Giant Slayer!

Suzuki Jimny takes on a modified Jeep Wrangler

It’s been twenty years since a new Jimny has been launched, so imagine the hype around this little SUV when its coming was first announced. Truth be told, South Africa’s motoring fraternity was excited for the Jimny’s arrival and it was amazing to see just what this new arrival could do. Though it does not have the biggest engine or the best-on-the-market off-road tyres, the package is just so loveable that you can’t help but fall in love with it. To see how the Jimny would fair against a rival from the 4×4 side of the market, we put it up against a modified Jeep Wrangler CRD Unlimited. Acting as the pace vehicle, the Wrangler simply had to lead and the Jimny follow.

Powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine, the Wrangler makes due with 147kW and 460Nm of torque, available from a low 1600rpm. But this is not your ordinary Jeep Wrangler, no. This one has a higher ground clearance over the standard model’s 241mm, bigger wheels, and a suspension set-up made for off-road adventures. And, of course, that striking lime green paintwork and in-your-face design. The Jimny, on the other hand, is powered by a very small non-turbo 1.5-litre petrol engine, developing 75kW and 130Nm. It’s laughable against the Jeep, and its 210mm ground clearance pales in comparison. Even the four-speed automatic gearbox compared is not something to write home about.

But before the pitchforks are jabbed in my direction because these two vehicles are not direct rivals, let’s just be clear about the fact that we know they’re not rivals. See, Suzuki adorned the Jimny with this mantra that it’s a giant killer, a giant slayer. I look at it as a David in a sea of Goliaths, in that it must be able to do what bigger, more expensive and more capable 4×4’s can do at a fraction of the price. It’s no easy task, but over the last forty years the Jimny has proven that it will not back down.

At the off-road track, the Wrangler tackled the course first and made absolute light work of the surroundings. The manner in which it scaled the inclines, how the suspension adapted to the various surfaces, and the ease with which the engine purred on was very encouraging.

The Jimny was next and had the course all to itself. A sense of wanting this little SUV to succeed almost immediately came to the fore; simply because this is a story of an underdog ready to take on the big hitters. At the beginning of the course there was not much to deter the Jimny’s abilities. It continued on, marched forth at a leisurely pace. The track highlighted the small and manageable turning circle of this machine, as well as how easy it was to manoeuvre around and through the course. Slopes, too, the Jimny made light work off and it got over some nasty dongas with relative ease. At the last obstacle, an incline, the Jimny almost didn’t make it, but finding the sweet spot with speed and with enough momentum it really went up and over as if it was just another walk in the park.

The Jimny has to stand out as one of 2018’s stars. An honest product that has no qualms about who it is and what it was meant to do. It’s a vehicle that’s captured the attention of many and it has absolutely no ambition of letting that go. Against the leaders of the 4×4 segment the Jimny has shown to be a formidable contender. Perhaps not in terms of sales or the amount of features it has to its disposal, but as an off-roader. It will go anywhere, attempt everything, and win you over with its big hearted nature.

Article: Charlen Raymond Photos: Warren Wilson