Suzuki Jimny 5-Door Review

by Sean Loo, 4 January 2026

It’s the Suzuki Jimny, or “Jimmy”, as every smartphone insists on cheekily renaming it, much to the chagrin of anyone attempting a quick Google search.

And the moment you actually set eyes on one, any form of rational thought evaporates. You simply want one.

It’s cuter than a Jeep Renegade, sturdier-looking than a Mercedes-Benz G-Class (scaled down to six-tenths after being tossed into a dryer), and instantly desirable in the same way a Fiat 500 or any Apple product with a suspiciously lowercase ‘i’ slapped on the front tends to be.

Love at first sight? The Jimny has made a career out of it.

The old Jimny soldiered on for a staggering 20 years, and in that period three global obsessions came into fashion: SUVs, downsizing, and all things retro. So when Suzuki returned in 2018 with a new Jimny wearing its 1.5-litre engine and no-nonsense styling like a badge of honour, it felt like a masterstroke rather than a nostalgia trip.

Loyal owners have stuck to it like Velcro, while a whole new generation of social-media-fuelled fans has emerged, drawn in by its cartoonish charm and rugged credibility.

Is it still a “proper” off-roader underneath?

Absolutely. Beneath the adorable exterior sits a traditional ladder-frame chassis, newly stiffened and complete with rigid front and rear axles, separate differentials, and a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder making 101bhp and 130Nm of torque.

No turbo. No hybrid. No diesel. Just the mechanical honesty of an engine that feels like it’s trying its best at all times. A bit like a terrier dragging a shoe twice its size across the living room.

Suzuki didn’t bother quoting an official 0–100km/h time, possibly because doing so might cause internal giggling, but if the Jimny does it in under 12 seconds, someone deserves a pint. Flat out, the brick-shaped front end will bully the air up to about 140km/h.

Efficiency? A very Jimny-ish 13.7km/litre. This is not a crossover trying to masquerade as a 4×4. This is a 4×4.

What does it drive like?

Some cars surprise you by driving nothing like they look. The Jimny does not. It drives exactly like a 1.7-metre-tall telephone booth on wheels spaced barely 2.25 metres apart. Those wheels are connected to steering so slow you could send a postcard between inputs.

Does it take acclimatisation? Without question. Twirling the wheel feels like you’re powering a small submarine, and feedback is vague at best. But because the car weighs little more than a large shopping trolley, none of this is a problem.

Lean on the front end too much and you’ll find comical body roll rather than premature understeer. Grip levels are surprisingly tenacious, though accompanied by tyre squeal loud enough to summon nearby wildlife. Best to adopt a gentler, more philosophical approach to speed.

At 100km/h you’ll be sitting at 3,600rpm with only four gears to pick from, and the engine will shout at the gearbox as if they’re having a marital disagreement. It all adds character, and the 1.5-litre engine helps enforce that philosophy.

It is slow. Leisurely slow. Above 100km/h, acceleration becomes a courteous request rather than a guarantee.

But there must be good news?

Suzuki has subtly curved the windscreen to keep wind noise from becoming catastrophic, although the boxy mirrors still create a fair amount of bluster.

On the road, two-wheel-drive mode keeps things happiest, but the joy of the Jimny lies in that low-range gearbox that turns it into a mountain goat. Up 38-degree slopes? No problem. Splashing through puddles the size of Bishan’s flood-prone spots? Easy.

Traction control disengages with a single button, not some 47-step ritual, and visibility is superb thanks to its boxy profile. A bit like driving an 8-bit Rubik’s cube.

Just mind the overhanging spare wheel; the reversing sensors do not really account for it, so scuffing it before ever mounting it to an axle is a rite of passage.

What’s the cabin like?

Inside, the Jimny continues its theme of rugged honesty peppered with a dash of cuteness. The dials are simple, the screen monochrome, and the exposed bolt heads deliberately styled, the sort of industrial chic that would cost triple in a café.

The plastics are undeniably hard, but solid. You also get a DAB radio and Bluetooth, but no fancy infotainment screen. That’s fine. The Jimny isn’t here to host your Spotify playlists in Dolby Atmos.

Storage is where things get amusing. The glovebox is small, the door pockets are borderline theoretical, and the cupholders are modest. Raise the windows, and you’ll find elbow room limited. Drop them and suddenly the Jimny becomes the world’s smallest convertible chalet, cheerful and breezy.

And the rear?

This is why one would buy the 5-door over its smaller sibling. With 2 extra doors, the Jimny can accommodate four adults or a decent bootload of luggage, but never both simultaneously.

Fold the rear seats flat, and you have a durable chequer-plate loading bay that wipes clean easily. You could even recline the front seats to form a makeshift bed. Camping, anyone?

You don’t need one, but you absolutely want one.

The Suzuki Jimny is adventure distilled into a tiny, cartoonishly tough package. It has flaws, but none of that undermines its irresistible charm.

If you’ve managed to secure one at a reasonable price, and it isn’t your only mode of transport, you’ll find yourself grinning every time you climb aboard. It’s tough, cute, cheerful, and utterly unapologetic. In a sea of bland cars trying too hard to impress, the Jimny’s honesty makes it a little cracker you can’t help but adore.

Technical Specifications