2009 Suzuki Jimny
There’s always some charm on the simple things. That has been quite evident with the spartan Land Rover that has survived more than half a century and still going strong. Now comes the Suzuki Jimny. It’s a two-door compact SUV that follows the same 3-door layout since being on the off-roader markets as early as 1970. 2009 sees its third generation incarnation in basically the same 3-door layout though significantly less spartan than its predecessors.
Diminutive SUV
The 2009 Suzuki Jimmy is what you can call a baby off-roader, for want of a better term. At 1.6 meters wide and 3.5 meters long, it’s a diminutive SUV. But what makes it look strange is that at 1.7 meters tall, it assumes a cute cartoony profile for an SUV that might make it easy for the body to tumble on its side with uneven roads.
But no matter, it’s got a personality that’s certainly unique among 4X4 off-roaders. With a 5-spoke 15-inch alloy steel wheels, its diminutive styling is matched by its nimble utilitarian capability that makes optimum space for what it has.
Diminutive outside, the 2009 Suzuki Jimny runs on a similarly diminutive 1.3 liter naturally aspirated 5-cylinder petrol engine that’s really not much to talk about. It delivers a 110 Nm torque and 62.5kW horsepower and gets mated to a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission box.
No matter, it’s a baby that’s a match to driving a 1075 kg body as there’s not much SUV to really move around, making it a really nimble off roader.
For a light nimble SUV, one can be forgiven to expect a spartan interior. But not entirely. It does provide reasonable creature comforts in a nutshell, literally. In a word, the interior on the Suzuki Jimny is cramped. Seating position can be difficult for some people as there’s no steering column adjustment.
It’s really meant less as a passenger car and more a tradesman’s utility with a lot of plastic all around. At least you get air conditioning, AM/FM radio with CD/MP3 playback, power windows and a 12-volt outlet in the center console. The “bare essentials” include ABS, front pre-tensioned seatbelts and front dual airbags are standard.
Conclusion
Diminutive in size and power, the 2009 Suzuki Jimny is amazingly no pushover. A short wheelbase guarantees some road noise and a rough ride but its tall seating on a high road clearance makes you see things on traffic that others won’t. It is powered right and does a good job as a utility off roader in an uncomplicated small package.
