Suzuki has revealed the all-new five-door Jimny at the Auto Expo 2023 in India. Not only was the Jimny on show, it was also joined by another all-new SUV, the sporty and compact Fronx. Both vehicles are production-ready models and are heading to South African shores, although timing for their arrival is yet to be confirmed.
The Jimny is a globally popular SUV that has been well-received by people around the world since its fourth generation was released in 2018. Production of the Jimny started in India in November 2020, exclusively for exports to areas including Latin America and Africa. Now, the fourth generation Jimny will be introduced for domestic sales in India for the first time as the all-new Jimny 5-Door. The new variant is a new specification with rear doors newly installed for a 5-door design, and special rear seats and interior trim adopted in the rear space. The Jimny 5-Door will provide the driving performance expected by customers from an authentic off-roader, like the 3-door Jimny. The all-new Jimny 5-Door has adopted design and equipment to appeal to a wider range of customers.
The new five-door Suzuki Jimny joins the line-up to bring the Jimny’s go-anywhere and do-anything appeal to a wider audience. Suzuki’s engineers have not tampered with the off-roader’s capabilities, power, or overall structural rigidity. The Jimny’s popular 1.5-liter petrol engine and the choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission have been kept. It also features the off-roader’s ladder frame chassis, its impressive 210 mm ground clearance and its advanced AllGrip four-wheel drive system that allows for a change between 2WD and 4WD on the fly. The new Jimny is also equipped with its brother’s low range 4WD system for technical off-road driving.
The new five-door variant is 360 mm longer than its three-door brother, while width and height remain unchanged. Under the skin, the wheelbase has been stretched by 340 mm to 2 590 mm. In making the Jimny longer, Suzuki has utilised over fifty years of technical know-how in making the Jimny and its forebears and in building intelligently packaged compact vehicles to keep the off-road capabilities as close to those of the three-door model as possible.
The new five-door Jimny has an approach angle of 36 degrees, a breakover angle of 24 degrees and a departure angle of 50 degrees. For comparison, the three-door Jimny offers 37 degrees, 28 degrees and 49 degrees respectively. While not affecting the off-road capabilities, the larger footprint has allowed Suzuki to add two more doors and stretch the load compartment. It has also allowed for unique interior features such as front seats that can fold flat to connect with the rear seat and create two cushioned sleeping spaces for adventurers who want to spend the night inside the Jimny on rugged adventures.
As for the Fronx, it is a new-genre SUV with a coupe style that’s strong and fluid and an easy-to-drive compact body. The bold and thick front grille and the front and rear styling that emphasises expansion towards the sides express powerfulness and strong presence of an SUV. The dynamic coupe style that slopes towards the rear emphasises a flowing and stretchy proportion. In addition to the high-quality feel of the exterior, the Fronx offers a refined and sporty interior.
