Suzuki Jimny Commercial Review
Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert.
When we think of iconic all wheel drive vehicles there are standout machines from various different countries. England had the Land Rover Defender, Russia had the Lada Riva, the US had the Willys Jeep and Japan always had the Toyota Landcruiser or tiny Suzuki Jimny. It was small, tough and perfectly capable in a variety of challenging conditions.
The Jimny was first introduced in 1970 and would go through four model changes over the following decades. Some versions were specific to one particular market or country but for us here in Ireland, we had the SJ410 for a short period followed by the SZ4, which sold for 20 odd years! Now we once again have a choice to buy a Jimny although it will be in limited numbers.
Since its global launch in 2018, the latest Jimny has attracted both private users and professionals who seek an authentic off-road vehicle but emission laws mean it’s the light commercial variant only for us. Is this a bad thing? Not really because there wasn’t exactly huge space in the rear for passengers anyway.
Suzuki Jimny Commercial Features
So what do we see when we take a walk around the little Jimny? Well the design is simple but purposeful. Cutaway bumpers offer outstanding space at the wheels, ensuring better clearance on approach and departure angles. The entire vehicle is somewhat toy like up close but there is no mistaken its identity. People know it’s a Jimny and on the road the intriguing boxy styling draws attention. Inside it’s simple and refreshing. Having spent so much time in Hybrid and Electric vehicles recently it is like going back in time. The flat and square bonnet design, which lets you keep the front corners in view, offers excellent visibility when behind the wheel. It feels light on the road but it has been designed to offer an uncompromising off-roading experience. For this the key ingredients were a ladder frame, the three angles, 3-link rigid axle suspension and ALLGRIP PRO 4WD. Because it’s a light commercial vehicle you get a large 863-litre load area compartment with flat floor and safety cargo partition. The Jimny LCV is currently available in one specification grade, which includes air conditioning, ALLGRIP PRO selectable 4WD with low transfer gear, DAB radio, Dual Sensor Brake Support, 15-inch Black steel wheels and cruise control with speed limiter. It’s pretty basic but purposeful at the same time.
Power
Powered by a 101hp 1.5 litre engine, it’s enough power to take you wherever you want to go. Torque figures come in at 130Nm, which again is not to be sniffed at in a vehicle of this size. The little Jimny adapts to every situation using its part time 4WD system with low range transfer gear. Shift the lever to the 4L mode (4WD- low gear) when the going gets tough for maximum torque and better traction on steep slopes and rough terrain. You cannot help but want to go exploring in the Jimny!
Safety
For further peace of mind when driving both on and off-road, the LCV Jimny comes equipped with a high level of safety features including Dual Sensor Brake Support (DSBS) which employs automatic brake to help avoid a collision, and hill hold and descent control that support driving on slopes. In addition, eCall, an emergency messaging function following a collision is also available as standard equipment. Naturally an appropriate amount of airbags are also present.
Suzuki Jimny Commercial Prices
As there is only one model available, pricing is €20,995 (including Commercial Vehicle VRT) as a Solid colour with optional Single-tone metallic paint available at €370 and Dual-tone metallic at €750.
Finance options are available right now so there's never been a better time to buy the Jimny. Contact your local dealer to discuss the best finance option for you.
Summary
We had seven days with the Jimny and enjoyed our time driving in a variety of conditions. It cruises on the motorway comfortably at 120 km/h but where it really comes alive is off road. I’d imagine it would be the ultimate call out vehicle for a Vet or someone needing off road capabilities in a small package. The only disappointments for us were the level of refinements throughout the cabin. When launched the higher spec passenger versions had a multimedia system, leather steering wheel, heated seats and better lights but the commercial is the most basic variant. Another thing worth noting is the cargo partititon splitting the front and rear compartments is quiet close to the front seats meaning reclining is slightly compromised. The driving position was a touch upright for our liking. Aside from these somewhat small flaws it is a vehicle packed full of character. There are better commercial vehicles with more space but few offer the quirkiness and fun factor that the Jimny can deliver. They have a cult following here in Ireland and the UK and for this reason they are very much in demand. Some reports suggest that even second hand models are trading for list price in the UK! This is good for those considering a purchase because depreciation is incredibly low as demand continues to remain strong. The Suzuki Jimny is again proving its worth and we are just happy to see them back on Irish roads. Go take a test drive if you can get your hands on one!
Suzuki Jimny Commercial Pros
Styling
Off Road Capabilities
Suzuki Jimny Commercial Cons
Cabin refinement
To see a list of available Suzuki Jimny’s for sale in Ireland please click here.
To see our YouTube video review please click here.
DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks.
One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here.
Comments