Maruti Jimny Review: The Only Car You Need

Can the Maruti Jimny appeal to the lifestyle enthusiast and their family alike?

We car enthusiasts post posters or collect scale models of cars we love. But often, these cars are either way out of our league or not practical enough for everyday use. Seldom a car comes which is not only approachable but seems to be sensible for the family as well. That is what we are going to put to the test. Can the Jimny be the only car you need, which can fulfil your wanderlust while also being an everyday companion in the city? 

Looks

The Maruti Jimny is very cute. It's like a scale model of itself. And by this, what I mean is that we traditionally expect an SUV with this kind of boxy old-school shape to be much larger. This, while being compact in dimensions, carries the same charm. Parked next to the Thar or the Gurkha, the Jimny will look tiny. If you are looking for a macho or dominant road presence, look elsewhere. However, the Jimny will get noticed everywhere, in a good and welcoming way. 

The alloy wheels are just 15 inches but suit the overall dimensions well. The wheelbase is 340mm longer (vs the 3-door Jimny) and that is where all the length has been added in this 5-door variant. Hence, you get a large front hood and a slightly smaller rear one. The quarter glass and everything else is the same as the 3-door Jimny. 

There is a tonne of old-school charm in the design. Be it the squared-off bonnet, straight body lines, round headlamps or the all-around cladding, it all is authentically SUV. Even at the back, the boot-mounted spare wheel and the bumper-mounted taillamps make it look classic. Add bright colours like neon green (which Maruti insists we call Kinetic Yellow) and red, and the Jimny looks seriously cool. It's a design which will appeal to all ages and sectors of SUV enthusiasts. 

Interiors

The interiors are as rugged and functional as the exteriors. What remains the key takeaway is that the interiors don’t only look rugged, but also feel well-built and solid. The texture on the dashboard is unique and the overall fit and finish is premium. The passenger side grab handle on the dashboard comes with a soft-touch texture and the steering is leather-wrapped. 

Here, too, you can see a harmony between old-school and modern elements. The old comes from the analogue instrument cluster which has been inspired by the Gypsy. The MID is also a black and white unit which conveys basic information but fits the overall theme. The basing for the climate controls and the toggle buttons in the centre console also add to the old-school charm. 

Features

Modernisation comes from the large 9-inch touchscreen that sits atop the dashboard. Because the cabin width is limited and the dashboard layout is also in sections, this infotainment looks particularly big. It gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 4-speaker sound system and voice commands.

While the Jimny doesn't get any fancy modern-day features, it isn’t spartan either. You get automatic climate control, power windows, automatic headlamps, cruise control, push-button start/stop, smart key with request sensors on the driver, passenger and boot gate, and steering mounted controls. However, there are missing features, some available even in lesser expensive Maruti models like Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, 360-degree camera, auto day/night IRVM, heads-up display, height-adjustable driver’s seat and reach-adjustable steering. 

Safety

For safety, the Jimny packs 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, ESP, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and a rear camera as standard. The 3-door Jimny was crash tested by Euro NCAP and received 3.5 stars. However, that variant further had ADAS tech.

Cabin Practicality

One thing that the Jimny certainly lacks is cabin practicality. The centre storage in the manual transmission variants is rather small and can’t fit even mobile phones. The open storage on the dashboard is rather small too. The only practical storage space is the cup holders - only two in the car and the glovebox. The door pockets too are only in the front doors and too slim to store water bottles of any size. Charging options are limited too and include one USB and 12V socket in the front and a 12V socket in the boot. That's it. 

Rear Seat

The rear seat space is surprisingly good for something as compact as the Jimny. Average-sized adults can sit comfortably with good leg, knee, foot and headroom. The recline angle can be adjusted for two settings and the cushioning is also on the softer side, which will make city journeys comfortable. The seat base is higher than the front seats and hence the overall visibility is also good. The only thing missing is under-thigh support because the seat base is short, and storage and practicality are of any kind. Also, the rear seats have seatbelt reminders but no load-sensors. So unless you keep the rear seatbelt buckled, the alarm will buzz for 90 seconds, even if there’s no one seated behind! A counterproductive and silly cost-cutting measure.

Boot Space

The space behind the rear seats is small on paper (208L) but because the base is flat and wide, you can still load 1 large suitcase or 2-3 small bags easily. The rear seats fold 50:50 which opens a lot of room to store larger articles. The only thing which is a bit irritating is the boot opening strut. You cannot open the boot gate quickly as the hydraulic strut prevents it. It opens up at its own pace and cannot be rushed. 

