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Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
@ytimesmotoring
3:00 AM 26th March 2022
cars

Suzuki Jimny Is Back In Light Commercial Form

 
I make no secret of the fact that I like the Suzuki Jimny. I owned several of its SJ predecessors in the 1980s and recall not only their character but also their considerable prowess off road.

The fourth-generation model was launched in 2018 to much acclaim and I recall fondly the UK Media launch and also spending a week behind the wheel on home turf. I should have bought one.

I thought it was too late as the Jimny was dropped from the UK market as its 1.5-litre petrol engine was not helping Suzuki meet ever more stringent emissions legislation. Second-hand examples are now selling at a considerable premium.

All is not lost as the Jimny lives on, albeit now in a commercial form. From the outside the Jimny still looks the same. Inside a black mesh cargo partition has been installed to prevent goods from entering the passenger compartment. The only downside of said fixture is that it does limit the rearward travel of the seats a tad, so the driving position is slightly compromised.

The Jimny LCV is only available in one trim level, and it boasts all the essentials; air conditioning, cruise control, DAB radio and of course that all-important AWD system.

Steel wheels add to the utilitarian effect, but of course could easily be changed to smarter alloys if required. I wouldn’t.

As before, the 1.5-litre engine is eager to rev and is more than powerful enough to give the Jimny a decent turn of speed. The five-speed manual gearbox is slick in operation, the clutch light and progressive.

For those intending to use the Jimny as a proper working tool, the load space is now 863 litres in capacity, with a payload of 150kg. Permissible towing weight for a braked trailer is 1,300kg.

I have just had the pleasure of a week behind the wheel on home turf and what a delight it has been. A trip to Northumberland demonstrated that the diminutive Jimny can cope with the cut and thrust of motorway driving, cruising happily at the 70mph speed limit, cruise control engaged at times. Cross winds do catch the boxy shape occasionally, so a firm grip on the steering wheel is required.

The ‘Commercial’ retains the capable ALLGRIP PRO 4WD system with a low transfer box and hill descent control. A little off-road foray was fun, the capable Jimny coping with everything I could throw at it.

All this Jimny loveliness will cost you just £19,999 (including VAT) and once again I really want one. However, limited numbers are likely to mean quite a wait, so time to speak kindly to your friendly local dealer.

Fast Facts

Suzuki Jimny Light Commercial Vehicle
Price £19,999
101PS 1.5-litre petrol engine
Top speed 90mph
Combined economy 36.7mpg
863-litre load space
Emissions – 173g/km CO2