle. It is also now equipped with handy new technologies, such as Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control and Limited Slip Differential (LSD).
Safety-wise, the new Jimny All-Grip Pro highlights Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT), which disperses kinetic energy across the vehicle’s frame (to mitigate damage to the car and its occupants) in the event of a collision.
Best of all, the Jimny All-Grip Pro comes with a starting price tag of a very tempting P975,000 for the GL MT; P1,035,000 for the GL AT; P1,085,000 for the GLX AT monotone; and P1,095,000 for the GLX AT two-tone.