Engine And Performance

The Jimny uses the older 1.5-litre petrol engine from the Maruti lineup. The K15B series was used in the Ciaz. While this engine certainly has better driveability and performance than the newer DualJet engines in the Brezza and Grand Vitara, it is not one for performance seekers. The power figures of 104.8PS and 134Nm are nothing to write home about either for a lifestyle SUV.

However, with a kerb weight of just 1210 kg, the Jimny is light on its feet. City duties are handled effortlessly and city-speed overtakes won't stress you either. The power delivery is linear so the drive remains smooth, and the engine is refined, which adds to the relaxed drive experience. 

It's only when you want a quick change in pace or are looking to carry load that the response starts to feel a bit laidback. It revs leisurely and builds speed in a steady but relaxed manner. Highway overtakes with load, or going uphill on a hill station with the family will make you feel this even more. Cruising on the highways, though, will be sweet and effortless. 

Between the manual and the automatic transmission option, you should pick the automatic. It's more about what the manual does wrong than what the automatic does right. The gearshifts are rough and the clutch is a bit heavy, making the drive experience feel a bit crude and outdated. It feels like the gear lever and the shifts are straight out of the Gypsy, not from something as modern as the Jimny’s. The AT feels much smoother to drive. Gearshifts are smooth and despite being an older 4-speed transmission, the tuning makes city driving easy and relaxing. 

Add this to the good overall visibility, compact dimensions and commanding seating position, and the Jimny feels easy to drive. Even people who don't have a lot of experience driving can take the Jimny out for market runs without thinking twice. And this is one of the USPs of the Jimny. Despite being a true-blue offroader, it is surprisingly easy to drive in the city. 

Ride And Handling

Off-roaders have a bad reputation when it comes to ride comfort on the road. This was further solidified by the Thar, which although brilliant, is hard to live with in the city. Maruti, however, deserves a lot of praise for the way they have adapted the 3-link rigid axle off-road suspension for daily use. While you do feel the imperfections of the surface, it manages to absorb everything from a speed breaker to potholes. Level changes are also well cushioned and the ride remains comfortable. Even off the road, it manages to keep the ride flat and not toss around the passengers too much. It truly is an off-roader which can keep the family comfortable in the city without much compromise. 

Off-Road

For an SUV to be a good off-roader -- it needs to be 4-wheel drive, light (or powerful) and nimble. The Jimny has all three traits. It comes with Suzuki’s All-Grip Pro 4x4 tech with an on-the-fly 4x4 shift and a low-range gearbox. And despite it now being a 5-door, it is still pretty compact. The approach and departure are practically the same but the ramp over angle has been reduced by 4 degrees. Ground clearance is 210mm, plenty for some off-tarmac adventures. 

And because of the above mentioned aspects, the Jimny can do it all, be it crossing rocks, rivers, mountains or going through narrow trails. It further gets a brake-locking differential which ensures you have traction over slippery surfaces and the hill-hold ensures you don’t roll back on standing starts. It's a treat to watch the wheels bend at ungodly angles when the Jimny is taking on articulations and despite being on a challenging river bed during our test, it never got stuck, or touched its belly anywhere. Also, while doing all of this -- the Jimny feels tough and unbreakable -- which lets you enjoy pushing it and not feeling sorry about it. 

Doesn't matter if you are off-roading, facing snowy weather or just taking the family on some light trails, the Jimny can do it all. 

Variants and Expected Price

The Jimny will be available in 2 variants: Zeta and Alpha. Both will get 4x4 but have some regular differentiating factors like wheels, head and fog lamps and features like touchscreen, push-button start-stop and automatic AC. We expect the Jimny to be priced in the range of Rs 11-14.5 lakh ex-showroom. Above it, it will get harder to justify its value. 

Verdict

Let's get one thing clear -- the Jimny is an off-roader first and a family car second. However, it's commendable how well Maruti has adapted its manners for the city. The ride quality won't give the family a chance to complain, it will seat four people in comfort and the boot space and features are practical too. Yes, it will ask for some compromises as compared to a family hatchback-- like the cabin practicality, fancy features and engine performance. But if you are okay making these, the Jimny certainly is one lifestyle SUV which you and your family can drive daily.