Five things we love about the Suzuki Jimny

The Suzuki Jimny is an unpretentious four-wheel drive. It’s simple. It’s easy. It’s a lot of fun.

When purchasing one, you have only two options both at the same trim variant: manual or automatic transmission. Of course, on top of that, you also could add some accessories or aftermarket bits to your Jimny… That’s totally up to you.

So popular is this fourth generation Suzuki Jimny that people are willing to wait over 12 months just to get one. Brand-new, it starts at $23,990 ($25,990 for automatic) plus on-roads.

If you’re looking for a new four-wheel drive, a proper four-wheeler (none of this city-SUV business), you will struggle to find a competitive option out there.

So, have you been eyeing up the new Suzuki Jimny and wondering of the world of possibility you could open with this budget friendly off-roader? Here’s five things to keep in mind when considering one.

I’m not real fussed about Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, but in a car like the Suzuki Jimny, it totally makes sense. The Suzuki infotainment system is basic at best but having the option of Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto really elevates the experience. The seven-inch display is clear and easy to read, and with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration you get easy access to your music apps, and perhaps even more importantly your navigation.

As far as features go for infotainment, besides some very basic vehicle settings, you have access to audio, hands-free phone, and a navigation system, most of which you can access with your compatible smartphone device anyway. In a car like this simple is best.

Let’s not sugar-coat it; the Suzuki Jimny is not big by any stretch. It’s a cute little package, which is ideally suited for singles and couples. The backseat, although a ‘nice-to-have’, is quite limited in space and when used gives you practically no boot space (just centimetres separate the back seat from the boot door).

In fact, if you pay attention to the advertising, you’ll see often the rear space is spoken about/displayed as if the backseats don’t even exist.

Don’t get me wrong, this car can certainly seat four adults, but it won’t hold much else if you do.

If you do decide to go down the more practical path of giving up those back seats, you will have 377 litres of space.

In the front row, space is still quite limited. The door bins don’t really fit anything practical, however, if it’s only one or two people in the car, there’s enough room for your things.

It’s easy to see the opportunities to make the Suzuki Jimny a hardcore weekend mini off-roader -- the weekend escape machine. Right now, it has all the basics to make it possible, but if you’re looking to do the whole camping thing and get off the grid, you might want to consider a few additions.

Things to consider include a relatively short fuel range – so fuel cans might be on the list.

Suzuki itself offers dealer add-ons such as roof racks, luggage hooks, etc. Outside of the manufacturer, there is also a world of after-market accessories, many of those specialising in off-roaders and some even specialising in the Jimny itself.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, there are plenty of owners out there willing to give advice. My favourite page currently for this is @Roam_Overlanding. They take beautiful photos and bring you with them on their journey to create their “Ultimate Micro Overlander” out of a Jimny.

It makes me envious of a life I could possibly live.

There is no doubt about it, the Suzuki Jimny was built with off-roading in mind – and it sacrifices other comforts to achieve this goal. Not to deter you, but if you’re looking for a cute city driver, this car might not be the one for you -- especially if you value driving comfort above all else.

The Jimny features a rigid ladder frame and is built to handle real off-roading so you shouldn’t be surprised when it’s not so comfortable as a daily (especially if this involves highway driving).

That doesn’t bother me because in this case -- I think the fun value is far more important. In saying that, the seats themselves are comfortable as I tested on my weekend road trip (a total of five hours of driving, with the only complaints being road noise and the ride quality).

Ostentatious flashing of wealth not your thing? Yeah, me either. As far as head turners go, you’ll be hard pressed to find another car under $30K that can get people looking at you.

Sure, the Jimny isn’t competing with luxury cars, but what it does offer is fun, paired with its adorable and somehow rugged and tough looks. Kids get excited seeing this car -- adults too.

Still early in its release, the new generation Jimny is a rare sight on the road which makes it even more alluring. Plus, it’s budget friendly; if you’re looking for bang for your buck attention seeking this one has got to take the cake.