Insurance Group: 14
MPG: 39.8
CO2: 162
0-62 Mph: 14.1 secs
BHP: 84 BHP
Range: 350 miles
PROS: Excellent build quality, real off-road capability at a cheap price, and its low range gears for off-road work keep you moving.
CONS: Its uncomfortable ride, excessive body-roll when cornering, a noisy engine which isn’t powerful enough, lack of refinement and irritating road and wind noise at cruising speeds.
Inside the cabin there’s good visibility all round. The driving position is pretty upright and it should suit most people, but there’s no height adjustment on the driver’s seat and the steering wheel suffers from the same lack of adjustment. The dash is a simple affair, with everything clearly displayed and within easy reach.
The Jimny 1.3 SZ3's 84bhp 1.3-litre engine has been updated, but it still seems a bit slow. The 4-cylinder 16-valve petrol unit delivers a top speed of 87mph and 0-62mph takes a leisurely 14.1 seconds. This 5-speed manual gearbox fitted is about four seconds faster than the four-speed auto version which is available. Average fuel economy is a disappointingly low 39.8mpg.
The Jimny 1.3 SZ3 is really at home off-road; in fact it’s where it performs best - taking on rough terrain with ease. However, on normal roads, the ride is bouncy and very firm on anything less than a perfect surface. Due to its height it tends to lean a lot when cornering and grip is not astounding.
There’s little refinement with the Jimny 1.3 SZ3 and the engine produces a lot of noise when revved hard, which you have to do to get any performance from it. Out on the open road at cruising speed the noise from the engine, road and wind become very tiring and higher than other competitors in this class.
The design of the Suzuki Jimny hasn’t changed much over the years. It looks a little more modern nowadays, but it certainly wouldn’t win any awards for styling innovation. The cabin and interior are pretty basic and definitely lack the luxury items and trim quality available in rival small 4X4s.
Equipment levels in the Jimny SZ3 are pretty basic; it comes with power steering, remote central locking, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, immobiliser, CD, roof rails and front fog-lamps. On the more expensive SZ4 version you get a leather trimmed steering wheel, partial leather upholstery, alloy wheels and tinted glass.
The Jimny 1.3 SZ3 has a separate chassis constructed with serious off-road work in mind. It manages the off-road stuff fine, with the engine and transmission coping well with rough terrain. On-road it’s disappointing alongside its more sophisticated and modern rivals.
Interior space is disappointing. There reasonable head and leg-room for driver and passenger, but in the rear the small seat cushions and lack of leg-room make it uncomfortable for anyone of average height and build. Boot space is not impressive; with 113-litres available with the rear seats in place and only 286-litres with them folded down. This is because of the short overhang design of the Jimny, a blessing for off-roading but a disadvantage for interior space.
By modern standards, the Jimny 1.3 SZ3 is very old fashioned and behind the times. It only has front airbags fitted as standard; no side or curtain bags. There’s no traction or stability control, which in a 4X4 like the Jimny, with its high centre of gravity and tendency to lean, would be desirable. It does have ABS braking and side impact protection beams included to help with safety.
Anti-theft measures only include an immobiliser and steering lock –with no alarm fitted as standard.
Suzuki has been producing 4x4s for a long time now and has always had a good reputation for reliability and durability, and the Jimny is no exception with most mechanicals being well tried and tested. It comes covered by Suzuki’s three-year-60,000 mile warranty and with regular service intervals every 9,000 miles.
For a fully capable 4X4 the Jimny 1.3 SZ3 is good value for money at £11,905, but its resale value isn’t anything impressive. Average fuel economy of 39.8mpg isn’t very good for its size and is poor compared to others in its class. CO2 emissions of 162g/km are higher than average too, putting it in VED band G for Road Tax, while insurance is in group 14. The good news is that Suzuki servicing is quite affordable and the Jimny is reliable, so you shouldn’t have to fork out too much to keep it running.
It’s cheap to buy, built like a work-horse and great off-road – but don’t expect much more than that from it.
The Suzuki Jimny 1.3 SZ3 is built like a tank – tough and durable; unfortunately it handles a bit like one as well, with a very firm, bumpy and noisy ride, and a lot of lean in corners. Off-road i...
If you are looking for a car with decent off-road credentials for a low price, the Jimny is a good option. However, if you're never going to venture off the blacktop, buy something else.
You might want to read reviews for other Small 4x4 cars that you can then compare to the Suzuki Jimny. Here are some popular Suzuki Jimny alternatives:
